Another Replot Stinger mack (II) this time in chartreuse and black. The trailing hook (tail) I started by adding chratreuse & black chinese neck hackles splayed outwards. Then added 3 chartreuse barbed and 3 black microbarb saddles. Then dubbing loop brushed some chart then black raccoon zonker fur on. 
I followed the same process on the main hook except added much longer black microbarb saddles so as to give more length and body to the over all fly. Total length 12" inches - 30cm. I have a 9" 8wt rod but with these kind of flies I use a 10wt line and can chuck these all day.
Hi Simon, great fly (as always)! But do I read this correctly, you use a 10 weight line on an 8 weight rod?
ReplyDeleteExcellent,The form,colours,looks very balanced.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of 10" rods Stefaan...Don't think there is a need for them when pike fly fishing. I do fish on average 4 hrs a day for eight months of the yr and using a 10wt line on an 8wt rated 9" rod helps me cast some of these big heavy flies with ease. easpecially on windy days when casting into the wind.
ReplyDeleteSure lines 8wt lines rated for an 8wt rod these days with their heavily front tapered ends would suffice, but I've been a big fan of braided shooting heads for many years and a 10wt line is very similar to that same principle.
Its what I've become accustomed to. Again my way isn't the best way but as I fish so much during a season I look for every advantage I can get.
The fly is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat thread/wire are you using for the dubbing brushes? I'm thinking of trying this myself and was worried about the durability of, say, 3/0 thread in this application.
I use kevlar thread on all my ties JJ. Black UTC 75
ReplyDeleteI agree with Simon on the over weighting of lines. I too have become a fan of shooting heads and cast them on my 5,6 and 8# rods. These are sinking heads. For my floating "shooting head" I cut the belly out of an 11# line, reversed it and use it on on my 8# rod. I have never overloaded and broken a rod casting these lines but the cast is different from casting a traditional line.
ReplyDeleteOverweighting of lines is something I've been reading up on myself for this years musky hunts, can't wait to see how it works out, I will take every advantage possible with these guys. Another fine bug Simon! I'm definately gonna get some of those tied up for the boxes this year! The robins have arrived flowers are popping and my beloved river is starting to awaken from her winter slumber! I say this every year but I think this is gonna be the year of the 50 INCHER!!
ReplyDeleteHave been using over weighted lines for some 8 yrs Mark and never had a problem. I get so many blokes saying that my flies would be to heavy to cast yet I've never found a prolem.Just step up one or two line ratings and the problem of heavily weighted flies is solved. Too many chaps bitch about the weight issue and that stems from them casting with 3 to 5wt lines and tiny flies for smaller fish species.
ReplyDeleteIts not about casting perfect loops 25m to pike....It's all about the retieval of the fly and staying connected mentally to that fly until you cast it back out again.
Having a line 1 or 2 lines rated higher than the rod states, allows me to chuck these flies with ease, which in turn allows my mind to go black until the fly hits the water again where I start to get back into the zone.
That zone is all so important. It's a place that you go to and when there you don't miss a thing that your fly or the fish is doing. It truely is becoming one with.
ReplyDeleteI'm about 30 to 45 days from having the ocean full of fish here. I'm clearing the decks of the BS I have to do, tying flies, get my rods and lines squared away and getting ready to go to the zone.
Here's to light winds and tight lines!
John