iFly

The gingerman. I like it. Congrats atx, you just named the fly. That's what I'll call it from now on. I really do think that's a perfect name for it. You've got a point about the different locations-different flies. I've got a buddy that goes down to Louisiana every year for the big boys and some of the flies he takes with him are rediculous. He invites me every year but it's always when I have something going on. Ill have to make time to go in the next year or so. Good luck with naming that tarpon fly!

Sorry for the delayed response...thanks and I don't have a name for it actually...just never thought about it. Actually if you want you can name it cause I suck at naming flies. Here's a picture of ChefBens fly:

Dang. I meant to put in some extras for you and left them next to my vice. Just realized that, sorry. Another thing for everybody, when you get my flies I would put an extra coat of anything on the thread wraps. I put some sally hansens on it then wrapped the thread into it but the reds really grind it with their teeth so if you have super glue or epoxy I would recommend using that. Reason why I didnt put it on myself is incase someone might want to put a weedguard on the fly without one.

Can you PM your address? Flies are finished.

Thanks fellas Pj- not for this fish... Ben- thanks again

I changed my pattern...figured that for fishing in other places y'all might would want/need something more natural. Its a tan/natural colored fly that can pass as either a shrimp or a mullet. Successful pattern thats proven. Its a super light pattern and I throw it a lot on my 7wt when the fish are super shallow and spooky.

ChefBens Franken shrimp gets the job done again.

Which one?

Nice flies! What material are they made of? Really like the color on the top one

Thanks for the nice words yall @scowens- Yeah i was in there for 2 hours with a different friend talking to Ken a couple weeks ago and we both walked out with one. I got the orange (thats mine, told my friend to wear it for the pic) seeing that I'm heading off to Clemson in August.

Thanks everyone! @mikechell- sometimes it seems that's the case. In the winter here some days it's almost as if you can't have a long enough leader when the fish are less active and more spooky. In the summer and fall it's a while different ball game. I couldn't tell you how many fish you have to hit on the head to get them to see the fly when the water is murky. I've also hit their tails with the fly when they're tailing and their tail is sticking up in the air; without spooking them. @chefben- sounds like your fish telegraph is spot on! Pmed btw

It all started on Friday with the 70+ degree, sunny weather. It stayed that way over the weekend warming the water up the water enough to make the fish more active and start tailing. Personally I think catching tailing redfish on flood tides is the funnest way to catch them. Anyway, I took a friend to a flat on Monday (first time wading a flat 2013) that has been known for big fish and alot of them. Saw plenty of fish- more than I was expecting. Said friend hooked and landed a nice fish literally 5 seconds after I pulled the hook on one. Then later just as it was getting dark I tried to set the hook too early and lost the fish. Fast forward to today (Wednesday-didnt fish Tuesday), I couldn't find anybody to go with me so I decided I would just go by myself. I don't mind. It's nice being able to cast to every fish and not trade shots. High tide is at 920 being a 6.2ft tide. It gets dark around 815. Water should be deep enough around 7 on the base of the flat to hold fish. Show up at 7:15 only to see tons of mullet and a couple cruising fish. Saw 2 tails at a distance but they were gone before I started walking. Start moving down the flat now looking in deeper water. Nothing. It's now about 7:55 and starting to get low light. A red blows up on mullet about 30 feet away then goes about 10ft and starts to tail. Perfect. This is what I've been waiting for. I have tied on my line ChefBens Franken Shrimp that I got in the Spectacular Shrimp swap (confession-I altered it a little by putting on a weed guard). Reason I had this on was it is completely chartreuse with a little bit of white. The fish on this flat last year were suckers for anything with chartreuse on it. Still being early in the year the water is still clear which means that the fish generally only want things in dull colors. So what was I doing with a big, bright fly on my line? I don't know. I was taking a chance. Turned out in my favor- for a little. The tail pops up so I make the cast about 6 feet to his side and about a foot past him in the path he was taking. Wait for the tail to go down. I can see him crawling forward in the direction of the fly. He's about 3 feet from it and I give the line a strip...fish was all over the fly. Explosion of water. Then he takes off and POP; line shoots back at me and hits me in the face...no fly or tip section of my leader. Great. All of my leader material is in the car and I only had a couple flies with me. Bummed, I start walking back to leave now that it was getting dark. Then right as I'm walking off another tail pops up. I tie on a EP Everglades mullet on my 4 feet of "leader". Not knowing what to expect I make the cast. Again I waited for the tail to go down to strip. 2 strips later and I have a fish on. He takes me into the backing on a good run. Solid fish and put up a good fight. First tailer of 2013! (PS- Ben, feel free to send down another Franken shrimp or two! 😎) Friends fish from Monday... Mine from this evening...

Got mine on Friday. Very impressed! They will be catching some redfish soon. Thanks again Ben for hosting and putting up with mishaps.

Or something like it. I have another idea in mind. Same color- electric chicken

What is SASE shipping? Probably a dumb question... But here's what I was gonna tie...

Welcome to the forums. Like Capt and PJ those are way better than my first attempts; good job. I'm really digging those shrimp top right in the bottom picture. I tie something similar for reds and they eat em up. There's a great group of users on this site and don't be afraid to ask for help if needed.

Is there a minimum complexity level kind of thing? I have a pattern in mind that flat out catches redfish but it to me is easier to tie than a clouser. I don't want everyone to think I tried to get away with the minimum so if y'all want something more complex tell me

In. Ill pick a pattern soon as well.

Sounds good to me. Ill be out of town this afternoon until Sunday so ill try to get it in the mail on Monday! Sorry about that

I made one in 10-15 minutes using 5 zipties, a drill, wire clippers and a lighter. I used the wire clippers to cut down the zip ties as they were longer than needed. Then I melted the cut tips to take the sharp pointy edge off.

Crap. I see I did. Ill admit that was my first time mailing with a flat rate box and the thought didnt cross my mind with the box. I almost put them in an envelope for that reason so I could include the extra stamps but that would have crushed the hackle. Would 5$ in an envelope work for reimbursement?

They went out this morning...knew I was forgetting something and got home and realized I didn't put the toe tags on them...sorry yall

Just finished mine last night. Ill have them out early next week if not by Friday.

We target flounder in the spring and fall around here. Havent done it on the fly but with spinning rods we rig a live mud minnow and drag it along the bottom really slowly. We use sensitive rods to feel the bite. Then when you feel the bite we open the bail and count to 7. Why? Because flounder eat the minnows head first. So this gives them time to turn it around in their mouth. Thought this might help...