October 2012 Salty Fly Tying Chronicle

Drew Chicone's Salty Fly Tying Chronicle
Salty Fly Tying Chronicle
October 2012
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In This Issue:
"Super Strong Thread"
Highlighting Lagartun's X-Strong 74 Denier Thread
"The Yak Is Back!"
Phewww, After a false scare Saltwater Yak Hair is back on
the market.
"The Squibbster"
Pete Squibb's Beach Snook Fly
Feather Brain
Pre Order
Recently I partnered
with Stackpole Books
to publish my latest
Welome to the first Salty Fly Tying Chronicle. My goal is to
work Feather Brain -
spread the word about new or unique materials, techniques and
patterns that I come across each Month.
How to design better
Thanks for reading, and as always, let me know what you think.
signed copy of Feather
Tell Drew
Brain, Click Here and I
Drew
saltwater flies. If you
are interested in a
will email you as soon
as it becomes available.
Super Strong Thread
SFT Blog
Saltwater Fly Tying
Tips, Tricks, Tutorials &
More... Check Out the
Salty Fly Tying Blog
by Click Here
A few months back I had the unforgettable pleasure of
interviewing Chris Helm of Whitetail Fly Tieing Supplies for my
upcoming book Feather Brain. Not only did have provide me a
abundance of invaluable insight on tying technique, but he also
mailed me a treasure trove of flies and tying materials that he
holds in high regards. Nestled in the package of premium deer
body hair and go to bonefish flies were a few spools of
Lagartun's X-Strong 74 Denier Thread and a hand written note,
requesting my opinion on the new thread. I have to admit, at the
time I was much more interested on the bonefish files and set
the thread aside. Recently I discovered the forgotten spool lying
on the bench, so I decided to give it a spin.
I was astonished by how enjoyable it was to tie with. The
smaller diameter and made tying smaller flies a dream with out
sacrificing any necessary strength. It was incredibly easy to whip
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finish with a crowed hook eye and the unnecessary bulk from a
few extra wraps here and there vanished. After tying with 210
flat-waxed nylon for all these years it is remarkable how much
control you have with such an fine thread.
Needless to say, I email Chris Immediately to thank him again,
give him my unequivocal approval, and most importantly find out
how to get more … NO BS it truly is the strongest polyester
thread for the denier. It also comes in a 95, and a 150 denier if
you need a little extra muscle. Look for it in your local fly shops
or contact Chris Helm at www.whitetailflytieing.com
The Yak Is Back!
Last June I started playing around with a new top water baitfish
patttern I call "Mr. Chumlee". The fly was originally tied out of
saltwater yak hair, and was designed to mimic a wounded
baitfish or "Chummer" gyrating on it's side just under the
surface. I work the fly slowly and allow it to float back up to the
surface, mainly for snook and sea trout. I sent a few over to my
buddy at Orvis to see what he thought, and I was horrified by his
response! After a few pleasantries about the pattern, He replied
you “better get a new material brother!” He explained that the
prices had gone up, and that none of their supplier would be
importing it moving forward.
Fellow Yak Hair Lovers, I am happy to report …Crisis Averted!
The good folks at Hareline Dubbin must have heard my prayers,
because it is back in the catalog for 2013. For now just White,
but beggars can’t be choosers. At least it’s a step in the right
direction. If you look hard enough, I’m sure you can find some
assorted colors floating around the internet as well.
The Squibbster
It's hard to beat the fishing here in SW Florida, but catching
snook on the beach seems to have been a little more difficult
this year. The water conditions have been cloudier than in
years past, and seeing crusing snook has been difficult to say
the least. However not everyone is casting to the "Crusiers".
Pete Squibb seems to have cracked the code on hard catch
snook in ultra stirred up water. "Two things make this fly
productive" Says Pete. First, the marabou breaths in the surf,
even when still. This attracts close inspection by fish.
Second,
the rubber legs and raised tail allow this fly to "push" water,
sending out vibrations, making it productive in cloudy water. The
rubber legs also provide additional movement between strips.
Tied as described here with the medium bead chain eyes, this
fly suspends. With mono eyes it floats and dives when stripped.
Materials
Hook- Mustard 32007- size 1-2 (pinch down barb)
Thread- ultra thread, 210, white
Eyes- medium black bead chain
Tail- Supreme hair- white ,Krystal flash- silver
Wing- Marabou blood quill- white (3 feathers)
Body- thread wraps over tail materials
Collar- EP tarantula hairy legs, 1" long brush, white
Step 1- Tie in bead chain eyes on top of hook, approx. 1/4 hook
length and apply zap-a-gap. Leave thread just behind eyes.
Step 2- Tie in supreme hair starting just behind eyes, wrap back
to bend in hook. Lift and tie in tail approx. 45 degrees to hook
shank.. This helps keep marabou from fouling hook. Wrap
thread back to eyes. Hair should be approx 2x hook length.
Step 3- Tie in approx. 6-8 strands of Krystal flash. Wrap to bend
of hook and back to eyes.
Step 4- Tie in three full marabou plumes just behind eyes. One
on each side, one on top. Tie each off approx. 1/8 " behind
eyes. Plumes approx 2x hook length. Leave plumes full and
natural.
Step 5- Tie in EP brush just behind eyes. Palmer one full turn
behind eyes, and two full turns in front of eyes. As you Palmer
forward, push fibers back to prevent over wrapping fibers. Tie off
brush, add 4-5 turns over brush end, clip wire and whip finish
head.
Step 6- Use bodkin to tease out over wrapped EP fibers. Trim
fibers around hook eye, and apply head cement.
Step 7- finished fly ready for the surf.
Tying Options
1. You can substitute mono eyes for bead chain. However,
the EP fibers float, and the minimal weight of the bead
chain allows the fly to suspend. Mono eyes hold fly at/
near surface.
2. Substitute one chartreuse marabou plume for the center
white plume.
3. Substitute olive pearl Krystal flash for silver.
Thanks for Sharing Pete!
Until next time, keep your wraps tight &
your feathers straight!
www.saltyflytying.com
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Copyright © Andrew D. Chicone 2012* Salty Fly Tying, All rights
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