Post by krebsie on Feb 12, 2009 15:36:40 GMT -5
This is one of my, "Go To" flies for snook. The first time we fished it my fishing buddy Barry Morris tied it on and the instant it hit the water a large Snook absolutely smashed it. In response Barry yelled out "He ate that on the first @#$% cast." So this pattern now goes by the name, "First Cast". It is a sub surface fly with lots of natural action and is 99% foul proof. Also works great on Smallies, Largemouth, Redfish and Sea Trout. You can modify this pattern to any size and or color you like.
Start with a Mustad Signature Series hook C68S SS and Red UTC 140 thread. Lay a base coat back to the bend of the hook. Take a piece of 50# mono, straighten, and melt a ball on one end. Leave about 3/4" extending out the back.
Tie in a piece of Magnum Zonker strip flush with the cut end of the mono.
Next is how I've solved the fouling problem with Zonker Strips. Hobby Lobby carries 4mm jump rings for necklace making. You'll need a good pair of small needle nosed pliers with a small slot ground in the very end of the pliers. Bring me your pliers and I'll modify them for you! Basically your making a miniature pair of hog ring pliers. Close the pliers and insert into one of the jump rings. Open the jaws so that you bend open the ring. Next put the ring in the pliers and off set the ring so that when you close it the ends will bypass each other.
Separate the hair on the Zonker and place the ring over the leather and the mono then squeeze the ring around both. Important, do not crimp tight. Leave the ring loose enough so that it will slide up and down the mono. If it's tight and the Zonker dries out it will pull the leather into a vertical position, then the fly is ruined. Use this on any pattern that uses Zonker as a tail. It WORKS!
Pull the tail towards front and cut even with the point of the hook. Don't cut any longer or the tail might catch on the point.
Tie in a short piece of regular Zonker about 1" long. This piece is just adding profile to you fly, careful not to go to long, shorter is better. Tie this over the hump created by the first two steps so that the tag starts a taper instead of a hump. Then add a few strand of Polar flash or what ever flash you choose. Make sure you keep all materials as far back as possible.
Select 2 Schlappen feathers. I used 1 white and 1 chartreuse. Bend the feather and it will show you where to cut. I marked it with a red pen to show you. If you get into the stiffer part of the shaft it will break when you start to palmer it forward.
Tie in both Schlappens and palmer forward to just in front of the hook point. Cut off excess feathers then back wrap the schlappen even with the hook point.
The collar, don't panic, it's just deer hair. Line up the tips for a collar using your hair stacker. Trim the but ends short, leave the pointed tips about 1/4" behind the hook bend. take 2 soft wraps around the hair, add tension then push and work the hair around the hook evenly, don't let it spin. Now tighten the thread and fasten securely.
Add 3 spins of deer hair in front of the collar, or as many as you need to get to just behind the eye. Spinning and packing back tightly. If your going to use a weed guard make sure to leave enough room for it behind the eye. Either way tie off and cut the thread at this point.
Trim the fly. Use a 2 sided razor blade. Cut the bottom just above the thread. Cut each side, just a bit wider than the eye.
Now trim the top of the head with your scissors, with a slight taper from the eye back to the collar.
Use Zap a Gap gell and glue on the eyes.
If you desire to add weed guards you can go back and add them at this point.
Enjoy
Krebsie
Start with a Mustad Signature Series hook C68S SS and Red UTC 140 thread. Lay a base coat back to the bend of the hook. Take a piece of 50# mono, straighten, and melt a ball on one end. Leave about 3/4" extending out the back.
Tie in a piece of Magnum Zonker strip flush with the cut end of the mono.
Next is how I've solved the fouling problem with Zonker Strips. Hobby Lobby carries 4mm jump rings for necklace making. You'll need a good pair of small needle nosed pliers with a small slot ground in the very end of the pliers. Bring me your pliers and I'll modify them for you! Basically your making a miniature pair of hog ring pliers. Close the pliers and insert into one of the jump rings. Open the jaws so that you bend open the ring. Next put the ring in the pliers and off set the ring so that when you close it the ends will bypass each other.
Separate the hair on the Zonker and place the ring over the leather and the mono then squeeze the ring around both. Important, do not crimp tight. Leave the ring loose enough so that it will slide up and down the mono. If it's tight and the Zonker dries out it will pull the leather into a vertical position, then the fly is ruined. Use this on any pattern that uses Zonker as a tail. It WORKS!
Pull the tail towards front and cut even with the point of the hook. Don't cut any longer or the tail might catch on the point.
Tie in a short piece of regular Zonker about 1" long. This piece is just adding profile to you fly, careful not to go to long, shorter is better. Tie this over the hump created by the first two steps so that the tag starts a taper instead of a hump. Then add a few strand of Polar flash or what ever flash you choose. Make sure you keep all materials as far back as possible.
Select 2 Schlappen feathers. I used 1 white and 1 chartreuse. Bend the feather and it will show you where to cut. I marked it with a red pen to show you. If you get into the stiffer part of the shaft it will break when you start to palmer it forward.
Tie in both Schlappens and palmer forward to just in front of the hook point. Cut off excess feathers then back wrap the schlappen even with the hook point.
The collar, don't panic, it's just deer hair. Line up the tips for a collar using your hair stacker. Trim the but ends short, leave the pointed tips about 1/4" behind the hook bend. take 2 soft wraps around the hair, add tension then push and work the hair around the hook evenly, don't let it spin. Now tighten the thread and fasten securely.
Add 3 spins of deer hair in front of the collar, or as many as you need to get to just behind the eye. Spinning and packing back tightly. If your going to use a weed guard make sure to leave enough room for it behind the eye. Either way tie off and cut the thread at this point.
Trim the fly. Use a 2 sided razor blade. Cut the bottom just above the thread. Cut each side, just a bit wider than the eye.
Now trim the top of the head with your scissors, with a slight taper from the eye back to the collar.
Use Zap a Gap gell and glue on the eyes.
If you desire to add weed guards you can go back and add them at this point.
Enjoy
Krebsie
