|
Binding prop connector
(click image for detail)
|
Articulated Proptail Rabbit-Strip Flies for Dorado
(by Steve Duckett)
These flies are made with an articulated head section that gives good action, and also moves the hook back an inch into the body of the fly; for example, the regular dorado flies tied on a Tiemco 600SP 3/0 hook have the point about ¾ inch back from the nose of the fly, whereas the articulated flies described here have the hookpoint about 1-3/4 inch back from the nose. Thus, only about 70% of the fly is behind the hookpoint, compared to 87% in the regular flies. I think this improves hookup and landing, without using a substantially longer shank hook (which a jumping fish can use as a lever to throw the hook).
These flies also have a small propeller in the tail, which makes noise and turbulence that can be attractive to fish. The propeller can be replaced by Flashabou or similar if desired to make a slightly lighter fly that is easier to construct.
I use Tiemco 811S 3/0 saltwater hooks, and start by binding a 4” length of 2.5mm OD soft vinyl tubing (SoftGlas) to the shank of the hook, as shown
SoftGlas is sold by Pepperell Braiding Company, 800-343-8114 x25.
Some crystal chenille is wrapped on, and a strip of magnum bunny, 3” long (measured along the hide), is tied in at the bend and at the eye, with the hair on the strip oriented forward for a fluffier effect. The end of the vinyl connector is inserted through a hole made in the strip near the end, and the propeller assembly (see below) is
inserted in the end of the vinyl tubing to make the completed body assembly:
Note: A flashtail body is easier to make, and may be preferred if a lot of flies will be lost. To make one, in place of the proptail bind on a 2” section of SoftGlas with 8-20 strands of 8” -long Flashabou threaded through using a floss threader or bobbin threader.
The articulated head is built on a 1” oval split-ring. The ring must be attached to the body before tying the head; this makes tying a little awkward since the body keeps getting in the way when tying the head section in the vise::
In the fly pictured, the head is tied with a 3/8” aluminum eye and some black and yellow Superhair to form the completed proptail bunny strip dorado fly:
In the water, the rabbit hair flows backward and may need to be trimmed a bit to keep from interfering with the prop.
I usually put a few strands of gold flashabou on each side of the body for extra attraction (I forgot for this one). This fly is about 5+ inches long.
If I were going to the Juramento next November, I’d make about 12-15 proptail flies in this color combination, about 20 with a pure black rabbit strip (and lots of gold flash), and an equal number (in both colors, and about an inch longer) with a gold Flashabou tail instead of a proptail.
For smaller dorado, less complicated flies should be good enough. The following photo shows a fly tied on a 2/0 Gamakatsu SP11-3L3H hook, which is has a shank about ¼” longer than the Tiemco 600SP. This fly doesn’t have an articulated head, but it is made a tad longer and more flexible by using a standard ¼” round split ring. This fly has a flashtail and a ¼” aluminum eye (tied so the fly travels hookpoint-up), and is about 4.25“ long.
This fly accounted for three dorados about 8lbs each, but was a mess after the third one---
Good fishing!
SWD
December 27, 2008 |
Advertise with us