Paul’s Buck Tail Baitfish
Hook: Mustad 34007 size 1 and 1/0, or salt water hook of preference, sizes #1 and #1/0.
Thread: White flymaster+ or color matching upper wing color.
Tail/lower wing: White buck tail. The first and longest bunch of buck tail is tied in on top of the hook shank, then wrapped with body braid. Two slightly shorted bunches of buck tail are tied in on each side slightly angled down toward the hook point. Topped with pearlescent Flash-a-bou, or Polar Flash, or flash material of choice.
Body: Pearl body braid (wrapped over the hook shank after the tail is applied).
Upper Wing: Chartreuse, olive or "root beer" buck tail. Topped with a darker Flash-a-bou, Polar Flash, or Flash material of choice. When I tie this fly in Chartreuse I use a chartreuse colored flash.
Eyes: 3-D Molded Eyes, covered with epoxy.
There are probably 100’s of variations of this fly out there. Here’s my version of it. Perhaps the best way to describe this fly is a “deceiver without the feathers”. Although it has less movement than a deceiver, it fouls infrequently and seems to be just as productive. It’s super easy to tie and boy does it catch fish. Just a great all round’ bait imitation. Tie it sparsely in “root beer” and you have an excellent sand eel pattern. Strip it back at various speeds and make sure you “dead drift” it in the current as well.
Eyes: 3-D Molded Eyes, covered with epoxy.
There are probably 100’s of variations of this fly out there. Here’s my version of it. Perhaps the best way to describe this fly is a “deceiver without the feathers”. Although it has less movement than a deceiver, it fouls infrequently and seems to be just as productive. It’s super easy to tie and boy does it catch fish. Just a great all round’ bait imitation. Tie it sparsely in “root beer” and you have an excellent sand eel pattern. Strip it back at various speeds and make sure you “dead drift” it in the current as well.
Begin by advancing your thread from the hook eye to the bend of the hook. Next, tie in a small bunch of buck tail on top of the hook shank. It should extend beyond the bend anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 ½ times the length of the hook shank. When I tie it in I lay the buck tail along the top of the hook shank and cover it with thread. This provides you with a very even base for the rest of the fly. Next, tie in your pearl body braid near the bend of the hook. Palmer it forward and tie off just before the eye. I then coat it with ‘tough as nails’ for added durability. I also apply head or ‘flex’ cement at numerous stages in the construction of the fly. Next tie in two bunches of white buck tail on each side of the hook shank. They should be a little shorter than the tail, and slightly angled down. Top the lower wing/tail with pearlescent Flash-a-bou or Polar Flash. It should be tied in near the eye and extend to the tip of the tail. Next, tie in your upper wing (chartreuse, olive, or root beer). It should extend from the eye of the hook to the tip of the tail. Top this with darker Flash-a-bou, Polar Flash, or flash material of choice. Apply 3-D eyes. Finally, epoxy the eyes and head of the fly.
This fly can also be viewed at the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association website at www.hffa.net . If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a pattern of
