Saltybum

Nice Muddy! I like that buggy thing above the red one. What do you use it for?

Dusted off the Renzetti and tried out some new craft fur I recently picked up in white and chartreuse. Very long and silky stuff. I must get more colors soon. Also did a couple basic mullet since the fall run is in full swing.

Welcome Mondo. Love the flies especially the chartreuse ones. What is the giant black one meant to target? Down here a cobia would slurp that baby down fast.

Getting ready for Snook season to open Monday. These are about 5" long and on 2/0 and 3/0 hooks. The shrimp is 4.5". Other than the shrimp these are all tied using mostly Farar blends. The one mullet has a bit of gray fish scale over the back.

Similar scenario in central Brevard. Used to see one trout for every 8-10 reds and this year it's the opposite. But I wll say the size of trout has been increasing but dang are they smart. Come Sept. 1 I'll be hitting the surf for snook hard this year with my 9"6" 8wt and a 9wt int. line on it.

After all that work that pink fly better catch some fish.

I am certainly no expert on the surf but there are some post on Florida Sportsmans Forum. Bill down at Harry Goodes in Melbourne is the guy you need to talk to.

The fall mullet run will be starting down the beaches next month so I'll be tying a few bait fish in anticipation. The smaller ones work well for reds and trout on the flats too.

I have removed hooks like that with strong braid. Also at angles where it would not work being along I forced the point back out and pulled it through with pliers as well as using an exacto knife and slicing a hook out. AND all that I'm sure in the last 4 years. It's part of the game. . . isn't it?

Me thinks I won't pick up any more Osprey feathers and stick them in my hat and get it called "misdemeanor"! Seriously I doubt a game officer is very concerned about a couple feathers. However if he found a whole dead osprey in my truck......cuff time. Nice fly hairwing

Kimo that was child exploitation. Did you spit shine his boots too?

For the surf an intermediate 8wt or sinking tip, the bay 6-8wt floating

Jack Gartside was well know for using all kinds of interesting non fly shop materials for some of his creations. I just used a little along with the other. I just wish I hadn't given the green one to a fish so quickly. I guess my angling skills need some work now too.

atxdiscgolfer, here's some photos of the materials used. The pink stuff (can't remember what is exactly) went first then the chorosome, it looks purple from underneath a light. Then hackles and topped with that hair from the dollar store. Panama Red shared some of red stuff and other colors with me that I used for the collar. Can't remember what is but I think it came from a fabric store.Neat stuff. I opted for the red instead of purple for a contrasting color. The silver solder is what I wrapped the hook with, untied with minimal glue so as to remove as needed and it is needed to give the right action which I have not quite got yet. Initially I had too much wire on it and even though it popped the surface at rest it was just under the surface. The hook is Mustad Cs68 2/0

Thanks for the compliment. These stared as regular no. 4 Wapsi heads that I sliced with a razor knife and turned around on the hook after a little cupping with sandpaper. A dremel would be easier for the cupping. The slicing is tricky and the ones below show a cut that should have been a bit more acute in angle. I used silver solder wire wrapped around the hook for weight and only a bit of glue towards the head which allowed me to unwrap it and break it off a bit at a time as I fished it to try to achieve better action. Without any weight added to the hook they were just plain old poppers. I think getting the tail down in the water is the key to the zig zag action.They did cast pretty well on my 8wt. 70ft wasn't too hard. Hope this helps.

Just thought I would share. While TS Arthur was churning off our coast last week before heading north I decided to try tying a couple "Pole Dance" poppers. A bit of trial and error on the proper hook weight to get a decent side to side action. Fair, but I guess it was okay because I lost the green one to a fish this morning. A couple big boils and slurp, gone! Dang!!! I did catch a small sea trout on the purple one though.

I agree with Kirk. Every tool ( and a vice is a tool ) I have ever bought is now no where near as pretty when on the shelf in the store but still does the job intended. I do however make an effort to keep my fly rods and reels looking nice.

Nice report. Sure is pretty and pristine down there in the glades.

FlaFly, thanks for the compliment and I cleaned my bodkin for future photos. Looking like the first low of the year is building right off my coast. WInds and seas are picking up so it looks to be a good time to pull the vice out. Keep the flies coming, It's great inspiration to tie.

In anticipation of an upcoming trip to the keys I tied a few shrimpy things for bonefish. Mostly #4-6 hooks.

Is that a starling? Pests, bazillions of them out there. Like crows.

Do they allow vices behind bars? Please do show us what you come up with.

Way to go Steve!!!! That's really encouraging to hear and should be great motivation for others trying to do the same.

Mikechell you are way too funny. Do you do stand up comedy? Back to the question...bottom line is....you need to buy several rods. The short ones are great for those really tight spots and learning how to bow and arrow or slingshot into the really tight spots is a must. Tenkara style (expensive cane poling) with nymphs and strike indicators a 9 foot or 8'6" is good for reaching into the eddy's behind rocks etc. Since smokey fish are very small a 2-3 wt should be fine.

I think it would be great to have our own section of just flies for the salt. If it gets going maybe we could get it pinned. If you agree start posting your work here. Old or new. Here's a couple of my recent ties. Haven't tossed the pinfish yet but the marabou mud minnow looks pretty good in the water. It has brass eyes under the plastic ones to help keep it hook up.