Small Baitfish Pattern For Big Spooky Winter Fish

[Panama Red 0]

Andy posted a picture of a pig trout not long ago that he caught on a craft fur minnow, it got me thinking… Casey Smartt ties a killer glass pattern that will catch any thing that swims and is uber easy to tie. This version is tied with a small craft fur tail and dubbed angelina fiber head.

 

I love this fly for backwater areas in the winter and along the shoreline in spring and summer.

[Saltybum 0]

Sweet flies. What size hook you using?

About a week ago I found a few big trout on some flats here in East central Fl and they were very spooky. Never got so much as a look, even cast twenty feet in front and waiting till they cam e to fly before moving it only to see them do 180s.

The water is almost gin clear now and very little grass making sight fishing exciting.

[Flyfish007 0]

Nice!

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

I'll be interested in the hook size as well... Down here I routinely use Crystal Schminnows (mostly #2 or #4, occasionally as small as #6...). Yesterday we caught and released three small snook on a #2 when nothing else got bit at all (very long day, ran over 70miles into the backcountry and back... not my best performance at all). Here's a pic of the version I tie up, wire weedguard and all...

 

Tight Lines

Bob LeMay

(954) 435-5666

[Panama Red 0]

Sweet flies. What size hook you using?

About a week ago I found a few big trout on some flats here in East central Fl and they were very spooky. Never got so much as a look, even cast twenty feet in front and waiting till they cam e to fly before moving it only to see them do 180s.

The water is almost gin clear now and very little grass making sight fishing exciting.

That sounds like a blast! I'm in the same spot you were when you had your knee done, no fishing… 3-4 month to go and I'll be a fishing machine, so many flies and so little time.

 

They're tied on mustad size 4, I've been on a small fly tying binge…

[Panama Red 0]

That's a heck of a haul Bob, there are days you hang a juicy prime shrimp on a fishes nose and not get a second look. I think fish keep score the same way we do, you know the rules

 

I dig me some Crystal Schminnows, they produce on multiple species for me both bay and gulf.

[tidewaterfly 0]

PR, those look great!

 

I can envision them being productive here in warmer waters! Generic type baitfish patterns are what I like best & that looks like something that could imitate a variety! Thanks for posting them!

[Chefben4 0]

Looking great Dave. Here is a shameless plug of my own here haha. Its a craft fur minnow I tie and have had luck with in FL

 

http://wishinyouwerefishin.blogspot.com/2012/12/craft-fur-minnowbaitfish-sbs.html

[Flyfish007 0]

Nice work and thanks for the SBS

[agn54 0]

Awesome flies Dave! Where did you get the angelina fiber? a craft store? Looks great. Did you use a dubbing loop for the head?

 

Ben, the craft fur minnow I tie is similar to yours with the reverse tie-ins but I only do them on top and add a straight tie-in on the bottom so the profile is a little different. If you want a really bulky profile, tie the same fly with Polar fiber instead of craft fur, makes a great bulky baitfish. I even done some with polar fiber and a fish skull to get them deeper. The possibilities are endless but these types of flies are incredibly effective.

 

craft fur minnow

 

 

polar fiber with fish skull

[Panama Red 0]

It's a minnow palooza! Big fish eat little fish, right?

 

Fibers: http://www.embellishmentvillage.com/store.php?cat=21

 

Casey Smartt Flies: http://caseysmartt.com/2009/11/15/smartts-glass-minnow/

 

Great looking flies, gotta love craft fur.

 

I could use some pictures of fish…The only fishing I see is on T.V. and all I can do is tie flies. Little help?

[Peterjay 0]

Nice job on the flies Dave. Those craft fur minnows are also deadly on false albacore and striped bass. Here's a source for Angelina fiber that's a lot cheaper than you can usually find it. (prices are for a full ounce) I suspect it's the same stuff you find in expensive "flavor of the month" blends. I use a lot of it; it really sparkles in the water.

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/hippiechixfiber/search?search_query=Angelina+Fiber&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

 

Here's a source for craft fur. Note the size of the pieces they sell - they're twice the size of the ones you find at Michael's, etc.

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/everafterfabrics?ref=seller_info

[Panama Red 0]

Sweet! Best selection I have seen.

 

Thanks…dave

[Peterjay 0]

Yeah, both of those sources are the best I've found. It's interesting that you can get Angelina for $5.50/ounce on Etsy, when Embellishment Village gets $5.50 for a half-ounce. Yikes! I mean, I'm all in favor of making a buck, but better my pocket than theirs. A full ounce is a LOT of material. I should have mentioned that you have to check the pile lengths on the craft fur. The longer stuff (usually labeled Mongolian) appears to be the same as Polar Fiber at a much better price. If my next bank job goes well, I'm gonna buy out the store.

[ditz2 0]

Gee Peterjay..I am shocked to see you commenting on small streamers. I know how you are partial to them big mama jamas.