Swimming Finger Mullet

[McFlyLures 0]

This fly I created because of a request from a Customer of mine who was buying my hand tied flies.  He said he wanted something like a clouser minnow, but one that was colored like a finger mullet.  Now, finger mullet are big headed fish, and Clouser Minnows are thin, dainty little flies.  So I set out to create a water pushing pattern, that also swam hook point up and jigged slightly like the Clouser Minnow, but could more closely represent a Mullet.  And this was the final creation.  

After tying this, I realized this could be a good pattern to represent a number of different baitfish.  Specifically Sculpin in the fresh water with their fat front bodies, I probably would shorten up the tail a bit more though for mimicking them.   And even shad, if the body is cut correctly to be more narrow and tall it could very much represent them.   

 

[richmce 0]

that would be good on a 90 degree hook with dumbell to stand it up

[McFlyLures 0]

18 hours ago, richmce said:

that would be good on a 90 degree hook with dumbell to stand it up

Yeah, I agree.  Its hard to find saltwater hooks with a 90 degree or 60 degree shank.  Any recommendations on saltwater hooks like that?  

[Chasing_Tails 0]

15 minutes ago, McFlyLures said:

Yeah, I agree.  Its hard to find saltwater hooks with a 90 degree or 60 degree shank.  Any recommendations on saltwater hooks like that?  

After seeing his post I worked this up:

I pond tested it and the 60 degree jig hook design, lead eyes, and buoyant bucktail for the tail gives the vertical fall and presentation on the bottom. it has a great wobble when jigged too.

Here is the hook I used, found at west marine:

[richmce 0]

those gammys are nice hooks  eagle claw makes a saltwater 60 degree   either 410  or 413

[McFlyLures 0]

Chasing, nice work!  Looks great!  Mine obviously is more simple.  I like your take on this fly.  And yeah gamakatsu makes a great hook, my fear is in saltwater, would those bend on redfish?  Like how stout are they?

I have trouble finding eagle claws where I live for some reason.  Any online sources you recommend?

[Chasing_Tails 0]

9 minutes ago, McFlyLures said:

Chasing, nice work!  Looks great!  Mine obviously is more simple.  I like your take on this fly.  And yeah gamakatsu makes a great hook, my fear is in saltwater, would those bend on redfish?  Like how stout are they?

I have trouble finding eagle claws where I live for some reason.  Any online sources you recommend?

Stout hook, i'd have no qualms against throwing it to a redfish of any size.

I actually bought these hooks to rig Zman Ez Shrimpz for reds, snook, and tarpon on spinning/casting gear and they have shown themselves worthy of close quarters battle on big fish.

[richmce 0]

i get my eagle claws from do it molds

[McFlyLures 0]

On 1/7/2022 at 2:00 PM, richmce said:

i get my eagle claws from do it molds

Ok thanks!  

[McFlyLures 0]

On 1/7/2022 at 1:07 PM, Chasing_Tails said:

Stout hook, i'd have no qualms against throwing it to a redfish of any size.

I actually bought these hooks to rig Zman Ez Shrimpz for reds, snook, and tarpon on spinning/casting gear and they have shown themselves worthy of close quarters battle on big fish.

Sounds good.  Yeah, I wish they came in something smaller than a 2 also.  I just looked it up and they look great.   I will order some.  I have a fly I use a size 6 hook on though (not the one above). And it needs to be jigged.  However it also has to be stout and good for saltwater.  Hard to find hooks like that.   I bend my own to get the jig part.