How to Tie The Peppermint Punisher

Snook Flies / By /

A while back I tied up and posted a very simple and space baitfish pattern with snook and baby tarpon in mind. This popular little pattern got all kinds of interest and several of you wanted to know what it was called and how to tie it. Since I didn’t have a name for it, I left it up my FB and Instagram pals to pick one out. After 70+ creative recommendations I decided that Alex Beane’s nomination for  “The Peppermint Punisher ” fit the bill.  Here’s what you need to tie a few up for yourself.

Materials

Step 1:

Start the thread at the point of the hook and attach a pencil sized bunch of polar fiber.  Pick out the excessively long fibers so the tapered section is approximately 2 1/2 – 3 times the hook length.

Step 2:

Double one or two stands of DNA Holo Chromosome  Flash around the thread and pinch one leg with your thumb and index finger and the other with your middle and ring finger creating a “V” with the flash. Position one leg on each side if the fly and secure in place with 4-5 wraps.  This technique will save you some time, insure that your flies are symmetrical and insure that the flash will not pull out.

Step 3:

Directly on top of the previously added materials, tie in the wire tip of the white EP Foxy Brush. Secure the bush with seven to eight tight wraps and advance your thread approximately 1/4 inch toward the eye of the hook.

Step 4:

Palmer the brush forward 5 turns, stoking the fiber of the brush backward with each consecutive wrap. Do your best not to trap any of the fiber or hairs as you wind forward.

Step 5:

Tie off the Foxy brush with 5-6 wraps and work the wire back and forth until it breaks off. Clipping the wire with scissors or nail clippers will leave a sharp burr, and could potentially freight or cut your leader.  Stroke all the brush fibers backward toward the tail of the fly, and make a few wraps on top of the material to hold the fibers backward.

Step 6:

Directly on top of the previously added materials, tie in the wire tip of the red EP Foxy Brush. Secure the bush with seven to eight tight wraps and advance your thread approximately 1/8 inch toward the eye of the hook.

Step 7:

Palmer the brush forward 2-3 turns, stoking the fiber of the brush backward with each consecutive wrap. Do your best not to trap any of the fiber or hairs as you wind forward.

Step 8:

Tie off the Foxy brush with 5-6 wraps and work the wire back and forth until it breaks off. Stroke all the brush fibers backward toward the tail of the fly, and make a few wraps on top of the material to hold the fibers backward.

Step 9:

Directly on top of the thread wraps, tie in the plasticbead-chain eyes with a series of tight figure eight wraps. Once the eyes are secured in place, advance the thread in front of the plastic eyes and create a compact tapered thread head.

Step 10:

Whip finish directly behind the eyes and cut away the thread. Coat the head with a thin coat of Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish Flow.

Finished Peppermint Punisher