Saturday, February 22, 2014

Green Diablo - Green crab fly

ok I'm looking for this pattern:

Alan Caolo's Green Diablo, an impressionistic green crab imitation  haven't tied one yet




I've read that it is derived from a wooly buggerand often used for sight fishing in estuaries around grass banks.

another picture is:


and here is one discussion about the fly:

The best fly for this application, in my mind, is Dave Skok’s Diablo crab. Like any good fly it can be tied in a variety of colors and with different tails (bunny strip, splayed hackle, polar bear, rubber legs, etc.), but the basic tie involves making a body of webby hackle palmered over chenille on the body and trimmed on the bottom. When stripped, this hackle will be pushed back along the hook shank, slimming the profile of the fly. If left to fall slowly or slid along the bottom, it will maintain a wide, crustacean-like profile. The key is that this fly adapts to how it is fished, not the other way around. And in the case of permit, a fish that can be found in countless different attitudes, it pays to have a fly that will easily adapt.

Read more:
http://www.flyfisherman.com/editorial/permit-munchie-diable-crab-style/152683


Speed Flounder

and, Skok has an improvement :)

Tied by Dave Skok - Speed Phlounder

skok_speed_phlounder_lg.jpg
Size: 2
Heavy or Light
From Dave: I’ve finally figured a way to tie the Pheasant Phlounder quickly: delete the pheasant! These little flatfish are spun up with coyote tail guard hairs and grizzly hen back feathers (dyed tan) and are dead ringers for one of the striped bass’ favorite little delicacies. Tied either on a #2 Tiemco 800S with a medium size lead dumbbell eye to get down and dirty fast, or a #2 Tiemco 811S, with small lead eyes, for skinny water “skitterfish”. Also a good bonefish / permit fly.

Baby Flounder Fly?

looks good, I'll sub fox tail for the "coyote" hair though...

Pheasant Phlounder

 



Hook:  #2 Tiemco 811S or 800S
Thread:  3/0 Monocord, brown or tan
Eyes:  small or medium lead dumbbell eyes, tied in 1/3 of the way back from the hook eye
1st Wing:  cream or tan coyote guard hairs from the belly or tail, pushed down to have a flattened appearance
1st Collar:  two mottled grayish-blue pheasant feathers followed by a 3rd pheasant feather of a brownish coloration, the 1st being the smallest of the 3 feathers, tied in back of the lead eyes and wrapped – the fibers should be gathered and tied in a “beard” style so that all the fibers are on the hook point side of the shank
2nd Wing:  brown or tan coyote guard hairs from the belly or tail, pushed down to have a flattened appearance
2nd Collar:  a brown marabou-like pheasant feather, followed by a smaller golden-brown pheasant feather, tied in front of the lead eyes and wrapped – the fibers should be gathered and tied in a “beard” style so that all the fibers are on the hook point side of the shank
Note:  Any pheasant feather or other plumage (including feathers from a hen pheasant, grouse, dyed partridges or roosters or hens) may be used so long as they are reflective of the natural coloration of a juvenile flatfish.

Step 1

Using brown or tan 3/0 Monocord and a #4 – #1 standard shank hook, tie in a set of small or medium dumbbell eyes with figure-eight wraps, two eye lengths back from the hook eye. 

Step 2

Tie in a bunch of tan or cream coyote tail or grey fox tail guard hairs as long as twice the hook length or slightly longer on the hook point side of the shank, two eye lengths in back of the lead eyes.  Guard hairs with dark tips are acceptable.  Tie the guard hairs in with two or three loose wraps and then flatten the fibers down with thumb pressure.  Trim the butts and continue to bind the guard hairs down with at least 6 tight turns.

Step 3

Attach the first of three pheasant body feathers at the coyote hair tie-in point.  Wrap the feather forward (you will only get two or three turns out of the feather due to its small size) and tie down.  Form a beard by grabbing the pheasant fibers and pulling them down under (hook point side) the hook shank and tying them down.  Flatten the fibers with thumb pressure and secure the fibers in place.  Trim out any fibers that would not swing around to the hook point side of the shank.  Repeat (3 or so feathers) with increasingly larger feathers until you are tight to the lead eyes.

Step 4

Tie in another bunch of tan or cream coyote tail or grey fox tail guard hairs on the hook point side of the shank directly in front of the lead eyes.  The hair should only go to the length of the bend or slightly beyond.  Again, tie the guard hairs in with two or three loose wraps and then flatten the fibers down with thumb pressure.  Trim the butts and continue to bind the guard hairs down with at least 6 tight turns making sure that you don’t build any thread bulk near the hook eye.

Step 5

Attach the first of two pheasant body feathers at the coyote hair tie-in point.  The first feather should be slightly larger than the other feathers you have selected and should have a marabou-like quality of fluff on the first thin section of stem.  Wrap the feather forward (you will only get three or four turns out of the feather due to its small size) and tie down.  Form a beard by grabbing the pheasant fibers and pulling them down under (hook point side) the hook shank and tying them down.  Flatten the fibers with thumb pressure and secure the fibers in place.  Trim out any fibers that would not swing around to the hook point side of the shank.  Repeat with a smaller, less fluffy feather until you are tight to the hook eye.

Step 6

Whip finish and apply head cement to the entire bottom portion of the flounder (lead eyes, exposed feather stems and head).

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

A great way to line your plug bag

is to use vinyl fence railing and downspount tubes, cut to length

here's a pic from another anglers... NOT my idea:


Saturday, February 15, 2014

Capo loves snow

My dachshund Cappuccino ( capo for short ) loves snow. Good thing because the grand state of south jersey, which is normally sunny and 70s, has had it's share this winter.

I, on the other hand, am fully ready for spring :)




Thursday, February 6, 2014

Ice Storm hits eastern PA

Just glad I'm not living through it again, but those just to the West of Philly certainly are!!!