Tight Lines Fly Fishing: Paul's December 2018 Fly of the Month

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: