Dave Johnson’s Petticoat Snook Fly

Snook Flies / /

“Marabou has the most action in the water than of any other material I know of. When the marabou is placed and spread out in the loop, and twisted, (locked in the thread) then palmered forward, the marabou encompasses the body of the hook. That is the reason I call it the Petticoat streamer,” said Dave.
When pulled through still water or in moving water, the marabou tips move all around the hook and the profile of the fly looks like a bait fish. When the fly is stopped, the hook sinks down and the wing flares up. Because of the marabou is twisted in the loop, the fly is imparted with a lifelike action, yet the marabou does not foul. That is what makes the Petticoat Streamer so effective.

This is the second installment of  Snook Flies. To read the rest of the interview, and for the complete step-by-step instructions for tying this snook fly and 7 more,  download your copy of Snook Flies at www.saltyflytying.com. Read More

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Snook Flies eBook

Snook Flies / /

Each year is a little different, but typically around late April or early May the snook start their annual migration from the rivers, creeks and backwater estuaries to the gin clear water and sandy beaches to spawns.  The massive funnel of fish disband into small pods or strings of individuals and cruise up and down the shoreline in knee-deep water.   These ghost-like shadows drive angles crazy violently busting up rafts  glass minnows and white bait with reckless abandonment.

When the water is clear, Seeing 30-40” fish is a frequent occurrence,  and what used to be a private sight fishing oasis for the local has quickly become an addictive  destination location for adventure anglers world wide. May and June are prime fishing beach fishing times in South West Florida, and each year the number of fly-rodders increases exponentially. Some weakened warriors that seem to whip the water to a froth, others brilliantly talented casters and tyers from unknown providence.  Whatever the case, it seems inevitable that soon there will be more fisherman than swimmers and the once easy to catch, blissfully ignorant submarine sized snook, are now highly educated and extremely scrupulous. Over the last 10 seasons of chasing snook, I have honed my techniques and refined my selection of flies down to just the key essentials required for hoodwinking this exceedingly erudite fish.  The pattens presented have been rigorously tested and have a confirmed track-record for persuading copious numbers of scholarly snook.  This selection of flies will ensure you have the entire water column covered and give you the ability to “Match the Minnows” size and location in the water column, no matter where you are fishing. Read More

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Feather Brain: Creating & Tying with Dubbing Brushes

Feather Brain / /

Feather Brain: Dubbing Brushes

A dubbing brush is really just a customized pipe cleaner. Instead of a synthetic core like chenille, the two wires that make up the core sandwich a variety of different materials that can be palmered around the hook shank. By customizing your own brushes, you can match the other materials you are tying with exactly, as well as blend several colors, providing youwith more lifelike patterns

This is the thirteenth  installment of  Feather Brain by Drew Chicone. To read more about Creating and Tying with Dubbing Brushes, Visit my website Salty Fly Tying to order your signed copy of Feather Brain today!  $24.95 + Shipping

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Feather Brain: Markers … Don’t Leave home with out them

Feather Brain / /

Feather Brain, Markering

So much you learn about catching fish is about being versatile  and being able to adapt your fly to match or mimic a specific prey item in a specific situation is paramount.  A small modification is sometimes all you need to trigger a strike. I can’t think of a more versatile tool for fly tying or in-the-field alterations than permanent markers.

This is the twelfth installment of  Feather Brain by Drew Chicone. To read more about using Markers to improve your patterns, Visit my website Salty Fly Tying to order your signed copy of Feather Brain today!  $24.95 + Shipping

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Feather Brain: Dying Materials with Kool-Aid

Feather Brain / /

Dying with Kool-Aid, Feather Brain

Although there are a rainbow of colors available in almost every material, I often find myself searching for a specific shade or a slightly different hue in a certain material that just doesn’t exist on the shelves of my local fly shop or even online.Dying the materials at home is cheap and easy and allows me to continuously modify a material’s color, taking custom creations one step further.

This is the eleventh  installment of  Feather Brain by Drew Chicone. To read more about Dying Materials with Kool-Aid and other beverages, Visit my website Salty Fly Tying to order your signed copy of Feather Brain today!  $24.95 + Shipping

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Feather Brain: UV Curing Acrylics & Adhesives

Feather Brain / /

IMG_1355

If you have ever used 5 minute epoxy while tying flies, you know that that’s the shortest five minus of your life!   I can’t tell you how many perfectly good flies have ended up in the bottom of trash can thanks to terrible smelling stuff . Thanks to the birth of UV adhesives,  I am glad those days are over. The numerous types of UV-cured acrylics on the market today provide a faster, easier, and cleaner alternative to epoxy.

This is the tenth installment of  Feather Brain by Drew Chicone. To read more about UV Curing Acrylics & Adhesives, Visit my website Salty Fly Tying to order your signed copy of Feather Brain today!  $24.95 + Shipping

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Feather Brain: Selecting Materials

Feather Brain / /

Selecting Materials - Feather Brain

Fur, hair, and feathers are the original saltwater tying materials, however there are hundreds of different synthetic materials to choose from today.  Both have their pro’s and con’s, but it is important to take in to consideration the size of the flies you are trying to create when you are putting together your shopping list.  When it comes to synthetics, think about the profile you want to create.  I like thicker more coarse materials for larger 4-6 inch baitfish flies, and thinner more pliable materials for 1-3 inch baitfish flies.  The length of the material,  and  translucency  also need to be considered when making your selection.

This is the ninth  installment of  Feather Brain by Drew Chicone. To read more about Selecting Materals, Visit my website Salty Fly Tying to order your signed copy of Feather Brain today!  $24.95 + Shipping

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