Category Archives: Fly Patterns

Featured Flies – Saltwater flies created by fly tying enthusiasts from all over the globe.

Clay’s Reef Special: Yellow

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Recreate fly patterns at home! Materials used in making this fly have been included below. Always keep in mind your local fly-fishing store will most likely have the materials referenced, and typically for less. Materials can also be found at Amazon or any other major on-line resource.

Fly-Tying Materials

[list]
[list_item]Mustad 34007SS (#2 or #4)[/list_item]
[list_item]Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread, white[/list_item]
[list_item]Real Eyes Plus, Yellow (3/16” for #2 and 5/32” for #4)[/list_item]
[list_item]Polarflash, Pearl[/list_item]
[list_item]Craft Fur, White[/list_item]
[list_item]Craft Fur, Yellow[/list_item]
[list_item]Variegated Tinsel Chenille, Medium, White/ Pearl[/list_item]
[/list]

Design Inspiration & Detail

Clayton Yee designed this particular fly. You may find quite a few of his designs at his local fly shop, Nervous Water Fly Fishers in Honolulu, HI. Clay established Nervous Water Fly Fishers in 1999 before fly-fishing in the islands really took off. For the few years I lived in Hawaii, he and his shop manager Sean we more than helpful in setting me up with some effective fly patterns. His Mean Streak Gotcha and Orange Crazy Charlie are two more great patterns for Bonefish just about anywhere.

Clay’s Reef Special is another great fly for fishing South Florida and Caribbean flats. Anything that looks like a shrimp, crab or baitfish with natural colors and an splash of something bright is already the perfect fly for catching some local game fish. As always, the metallic/ crystal flash really gives the fly some life. Be creative and change up colors. Options for upgrading the pattern are endless.

Target Species

This particular fly was designed to attract Bonefish and Permit – jacks and many other species will also take the fly.

Key Lime Shrimp

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Recreate fly patterns at home! Materials used in making this fly have been included below. Always keep in mind your local fly-fishing store will most likely have the materials referenced, and typically for less. Materials can also be found at Amazon or any other major on-line resource.

Fly-Tying Materials

[list]
[list_item]Mustad 34007SS (#8)[/list_item]
[list_item]UTC 210, fluorescent chartreuse[/list_item]
[list_item]Bead Chain Eyes, small, black[/list_item]
[list_item]Crystal Flash, olive/ pearl[/list_item]
[list_item]Craft Fur, cream[/list_item]
[list_item]Senyo’s Laser Dub, white[/list_item]
[/list]

Design Inspiration & Detail

Another great fly for fishing South Florida and Caribbean flats. Anything that looks like a shrimp, crab or baitfish with natural colors and an splash of something bright is already the perfect fly for catching some local game fish. As always, the metallic/ crystal flash really gives the fly some life. Be creative and change up colors. Options for upgrading the pattern are endless.

Target Species

This particular fly was designed to attract Bonefish and Permit – jacks and many other species will also take the fly.

Crazy Legged Gotcha: Pink

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Recreate fly patterns at home! Materials used in making this fly have been included below. Always keep in mind your local fly-fishing store will most likely have the materials referenced, and typically for less. Materials can also be found at Amazon or any other major on-line resource.

Fly-Tying Materials

[list]
[list_item]Mustad 34007SS (#6)[/list_item]
[list_item]UTC 210, pink[/list_item]
[list_item]Bead Chain Eyes, small, silver[/list_item]
[list_item]Crazy Legs, pink tipped[/list_item]
[list_item]Midge Body Thread, pink[/list_item]
[list_item]Arctic Fox Fur, white[/list_item]
[list_item]Ande 20 lb Monofilament, clear (weed guard)[/list_item]
[/list]

Design Inspiration & Detail

Another great fly for fishing South Florida and Caribbean flats. Anything that looks like a shrimp or crab with natural colors and an splash of something bright is already the perfect fly for catching some local game fish. As always, the metallic/ crystal flash really gives the fly some life. Add a few strands for legs or antennule. Be creative and change up colors. Options for upgrading the pattern are endless.

Target Species

This particular fly was designed to attract Bonefish and Permit – jacks and many other species will also take the fly.

Borski’s Fur Shrimp

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Recreate fly patterns at home! Materials used in making this fly have been included below. Always keep in mind your local fly-fishing store will most likely have the materials referenced, and typically for less. Materials can also be found at Amazon or any other major on-line resource.

Fly-Tying Materials

[list]
[list_item]Mustad 34007SS (#2)[/list_item]
[list_item]UTC 210, white[/list_item]
[list_item]Lead Eyes, large, painted, yellow[/list_item]
[list_item]Crystal Flash, olive/ pearl[/list_item]
[list_item]Saddle Hackle, grizzly[/list_item]
[list_item]Craft Fur, cream (barred using black Sharpie)[/list_item]
[list_item]Ande 20 lb Monofilament, clear (weed guard)[/list_item]
[/list]

Design Inspiration & Detail

Another great fly for fishing South Florida and Caribbean flats. Anything that looks like a shrimp, crab or baitfish with natural colors and an splash of something bright is already the perfect fly for catching some local game fish. The lead eyes help keep the “shrimp” sitting in an appropriate position and barring like this will excite predators. As always, the metallic/ crystal flash really gives the fly some life. Be creative and change up colors. Options for upgrading the pattern are endless.

Target Species

This particular fly was designed to attract Bonefish, Permit, and Snook – jacks and many other species will also take the fly.

Black Clouser

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Recreate fly patterns at home! Materials used in making this fly have been included below. Always keep in mind your local fly-fishing store will most likely have the materials referenced, and typically for less. Materials can also be found at Amazon or any other major on-line resource.

Fly-Tying Materials

[list]
[list_item]Mustad 34007SS (#8)[/list_item]
[list_item]UTC 210, black[/list_item]
[list_item]Lead Eyes, small, painted, red[/list_item]
[list_item]Crystal Flash, black[/list_item]
[list_item]Bucktail, black[/list_item]
[/list]

Design Inspiration & Detail

Clousers are obviously a staple for any angler’s fly-box. Black Clousers will effectively catch fish anywhere. The Clouser emulates a small baitfish and can on occasion look like a shrimp if settled on the sea floor. In South Florida, darker colored flies are typically used around dusk or when the sun goes down. Believe it or not, the fish seem to like the darker colored flies at night. Still not sure how this works.

Clousers of all colors will catch just about any game fish. As always, the metallic/ crystal flash really gives the fly some life. Be creative and change up colors. Options for upgrading the pattern are endless.

Target Species

This particular fly was designed to attract inshore game fish looking for the indigenous baitfish. Tie them bigger for some Pelagic action.

Olive Clouser

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Recreate fly patterns at home! Materials used in making this fly have been included below. Always keep in mind your local fly-fishing store will most likely have the materials referenced, and typically for less. Materials can also be found at Amazon or any other major on-line resource.

Fly-Tying Materials

[list]
[list_item]Mustad 34007SS (#1/0)[/list_item]
[list_item]UTC 210, olive[/list_item]
[list_item]Lead Eyes, painted, large, red[/list_item]
[list_item]Crystal Flash, silver/ gold[/list_item]
[list_item]Crystal Flash, silver/ blue[/list_item]
[list_item]Bucktail, white[/list_item]
[list_item]Bucktail, olive[/list_item]
[/list]

Design Inspiration & Detail

Clousers are another very easy entry-level fly to tie. Their simple construction makes it easy to layer a few colors of bucktail or EP Fiber and accent with Crystal Flash of your choice. Every saltwater fly-box should have a small selection of Clousers. It may be the most basic form of a baitfish fly. Bob Clouser originally designed the Clouser (circa 1987). I believe his target fish was Smallmouth Bass. Some popular colors patterns typically include white with olive, chartreuse, grey, blue, and red.

Target Species

This particular fly was originally designed to attract Smallmouth Bass. Over the years, this pattern has been used to catch over 90 species of fish. Species which prey on baitfish will be attracted to the Clouser.