The Baymen Universal
Hook: Eagle Claw 254 SS or Eagle Claw L253 (Size #4
to #2/0 hook.)
Tying thread: Danville Flat Waxed Nylon, color of choice.
Wing: 6-8 strands of Peacock Herl over Olive
Bucktail over Pearl Krystal Flash over Pink Bucktail.
Belly: White Bucktail.
Throat/Gill: Red Bucktail.
Eyes: 3D Living Eyes sized to fly (I like to
oversize my eyes).
Finish: 5 Minute Epoxy or UV Resin.
This
is an extremely versatile salt water fly.
I’ve tied it on size #4 to #2/0 hook sizes. What’s important about this fly are the
various colors in the pattern recipe.
The pink & olive color combo is a striper magnet. The fly also includes a flash lateral line, 3
D eyes, and a red ‘throat/gill plate’, all triggers that make this a very
productive fly. A few years ago I was on
the Cape and the fish were feeding on very small bait fish. I had tied up a bunch of Universals on a size
#4 hook (I also coated the body along the hook shank with epoxy) and landed
fish after fish when others failed to. This is a very easy and fast tie once you get
rollin’. No feathers to pair or mess
with. One additional comment about tying
this fly, sparse is better.
Begin
by laying a base of thread from the hook eye to the bend. Bring your thread back up to the eye. Tie in a sparse clump of pink buck tail
behind the hook eye. It should extend
beyond the bend at least 2 times the length of the hook shank. Next, in the same location. tie in a generous
amount of Pearl Krystal Flash just slightly longer than the pink buck
tail. For very small flies I’ve
substituted silver holographic tinsel for Krystal Flash. Next, top the flash with a clump of Olive
Buck Tail just slightly longer than the rest of the wing. Now, top it with 6-8 strands of Peacock Herl longer
than the length of the entire wing. Your
wing is complete. Don’t forget to
increase the durability of your fly by applying some head cement (or adhesive
of choice) as you tie it.
If
you have a rotary vice your going to rotate your fly to tie in your belly. On the opposite side of the hook where you
tied in your wing, your going to tie in a clump of White Buck Tail for the
belly. It should extend to the approximate
length of your wing. Remember not to
over dress the fly. You’re now going to
tie in your ‘throat/gill plate’ comprised of Red Buck Tail. It’s tied in just under the belly and extends
approximately a hook shank length under the belly. Finally, it’s time to tie in your 3 D living
eyes. Some like to use goop or zap-a-gap
to affix them. I prefer to stick them on
and then epoxy over them for additional durability. As always, feel free to experiment with this
fly. Try different flash materials or even
colors. One thing you want to do is tie
it in variety of sizes.
Dave Bitters of Baymen Charters has
an excellent instructional video on how to tie this fly below:
If
you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the
Month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or at pdinice@frontier.com
.
