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Saltwater Fly Patterns
Flies for Travel

5.  Poppers

      Why would a fly that accounts for only a very small percentage of the fish that I catch each year end up as # 5 on my list.   Primarily because there are occasionally times when little else will draw fish like a popper.  Secondly, images of spectacular surface strikes loom large in my memory.

      With dozens of styles and construction methods, some of which have more negative  than positive attributes, how does one choose a popper ?

6.  Translucent Clouser

      One look in my fly bag and you would be assured of my confidence in the fish catching qualities and diversity of the Clouser Deep Minnow.  My decided preference for bucktail would also be obvious, with one notable exception.  I never go anywhere without a selection of translucent Clousers tied in Ultra Hair or similar translucent manmade material.

      Translucent olive over white is my primary choice.  Grey or light blue over white are also good combinations.   In clear water situations involving false albacore, Spanish mackerel, schooling stripers, and speckled trout; these translucent minnow imitations can make your day.

7.  Deer Hair Mullet

      In all but the coldest of weather this is my go to fly when searching for speckled trout along marsh shorelines.   Tied bend back style and with a broad cross section, this fly easily negotiates most of the snag hazards of the marshes.

8.  Crab Fly

      Cobia, redfish, black drum, and large stripers will often sail right on a crab imitation even after refusing other flies.   There are plenty of good patterns to choose from, and all will get the job done.

      As for permit, that's a different story.......

9.  Borski Bonefish Slider

      Noted for taking large bonefish in the Florida keys, this is a fly that simply look like food.  Most any fish that eats shrimp will readily take this fly. 

10.  Translucent Baitfish

      In clear water situations where a slow presentation may be appropriate i.e. when chumming, or if casting into the cull behind a shrimper, opaque patterns like traditional Deceivers are sometimes not as effective as a more translucent pattern. 

      There are a multitude of translucent synthetic materials for tying very realistic small to medium size baitfish flies.  For large translucent baitfish flies yak hair is an durable material that is available in lengths up to 13 inches.

11.   Black Deceiver

      Not long after Lefty's Deceiver rose to the forefront of baitfish patterns, a series of underwater photographs were produced.  A traditional Deceiver (mostly white with a dark dorsal area) was photographed from various angles.  As viewed from almost every angle, the Deceiver was little more than an baitfish silhouette.  Logic will tell us that the strongest silhouette will be produced by the most opaque object.   An all black Deceiver is a proven producer in off-color water and at night.

12.  Gold Spoon Fly

      I dislike casting them, do not especially enjoy fishing with them, but occasionally when fishing reds or speckled trout, a gold spoon fly is hard to beat.  Jon Cave's Wobblier is the original, and works as well as any.

Harry Hall   

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