How to Tie Contemporary Saltwater Flies

Saltwater fish vary in many ways from their freshwater counterparts, aside from the obvious water-related issue. One important difference is that saltwater fish require a different type of fly to attract them when fly fishing. A successful, contemporary design that appeals to saltwater fish is the deceiver. The basic pattern for a deceiver employs chartreuse and white bucktail, feathers and a combination of flashing, but the amounts and exact position can vary slightly with each craftsman.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish hook
  • Fly-tying vise
  • Fly thread
  • Fly bobbin
  • White feathers
  • Fly-tying scissors
  • Mirage flashing
  • Chartreuse bucktail
  • Head cement
  • White bucktail
  • Peacock curl
  • Whipstitch tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook into the fly-tying vise so the point of the hook is on the underside and the hook is aligned vertically.

    • 2

      Hold a length of the fly thread from the fly bobbin against the length of the hook and wrap around both the thread and the hook to tie onto the hook. The end of the thread should be pointing toward the eye of the hook.

    • 3

      Lay two white feathers along the top of the tied-on thread with the rounded ends of the feathers pointing toward the eye of the hook. The feathers should be three times as long as the length of the hook. Cut off any excess from the pointy end of the feathers with fly-tying scissors.

    • 4

      Wrap the thread around the feathers and the hook 10 times to hold them in place.

    • 5

      Lay four strands of mirage flashing on top of the feathers. Tie them in, cutting them down so they extend just past the feathers. Two strands of flashing should run down to either side of the hook.

    • 6

      Pinch off a tuft of chartreuse bucktail and place it on top of the feathers and flashing, cutting it so it is twice as long as the hook. Tie the bucktail to the hook starting immediately below the eye of the hook.

    • 7

      Apply a thin layer of head cement over the thread that has been wrapped so far and make 10 more passes with the thread around the wet cement.

    • 8

      Turn the vise so the pointed end of the hook is on top and lay a tuft of white bucktail onto the underside of the length of the hook where the other materials are wrapped. Wrap the white bucktail onto the hook in the same way as in Step 6 so it is the same length as the chartreuse bucktail.

    • 9

      Place three strands of peacock curl onto the top of the chartreuse bucktail and tie them in place. Use the edge of the scissors to pull the curl back and away form the rounded end of the hook.

    • 10

      Create a whip finish on the end of the hook with the whipstitch tool to secure the fly materials. Apply a generous, even coat of head cement over the finished whipstitch and let it dry for 10 minutes in the vise.