SteveGibson

I didn't think it did, at least I never used them but I will now. Any specific reason you don't splay the feathers for this fly? Does it help the fly get down faster in the surf?

I think it gets down a little quicker. I also added eyes because I believe a fly with eye produces more fish. Added epoxy: 1. to keep eyes on; 2. make fly more durable.

Other than balance, I'm not quite sure what the importance of the reel might be on a 4-weight? Isn't it to store line at the end of the day?

I hadn't been back to The Everglades since prior to the 2010 freeze. That cold killed most of the exotics.

However, I heard fishing was hot down there, so I made the drive Wednesday morning. It's a little over 2 hours south of me.

Didn't see another boat all day.

I fly fished, using mainly a 3-weight and my Myakka Minnow. Conservatively, I estimate I caught and released 250 fish, including largemouth bass, bluegill, stumpknocker, shellcrcker, warmouth perch, gar and one Mayan cichlid.

I litterally left the fish hitting. I rarely went two casts without at least a hit.

Didn't notice the bubble-eye bass until after I uploaded the photos.

Question? What is the body of this fly? Is it something like spirit river {Bodi-Braid}?

Very nice flies...

Yep, Spirit River Bodi-Braid. Keen eye there, NJ!

Thank all of you! And I will let you know!

Cool looking fly, is that ice dub for the collar?

No, not ice dub. It's an EP brush. The other two are simply a palmered white hackle.

The DT Special is an awesome fly and I really like your variant with the red nose. Did the original recipe use eyes? I can't remember but I like the looks of them here. Will definitely tie up several of these.

No, the original DT did not have eyes. It was bascially a Stu Apte Tarpon Fly tied in all white. The tail feathers were splayed and the entire hook shank was wrapped. I do not splay the feathers.

My go-to fly in the surf for snook is my DT Variation, an offshot of the original DT Special. I tweaked the original over the years to suit my needs. It has accounted for more than 5,000 snook in the surf, including fish to 40 inches.

Although I've posted the Myakka Minnow previously, I've made some changes over the years. Used to be I fished the gold Myakka Minnow most of the time. However, I've found that copper works well in tannin-stained water. Black is best in The Everglades.

The fly works for species feeding on minnows. It can be tied on any size hook to meet your needs.

I recently spoke at the Suncoast Fly Fishers in St. Petersburg. I was also their guest fly tyer. I tied up several Gibby's DT Variations.

In the club's latest newsletter, I saw a photo of Tom's Greenback Minnow. The fly looked very nice. So, I decided to cook up a batch.

I used white Polar Flash for the underbody and olive Fly Fur for the top. I coated the stick-on eyes with Goop. Tom told me he uses 5-minute epoxy as a coating.

Can't wait to give these a try.

Since the wind has been up, I have been fooling around with some designs for beach snook. Although I'm partial to my Gibby's DT Variation, you never know what the fish want. I tried out a couple of HOTS Fly protypes and did well, catching and releasing several snook to 26 inches and seatrout to 25.

The fly suspends well -- which is important in the surf. Should work on most any species.

Fred,

Where did you get the Fish Skulls? Did you order them?

looking at a TFO jim teeny 9ft for a ten weight as a back up, has anyone tried them?

I'm am sponsored by TFO and like their rods very much. However, I would go with a TiCRX, Axiom or BVK over the Teeny. I had a Teeny 6-weight and it wasn't my favorite.

I really like that fly!

Thanks! Congrats to all!

Thanks for a great contest and wonderful effort by all.

Tying is just like casting: If it gets the job done, then everything is fine. I'll bet that fly will catch fish!

That fly would work great in salt water tied on a No. 1 hook!

Looks like a great fly!

That's a really great looking fly!

Thanks, Spinner! I'll certainly check Crystal Falls out!

Have to fly to Michigan in mid-June for a nephew's graduation/open house. After that, wife and I want to spend a week somewhere in the state.

I'm thinking about the Upper Peninsula. We would like a cabin on a lake or river or maybe even a resort. Any suggestions?

Steve, I'm just curious, but what's the largest size hook you've used for it? Looks like it would be a great smallmouth fly too!

You can tie the fly on bigger hooks. You would just increase your materials proportionatley. I would think you could tie on a No. 6 or 8 hook with no problem.

Ah, cool and original, how does it fish?

Great tie.

 

Regards Claudia

 

Like almost all fly patterns, it has been done before. I hate it when that happens. :wallbash:

Say WHAT??? i think i some how stroke this kitten the wrong way.... :scared:

Sorry for bringing You to a boiling point :jumpy:

But im more sorry to SteveGibson for letting this pollute a realy nice tropic/pattern :cry: .

 

Claudia :nono:

 

 

Thanks for the support, Claudia. But don't feel sorry for me. I did nothing wrong. I'd never ever seen a fly like the Skitterbug. If it has been done before, then I apologize. Lefty Kreh told me one time when we were fishing that every fly is nothing more than a variation on the same theme.

 

I'm not sure what the purpose is of fishingbub's post? He could show us the "original" in a pic!

 

This is the first time I have ever seen the pattern, doesn't mean it's the original though. It could even be you that posted it in this link.

 

http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/fo...ight=skitterbug

 

I must have saw something that wasn't there. (the "he said so himself", I could have sworn I saw it before I posted that but I guess I didn't. I appologize for putting words in your mouth.) I did not mean to offend anyone with my original post or my second post. I apologize if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to imply that you copied it. I was just informing that it isn't a true original. If I had known it would offended you I wouldn't have done it. It is a sweet fly. Shows alot of creativity and tying skill. Once again I appologize for offended you guys.

The link is my fly that I posted on southeastflyfishing last spring. Wow! I copied my own fly.

LOL, I wasn't criticizing anyone. I was just stating it isn't completely original. He even said so himself. I've seen this pattern on southeastflyfishingforum.com twice. Why would I be upset about a pattern not being original? Sorry if I came over the wrong way. Like I said, I hate it when you find out that pattern you invented has been tied before.....

By claiming the pattern wasn't original is an implication that I copied it. Also you said I said so myself. I missed that one. Show us a pic of the original, please.