Deceiver Fly Tying Instructions

The family of saltwater flies known as deceivers was originally developed by one of fly fishing's most prolific, contemporary innovators--Lefty Kreh. This pattern is so famous that it has appeared on a first-class U.S. postage stamp. Since that time, Lefty's Deceiver has evolved into a generic specialty fly featuring a wing tied to the bend of the hook rather than close to the eye, as is the case with most streamers.

  1. History

    • Lefty Kreh was among the first fly fishers to introduce fly fishing in saltwater. He soon discovered fresh water flies could not stand up to the sharp teeth of most saltwater species. He learned that by tying the wing onto the the hook near the bend, a much more durable fly resulted that would not come apart when the first fish was hooked. Since the introduction of the original pattern, Lefty's Deceivers have been adapted to match both saltwater and freshwater species.

    Choosing Which Bait Fsh to Imitate

    • Deceivers imitate specific bait fish preferred by game fish in a given area. Depending on which bait fish is chosen, the fly tier selects material colors to match the natural bait fish. In general most patterns have a light underside and dark top sides. This color scheme mimics the lighter belly and darker back of the natural bait fish.

    Selecting Materials

    • Select a saltwater hook heavy enough to stand up to the demands of saltwater species. Select a hook size based on he type of fish you are targeting and the type of bait fish your fly will mimic. Generally, this pattern is tied on sturdy hooks in sizes 2 to 4/0. The thread selected must also be selected with the same criterion in mind. Often a Kevlar thread is used for its strength to diameter ratio.

    Tying the Deceiver

    • Regardless of the color scheme selected, the order of tying materials onto the hook is the same. After the hook shank is covered with thread, saddle hackles are tied in at the bend of the hook. The number varies with the overall size but a minimum of four should be used. Next, a small amount of a flashy material, such as Flashabou or Polar Flash, is added to both sides of the hackles. Move the thread forward to the eye and spin on a bunch of deer tail hair so the hair surrounds the hook. It extends halfway to the far end of the tail. After trimming the hair ends, a small bunch of dark flashy material is added to represent the dorsal color of the natural bait fish being imitated. Finally, a head is wrapped and eyes are painted on. As an alternative, small silver hologram eyes can be glued on.