Mullet immitation for Stripers. Criticism please!

[dafack01 0]

The cooling weather means Stripers are beginning to trickle back down to the Georgia Coast (our native Stripers are bass ackwards; they summer in freshwater upstream and winter in the saltwater estuaries to spawn). Now that I've found two commando launch spots on two rivers here in Savannah with Striper runs that won't kill me, I've got a renewed enthusiasm this winter (the Savannah River, while loaded with monster Stripers, is a death trap from a kayak). My goal this winter is to get into some Stripers.

 

I've heard the hot baits for Stripers in the area are Shrimp under a popping cork and live Mullet (especially Mullet). So I tied up a Mullet pattern to chuck around on my 8wt. I tied it with EP fibers with a little Angel Hair tied in here and there:

 

 

Other than the fact that it needs eyes (which I'm out of right now) give me some constructive criticism please! I REALLY want to get into some Stripers and the best way is to come loaded with good flies. The fly is 5.5" long.

 

While we're at it, what other patterns do I need? I'd assume some Deceivers would need to be added. I'll throw in a few Seaducers and clousers in shrimp colors too. And of course a few Woolly Buggers just in case. Who knows, I might end up on some hot Redfish or Trout action too and need a few buggers.

[day5 0]

Black dot?

[tidewaterfly 0]

The fly looks great IMHO! I don't know what kind of water clarity you''ll be fishing, but I would also tie some up in that same pattern with various amounts of extra flash. In the Chesapeake Bay, sometimes a big fly with lots of flash is all they'll take, while other times something with less flash is what they want. Good to have some variety and be prepared for any situation.

 

The rest of your list is perfect, except maybe add some big half & half's too!

 

I have a big box of flies that I use for Stripers, includes all the flies mentioned, plus some rabbit strip patterns. They cover the range of baitfish, eels, and attractor patterns. I don't use shrimp patterns specifically for Stripers, but have some that I use primarily for White Perch. Occasionally I'll throw a crab fly around pilings or rocks.

 

If you're not familiar with it, do a Google Search for Joe Bruce's Crab Colored Clouser. Work's good as a shrimp or crab pattern. Here's the basic's of it:

 

Hook: Mustad 34007 size 4 - 2/0

Thread: Fire Orange 3/0

Eye: 1/24oz lead eye colored black

Body:(tied in this order)white bucktail, gold krystal flash, tan bucktail, copper flashabou, and olive bucktail.

[dafack01 0]

Mullet don't have a spot, but after doing a little digging around on Google, Menhaden (I forgot those were also called Pogies) do and I do now remember that people do catch their own Pogies and fish them for Stripers around here. Mullet are just popular cause you can get them in bait shops; i'm not sure if you can get Pogies.

 

I'll have to add a dot to make it look more Pogy-like.

 

And I forgot someone in a post last year recommended some Silverside patterns. I'll have to keep a few shiny, skinny clousers on hand.

[dafack01 0]

The fly looks great IMHO! I don't know what kind of water clarity you''ll be fishing, but I would also tie some up in that same pattern with various amounts of extra flash. In the Chesapeake Bay, sometimes a big fly with lots of flash is all they'll take, while other times something with less flash is what they want. Good to have some variety and be prepared for any situation.

 

The rest of your list is perfect, except maybe add some big half & half's too!

 

 

I'll have to do that too. I'm just starting to get a Striper box together and some big flashy flies sound like a definite must have! The Angel Hair as I tied it in didn't add as much flash as I was envisioning. I think I have to pre-mix it. I think I might get some of Steve Fararr's Flash Blend so it's already done for me.

 

I plan on having some half-and-halfs too. I just forgot to add that to my list.

[tidewaterfly 0]

The flashier flies in my box have a good mix of holographic flash, metallic flashabou & pearlescent flashabou. I use the regular stuff, not the saltwater. I just don't like the wider flash as much. Some of my flies have mixes of flashabou & crystal flash.

 

BTW, I'm a big fan of "flashtails" on flies that have a lot of flash. I feel it makes them appear even bigger than they really are.

[day5 0]

I guess it is not a actual spot but the peck fin is black. Adding a black spot of mark on or near the peck is what I meant

[dafack01 0]

I guess it is not a actual spot but the peck fin is black. Adding a black spot of mark on or near the peck is what I meant

 

Aah. True dat. Add a spot and immitate a Mullet and a Pogy at the same time! I'll have to dress it up with a Sharpie.

[dafack01 0]

The flashier flies in my box have a good mix of holographic flash, metallic flashabou & pearlescent flashabou. I use the regular stuff, not the saltwater. I just don't like the wider flash as much. Some of my flies have mixes of flashabou & crystal flash.

 

BTW, I'm a big fan of "flashtails" on flies that have a lot of flash. I feel it makes them appear even bigger than they really are.

 

What's a flashtail? Is it a fly with a bit of flash extending past the fly body?

[Claudia 0]

I think you did a great work with the tapering, and the colours are realy good. how ever i think there is to much going on in the gap of the hook... Hope you dont take that in a bad way... And if you do, i will just keep my mouth shot....

When i tie those things i make a litte lump of dubbing on the top of the hook shank, that will help you to suport the "wing" for a more uprised mode and keeps it nearly flat in the hook gap. It will also approve the movement in the wather. Try to mix in some soft long hairs to. If you make a cone head in foam or latex or skin, then you have a variant of what you made here.

 

 

Keep up the good work

 

Claudia

[travbass2 0]

You have silversides down there?? If so, surf candy with some flash fished under lights at night will do well. Or a sparkleminnow, right Day5?? Other than that, your mullet looks great. Just needs some big eyes. That's all you need to set that pattern off.. that and maybe a darker back...

[Capt. Matt C 0]

Tie that and add some tints of gray to it It looks more olive in the pic. That pattern, -That is very well tied by the way!- looks more like a threadfin in color.

 

Also in adition to the wihtie belly try a tan or ligh gray for the darker river water. not that it will matter, but if you are specifically looking for a mullet pattern......

 

Also try some clouser looking stuff, without the eyes and use blue and rainbow krystal flash, that should work well too.

 

Refular clousers will do great Im sure.

 

Nice job on the 3D, trimmng and all that stuff, Good looking Fly!!

[dafack01 0]

You have silversides down there?? If so, surf candy with some flash fished under lights at night will do well. Or a sparkleminnow, right Day5?? Other than that, your mullet looks great. Just needs some big eyes. That's all you need to set that pattern off.. that and maybe a darker back...

 

Thanks guys!

 

Not sure if we have silversides down here or not. I just remembered an old post where you recommended some silverside immitations. Either way, some small baitfish patterns would do a great job immitating some mud minnows or some finger mullet. You never know if they might prefer some smaller offerings. Besides, if I run into some Redfish I'd like to be armed for them as well. Redfish love mud minnows and finger mullet. :gun_bandana:

 

As for the colors i just got the "mullet" colored 3D EP fibers and the "baitfish belly" 3D EP fibers. I can play with it to get it right.

[Shinnecock Fly 0]

I think the most important factor of the mullet is the roundnees of the body. i tie popovic's silicone fly in all grey and all white. The silicone lets the fly stand up to the teeth of bluefish! I aslo use 5-6 inch spun deer hair flies. using grizzy, white and grey saddle, and natural colr deer hair. The most important thing is the roundness. You can use a white deciever but it might get destroyed by a blue. Don't us weighted flies such as cluser and half and half during a mullet blitz. The mullet rarley go deep and are usually pushed up by the predatory fish such as a striper or blue. Fishing low ahen the fish are high is very popular with the fishing community but it is the opposite of what you want do. Tight Lines

[dafack01 0]

I think the most important factor of the mullet is the roundnees of the body. i tie popovic's silicone fly in all grey and all white. The silicone lets the fly stand up to the teeth of bluefish! I aslo use 5-6 inch spun deer hair flies. using grizzy, white and grey saddle, and natural colr deer hair. The most important thing is the roundness. You can use a white deciever but it might get destroyed by a blue. Don't us weighted flies such as cluser and half and half during a mullet blitz. The mullet rarley go deep and are usually pushed up by the predatory fish such as a striper or blue. Fishing low ahen the fish are high is very popular with the fishing community but it is the opposite of what you want do. Tight Lines

 

 

Thanks for the tips! Very helpful, especially about the tips on fishing Mullet patterns! I live in Savannah, Georgia and as far as I know our Bluefish in inshore waters are only around during the warmer months, and they're the juveniles at that. I think they tend to stay closer to the ocean than the Stripers do too (our Stripers, while they do spawn in the saltwater estuaries, are river fish and never venture down near any sounds or inlets to the open ocean). Our adult bluefish stay offshore year round. I've never heard of people getting into Bluefish when they're going after Stripers. About the only other fish you might encounter while chasing Stripers down here are Redfish and Trout, depending on the bait used.