Tigerflies

[Ol'DirtyCaster 0]

 

Show me one.

If I was back at my home instead of 9 hours away, I'd happily post a picture of mine. If I make it back to Cabelas, I can take a picture of the ones they were selling today. I'm not sure why you think 2/0 B10S don't exist.

Because I work for a retailer and the B10S has been our best selling hook for about 7 years. Don't misunderstand, I'd be thrilled if I were wrong.

[flytire 0]

You said in a previous post there is no such thing a 2/0 b10s but in your post above you say its your best seller. Which one is it?

 

I just bought some from bears den. I will post a photo when i get them

 

Plus posters have proved there is such a hook

[josephcsylvia 0]

I posted a picture of a pack of 2/0 guys

[Adam Saarinen 0]

Must be eggnog?

[josephcsylvia 0]

Must be eggnog?

Yep

[mikechell 0]

Probably the "2/0" size ... maybe the retailer he works for can get other sizes, just not that size?

[jd1983 0]

Here is another photo in case the other picture isn't good enough.

 

Anyway, there was a free book on Kindle called "Tigerfish!" that described fishing for them. Can't remember if he described flies to catch them or not but it may be worth a look.

[Ol'DirtyCaster 0]

Probably the "2/0" size ... maybe the retailer he works for can get other sizes, just not that size?

 

I'm honestly glad to know they exist, and have no idea how that hook managed to stay under our radar. We buy direct from gami, no rep or distributors to blame.

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

For those out of the south Florida venue..... "Old Dirty...." is a commercial tyer who has worked for a local south florida fly shop for a few years now..... If you want to see a bit of his stuff go to this continuing thread (bring an adult beverage since the thread is nearly 100 pages now - mostly other tyers, but his contributions are pretty impressive....

 

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?1445-What-have-you-been-tying-(pt-2)

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

Here's my take on big flies for exotic places.... First off - tailor your hook sizes to your rod size first - then strongly consider the fish you're targeting (jaw structure, teeth -if any, etc.) and remember that the larger and heavier any hook style is.... the harder it will be to actually stick a fish with it..... By the way, in my opinion circle hooks are a solution in search of a problem..... Stick with standard "J" hooks for fly fishing, period. I use a ton of circle hooks -but always for bait fishing....

 

Over the years my Tarpon Snakes have accounted for tarpon, sharks, big snook, grouper, giant trevally (Seychelles), and probably quite a few species I can't even name.... One or two of the anglers that come out of Europe to fish with me, also fish everywhere else in the world (from Russia to Africa, south and central America, etc). I never guessed how well the pattern would fare but have been very pleased from the reports I've gotten. At any rate the pattern (in sizes from 1/0 up to 4/0) might be a pretty good starting point. Every bit of it is done with large, wide, webby saddle hackles (8 for the tail, 3 or 4 for the body.... Along with the largest size bead chain commonly available (in your local hardware store ask for "plumber's chain" -it's the same size chain you'll also find on vertical blinds....). Given the notation that the tiger has a hard, bony jaw I'd want to start with a Tiemco 600sp hook -it has a wide gape, per size, and a very sharp point -but a bit lighter wire than an Owner Aki (my go to big fish hook, Aki means yellowfin tuna in japanese...). If I were equipping an angler with them I'd recommend the same colors in two different sizes, 1/0 and 4/0... to cover the bases. I'll post up pics of a few different colors - but start with basic all black -then any color you choose.

 

The next big fish pattern I'd want along is that old Lefty's Deceiver - but a full dress version, done up in a bulky, lots of material fashion. When I tied for the Southern Angler shop in Stuart, Florida we called it the Southern Deceiver... Locals used it at night for monster snook and the biggest reported was 37 pounds (in that area they don't think a snook on fly merits a photo unless it's over 20lbs...). Although I used to do them in a variety of colors the only photo I have is a basic olive/white on a 4/0 hook....

 

Lastly there's a trick you can use to be able to tie up a larger Clouser style fly - that you can still cast... I called it the Offshore Clouser but it's worth considering for Tigers... During the tying process, after the first amount of bucktail add in a thin layer of flourofiber in white that's about five to six inches long over the top to greatly extend the fly's profile without adding any bulk at all, then finish with the last layer of bucktail - all on a 3/0 Mustad 34007 hook... A note about hooks... for really big fish if you use premium hooks you won't need to sharpen them at all - but simply mash down the barb with a pair of pliers and you find any hook easier to stick a fish with.... For non-premium hooks like the Mustad - I carefully triangulate the point with a four inch mill bastard file until it will stick in my thumbnail (instead of sliding....).

 

Now for some pics....

 

 

[bulb 0]

Thanks for the advice captain! So far i've tied closers in black and white/lt.brown, and a freestyle deciever. Like the look of your full dress version, could have definetly made mine bulkier in hindsight. I've thought about a tube pattern, but the problem is the wire trace. Are there any classic salt tube patterns? My line of reasoning is that if i can tie on a metal tube i can really weigh my fly down and if the hook wears out then a quick change is all that's needed.

[mikechell 0]

From everything I've read about Clousers ... those are two perfectly tied flies, Bulb.

[bulb 0]

Thanks for the kind words mike! They were fun to tie, picked up some new bucktails and dumbbell eyes from my local flyshop today

[Fishypieter 0]

This is just a selection of flies we use to catch the Stripped Water Dog (Tigerfish) here in Southern Africa.

On the Brush Flies, The following colors works well.Bleeding Black/Tan/Olive

[Adam Saarinen 0]

Remember to find out what kind of presentation those fish like? Fast or slow strip? This or that? No meaning to have the best fly when everything else is wrong!?!