Pattern by Drei Stroman
What conditions/environment/situation was the fly designed to be fished in?
Being that this fly represents a tasty treat, this fly can be fished in all conditions all year. The best conditions will always be clear calm. I also like it when the waters are a little stirred up.
The Buddagrassy Shrimp – Redfish Flies Read More »
Want to make your own dubbing brush? Here’s how I do it.
How to Make a Dubbing Brush Read More »
The Five-Minute Finger Mullet Fly is a dubbing-brush pattern tied completely with synthetic materials. I created this pattern years ago in an effort to create a flashy yet realistic mullet imitation. The fly needed to be large, castable and at the same time exhibit the correct carrot-shaped profile to move water when stripped. This seems easy now, but at the time dubbing brushes were not popular yet. Very few materials on the market provided the qualities needed to accomplish the size, shape and translucency I was looking for.
Evenly dispersing flash throughout a fly is one of the hallmarks of a well-tied fly. It is relatively simple to tie in flash along with other synthetic materials to achieve a uniform and realistic look throughout the body of the fly. It is far more difficult to do when you are trying to create a cylindrical shape such as a finger mullet and finish the fly’s head with the same material. The fastest and easiest way to accomplish this, in my opinion, is with a dubbing brush. You can blend multiple colors of a material, as heavy or sparsely as you wish, and with a few quick wraps you are done. The same material you created the body of the fly with is now uniformly palmered around the hook and ready to be trimmed to its final shape.
5 Minute Finger Mullet Fly: Great for Snook, Tarpon, Baby Tarpon, Redfish, Seatrout Read More »
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I came up with the fly that is now known as Pine Island Ice Tea in late 2012. I was going through my flies the night before a charter and I was short on seatrout and redfish patterns. It was late, I was tired and I needed a few flies quick. I am a strong believer that redfish, snook, and trout in my area are not very picky about what they eat. I have filleted many fish in my lifetime, and they are full of all sorts of different things. It is crucial however to have a fly that looks natural, doesn’t collect weeds, and can be presented at the correct level in the water column. Being a fishing guide, durability was also a very important factor.
This is the fourth installment of Redfish Flies. To read the rest of the interview, and for the complete step-by-step instructions for tying this redfish fly and 7 more, download your copy of Redfish Flies at www.saltyflytying.com $14.99 or order your Signed Paperback version today ! $24.99 + Shipping.
Has the pattern evolved or changed any over time (Materials, Tying Techniques etc.)?
The fly hasn’t evolved much at all. I’ve tied it in olive and in white, they all seem to be effective colors. Sometimes I use Raccoon tail instead of bucktail, It profiles better in the water.
This 175 page downloadable pdf. is illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions, click the link, or icon to download your copy today. $14.99 Or order your signed paperback version at saltyflytying.com $24.99. Detailed instructions for tying Drew Chicone’s Kung Fu Blue Crab, Capt. Ron Ratliff’s Fiddle Sticks Crab, Capt. Daniel Andrews’s Pine Island Ice Tea, Drei Stroman’s Budagrassy Shrimp, Chris Kincaid’s Rump Shaker, Capt. Joe Costadura’s Grass Monkey, Bill Laminack’s Gulf Shrimp, and Don Reed’s Batman pattern.
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight!
-Drew
Pine Island Ice Tea – Redfish Flies Read More »
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I chose the deer because I knew I could easily make the shape of the shell I wanted. The legs are micro chenille, which happened to be the correct thickness I was looking for, and easily shaped and colored if needed. You can use anything from bead chain to lead eyes for the situation you will face.
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I believe the shape, size, and realism makes this fly irresistible to a red fish. I have also heard reports that permit have been munching on them.
This 175 page downloadable pdf. is illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions, click the link, or icon to download your copy today. $14.99 Or order your signed paperback version at saltyflytying.com $24.99. Detailed instructions for tying Drew Chicone’s Kung Fu Blue Crab, Capt. Ron Ratliff’s Fiddle Sticks Crab, Capt. Daniel Andrews’s Pine Island Ice Tea, Drei Stroman’s Budagrassy Shrimp, Chris Kincaid’s Rump Shaker, Capt. Joe Costadura’s Grass Monkey, Bill Laminack’s Gulf Shrimp, and Don Reed’s Batman pattern.
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight!
-Drew
The Fiddle Sticks Crab – Redfish Flies Read More »
Although there are countless species of crabs that exhibit the estuaries of the gulf coast, the one that is most recognizable and the therefore the one I most frequently try to emulate is the blue crab. It’s vibrant splashes of orange are hard to miss in clear water, and even more difficult for a cruising redfish to pass up.
This is the second installment of Redfish Flies. To read the rest of the interview, and for the complete step-by-step instructions for tying this redfish fly and 7 more, download your copy of Redfish Flies at www.saltyflytying.com.
When presenting this fly to redfish, you want the fly to get down in front of the fish quickly. Once you have made your cast to the redfish, creep the fly along the bottom with ultra-slow strips. The fly should look like it barely moves. Once the fish becomes aware of the fly, don’t move it!
My Blue Crab variation of Eddie Wyatt’s Kung Fu Crab, is simply a larger and more colorful version of the classic permit pattern. This vibrant version is also tied much bulkier than the original and the legs are left longer for more movement when the fly is not being stripped.
This 175 page downloadable pdf. is illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions, click the link, or icon to download your copy today. $14.99 Paperback version also available at saltyflytying.com. Detailed instructions for tying Drew Chicone’s Kung Fu Blue Crab, Capt. Ron Ratliff’s Fiddle Sticks Crab, Capt. Daniel Andrews’s Pine Island Ice Tea, Drei Stroman’s Budagrassy Shrimp, Chris Kincaid’s Rump Shaker, Capt. Joe Costadura’s Grass Monkey, Bill Laminack’s Gulf Shrimp, and Don Reed’s Batman pattern.
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight!
-Drew
Kung Fu Blue Crab – Redfish Flies Read More »
