P.G. Beckett

I have to agree with Capt. Bob; I often fish the inside of Sebastian Inlet(very close to home) And I have a hooked many a redfish, snook and jack crevalle that has taken me well into my backing especially when they turn tail and get into the fast current trying to head out to sea. Not all redfish fight like Bluegills!

Put mine in the mail today; you'll get them probally on monday or tuesday

All of your bugs look great! It is amazing how we all chose different hooks. I personally tie mine on a nickel Kahle: the main reason is that I fish alot of brackish areas that harbour both bass and snook and I find that I can make a somewhat rounder body and they do not rust through quite as fast,but I will try tying some up on a circle hook like one of yours.

It has been my experience, when using sharpies, to warm up my feathers or hair before I a apply the color. This expands the pores or molecules which now will take more color. When they contract back to room temperature it will cause the color to lock into the material tighter. Easy test; Take two identical flies, colored with sharpies; drop one in aglass of ice water and you will notice it will become more vibriant; drop the other one in luke warm water and it will soon begin to fade. You in Louisanna should color your flies on a heat pad or out in the hot sun because your flies are more than likely being colored in an air conditioned room and the water you fishing them in is ashot or hotter than the air conditing which intern will cause the fly to fade faster. I have had to deal with this same prablem down here in Florida-Capish!

Always appreciate squid flies tied in the opposite spectrum from which I tie. Yours looks like it is lit up which could represent a feeding or scared squid (nice). If you get a chance to cast it at a of shore weed line holding fish like dolphin or tripletail; be sure to try it. You will be surprised how much these fish like a juvenile squid.

Use to be a condo president here in Florida; had pons with some very large amurs in them. The secret is give some children some bread and let them feed them for a while and then you tie on little fly called Bread Crust (the old Noll Fly Tying Guide had it listed). Caught my far share on a 5 wt.and the fight was excellent.

Pineda Causeway down to the north bridge in Ft. Pierce. Have you ever tried wading that mile strech of water on the Indian River just south of Sebastian Inlet? At times it is just loaded with fish (especially the last couple of hours befor dark.)

It is going to be a while; Hopefully by the first of the year. I am a one man operation and I do all my own tying, writing and photo work, also I am a painting contractor and I have a few accounts that require my attention. In the mean time I will try to post a few articles with photos, that will help you understand my techniques of tying flies

Found that a red head, silver or gold body and the rest of the Muddler tied in white with a touch of red, makes a very deadly snook or seatrout fly. It resembles famous hard lures such as Mirrolures 52m and Red Tail Hawk Jigs which are very deadly snook baits here on the east coast of central Florida. These colors work equally in bays, inlets and surf.

Thanx for your comments. The one thing I could not was the loud grunting sound they make when you pick them up- any ideas?

I live in Melbourne Fla.(prime snook country) and I am sending you a shrimp tied on a #2 because this time of large snook the year the shrimp in this area run rather small and I have found that you do not need a large fly or hook to nail a large snook.

Your fish are very similar to ours in Florida ;The mangrove jack is almost identical to our mangrove snapper which will take a shrimp fly in a heart beat. Got a weak hurricane passing thru at this time. The fish here, get fired up after this kind of storm especialy the snook, tarpon and mangrove snapper. Looking forward to your fly.and thanx for the posting.

Been fly tying almost 50 yrs. Got interested at the age of nine by watching 3 guys in wheel chairs who were tying flies at the Canadian Sportsman Show in Toronto Canada, back in the mid sixties. The late Paul Kokuen (some of his flies are found in Bates' streamer tying book) helped me greatly my earlier years when I moved to Worcester Mass. in 1968. Moved to the east coast of Florida in 1972. Started slowly developing some of my own patterns to catch fish, seagulls and backends (ouch!) For about the past 15 yrs., I have been developing flies that contain chamois. Through my experience, there is not a tuffer material that holds up to everyday use in flies weither used in a complete tie or an enhanser to make feathers or natural hair to last longer. In the middle of writing a book that will contain many ideas and details that will help even the most seasoned professional. So to most of you bare with me when I post a pattern. In the mean time I will try to make and post a few vidios that will give you the basics to my style of tying. So many of your flies are magnicent- KEEP TYING and get a child or one of those less fortunate started: After all it was some of those great people who got me started. P.S. in 50 yrs. of tying I still don't know how to use a whip finsher or ever used a hair stacker. Phil

I said earlier That I would Donate some of my shrimp. Well; just count me in. Need details of where to send them.

First off- Make sure the belly of the fly is weighted more than the head. This causes the fly to sink belly first instead of head first. This allows water to flow upwards under the wings, hackle and tail creating a dancing or hula effect; when it is pulled forwards this causes the feathers to look "streamline" again. By using the modified Kahle bentback, your hook point will keep clear of water hazards and the weighted belly will act as a keel to bump or bounce of all kinds of structure. Even in open water this fly will flutter or dance with any slow or fast retreive. This will be helpful- The body is similar to what you call a crease fly; You can weight the belly by lead wire or tape, enclose a small splitshot, a few small stone pebbels, a rattle chamber, even a few diamonds- the list is endless. Be sure to use a good smearing of GOOP or better yet E-6000, a water proof craft glue, to enclose the chamois under body and head. When you wrap the chenille ,smeare some of this same glue onto the chamois so the chenille adheres to it ;making it ultra strong. Be sure to experiment with other colors.

Hey: I am willing to donate 10 or 12 of my cruze shrimp pattern to your swap. I do not want nothing in return. Is this permisable? If so either post or contact me at [email protected] P.G. Beckett

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by P. G. Beckett: ELECTRIC LADY

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by P. G. Beckett: Heady Shad

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by P. G. Beckett: Grizzled Knife

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by P. G. Beckett: Sandy Claws

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by P. G. Beckett: Walking Crayfish