agn54

This one is very cool, looks like salmon fly but with unique materials

I'm with Mike, especially if it's in person. I tie a lot of buck tail jigs for saltwater and find hand whipping by far the best way for me to tie them off. I learned like lost from tying flies first, but jig tyers who don't fly fish would greatly appreciate such a useful knot that is often only known to fly fishers

Sweet fly PJ, is that t badger hair?

These are very effective flies, I have caught tons of fish on simple buck tail/estaz flies tied both this way and behind the eye of the hook for more of a jigging motion. When tied towards the back like here where I'll be targeting toothy speedsters I prefer to use super hair or some other synthetic since macks and blues will make short work of buck tail. You may want to explain why you tie it in at the rear of the hook to your viewers, as they may want to know that the hook shank acts as a bite guard. This is why I also prefer to tie these on long shank hooks like the 34011 rather than the 3407 to give an extra bit of bite guard. It also helps to avoid using wire or heavier floro leader which can make a difference in clear water

It's been years since I have fished the trail, but back in those days I found mostly bass on the Miami side, especially as you go further west towards the L28, which has some of the best bass fishing I have ever seen. The area is also loaded with big oscars which should be a blast on the fly. No doubt there are snook to be found all along it, especially as you get closer to the old Beer Worms lady (sadly a landmark no longer there but the old timers will remember her) and the turnoff to Marco Island Here is a great pice by Kantner to get started: http://midcurrent.com/books/alligator-alley-and-tamiami-trail/

A hand held vacuum cleaner is a good investment if you plan to tie a lot of them

I've used several brands but for me Dr. Slicks are my favorite. Got a pair going on a decade and and still waiting for them to dull

Mike, since these are saltwater flies and most flies in the "flies form the vice" thread are freshwater, or at least these may get lost in the shuffle, a separate place is appropriate for us salties to appreciate . Now the "saltwater flies from the vice" thread would be good for these, or even just the saltwater forum since we appreciate new threads over there

The list above covers many of the really good stores, at least the ones I'm familiar with. I would add Bob Marriotts to that list. I'm a saltwater tier and their stock is excellent but they also have a lot of freshwater stuff too. Plus their service is excellent, as is that of many of the above shops I have used. Browse their catalogues and shop with confidence

beautiful work again, love the flatwings!

I usually do the opposite of what was stated above and rather than pause the fly or lure, I speed it up so it seems as if it is trying to flee. This seems to me the more natural thing than letting it pause or sink since a real wounded baitfish wouldn't do that unless it was stunned by a first strike. Of course this too it doesn't always work. It does sometimes elicit a reactive strike though. One of the coolest things I have ever seen happened when I was out alone on a flat in my boat. I saw a huge push a few hundred yards out coming right towards me. I was fly fishing but realized it would be foolish to try to tangle with whatever this thing was on fly so I dropped the rod leaving the fly and line drifting out the back of the boat and jumped on the bow deck with a casting rod and mirrolure. I saw its dorsal breech the surface and saw that it was a huge shark. I had never hooked a shark on a topwater lure, much less in super clear water like I was in but I had several times seen them splash at one so I figured I would do that now just to get a kick out of the sight thinking there was no way I would get him to actually hit. When he got within 100 yards or so, I launched a perfect cast that I probably couldn't do again in 100 tries. It landed just ahead and to the right of the shark as it kept cruising. I twitched the plug and it turned towards the pug so I began rapidly twitching and retrieving it almost as fast as I could as if fishing for mackerel. Much to my surprise, the shark charged and engulfed the lure, kept come towards me and swam right under my boat out towards the open water. I saw it was about a 7-8 ft bull shark that was now pulling my little 14' boat and for some reason not breaking the line. I began thinking this may not have been such a good idea until the line finally snapped somewhere above the leader. i think the line rubbed over his back and the rough skin popped it but who knows. Anyway, the moral of this long tale was I am pretty sure the only way i got that shark to hit was by trying to keep the plug away from him and prompting a reactive response. Of course not all species react the same way but I have done this with trout and snook and had them strike too, but I have also had them miss the strike so this may not be the best course of action either.

Those look like trout killers Salty! great deer hair work.

Big thanks to Jolly Red for a great set, very beautiful flies. I'll post a pic later when I get the chance. Thanks again for hosting vicrider

Shrimp gurgler for the shrimp swap

My shrimp gurgler for the swap.

Wow that's a beauty!

Just got back in town and saw that Santa snuck in for an early deposit into my stocking. Thanks again for hosting this one and thanks for the extras. Merry Christmas

Awesome looking fly Salty! Just hope that's not a butterfly of prey or some migratory butterfly or you could be in real trouble

Very nicely done! I dig the water silk too but haven't used it in a while. Now I feel like breaking it out again. I really like the flashy head, cool idea for EP style flies

Awesome looking crab!

I haven't seen Cohen's videos but from all i have heard they are first rate. This is one of the best ones I have seen on Youtube for showing stacking (watch all 4 parts), although the one posted above is excellent too. Bruce Derrington did a live class on this forum back in the day when we had those things and it was fantastic. It would be cool if that video were floating around somewhere too, he does absolutely incredible deer hair work.

I actually do find SLF prism to be nearly identical to ice dub but with shorter fibers. Don't know if it will be what your looking for but they are very similar

I wouldn't fish any of the salmon flies you've been posting lately, all are works of art but this one is incredible

very cool, love the flatting style

This is the method I use