Cabin Fever Fly Tying Contest, entry number 4- DH Classy Clouser

Deer Hair Classy Clouser

Here is entry number four. It was tied by Rich Santos from Jacksonville, Florida. Rich has been a client and friend of mine for over 6 years, and is about as passionate about flyfishing as anyone I know. He is actively involved in the Jacksonville fly fishing club and is also a casting instructor. Rich's fly like all the other entries is well tied and creative. He put a twist on the Clouser minnow by spinning dear hair on the head, kind of a mix between a slider and a clouser. I know this fly is basically a redfish fly but like the others could probably catch just about anything that swims.



Here is what Rich has to say about his fly, and then I will let the pictures tell the rest.

Name: DH Classy Clouser or ( Deer hair Classy Clouser)

Species: Redfish, Snook, Spotted Sea Trout, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel and more

Materials: Mustad Shrimp Hook C47S-D No.2, Red or Black Danville’s 210 Denier Tying Thread, Medium Red/Blk. Lead Dumbbell eyes, Fox tail or equal under belly, Holographic Flash sides tied long, Bucktail back, Deerhair shoulder-head trimmed to shape.

Design Description: Jig like action. Produces an erratic flashy movement and looks more life like. The Deerhair head profile also creates a larger silhouette that pushes more water for better predatory fish attraction. It can also act as weed guard if tied heavy and possibly feel meatier to a fish!..maybe LOL Just kidding.



I got blown off the water yesterday so I do not have a fishing report, but I have 8 trips over the week after Christmas so I hope to have lots to report and photos to share. I can't wait until the new year when I get to launch my new redesigned website. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and I will be reporting back before the new year! Thanks for reading this blog, pass it on to your friends.
Merry Christmas, John

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Cabin Fever Fly Tying Contest, entry number 3- Cas' Cinnamon Slider

Cas' Cinnamon Slider

We are flying right along with this tying contest now. I am waiting on 2 more flies to get to me and then the voting will start. These 2 remaining flies will give me a total of 6 entries for you guys and gals to vote on. This fly came from Cas Summers of Longwood, FL. Cas is the treasurer of the Backcountry Flyfishing Association. www.BackcountryFlyfishingOrlando.com I really like what Cas did, he gave a classic fly a modern twist. The Borski bonefish slider in my opinion is one of the best slow water flies ever designed, and Cas took new materials to create his own slider. Very well done Cas. This fly is primarily a redfish fly but like so many other flies it will work on anything that feeds on the flats.



Here is what Cas had to say about his creation. They are very easy to tie. I just used some cool Puglesi tying material that I saw at the Orlando Outfitters, it's called EP Streamer Brush & EP Sparkle Brush & they also have EP shrimp dubbing. It has a wire stem and the material palmers easily. The chose this material because of it's buggy colors. The tail is made of Craft Fur and is flexible to the bottom color. The eyes are lead or bead chain depending on the depth of water or size of the fly. I use the fly for redfish, but also believe that it could work for bonefish. They seem to eat the same stuff that they find swimming around. I tied in a weed guard since it will be bumping along the bottom. I have caught redfish with it. The fly is very weedless. It rides hook up. The Puglesi material does not tangle like the baitfish flies. A comb is not necessary. The flies are tied on #4 Mustad 3407 hooks. I pinch the barb down before I tie them on.



Cas, thank you for entering this fly into the contest. I believe your pattern may give other fly tiers some good ideas and some more uses for this new material. Again I ask that everyone parrticipate in the blog by posting comments. Everybody enjoys reading comments about their flies especially positive comments. I have been extremely happy with the turn out of this contest so far, all the flies I have recieved have been well tied and very creative. Stay tuned the next 3 flies will be posted soon.



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Cabin Fever Fly Tying Contest, entry number 2- Head Stand Shrimp

Head Stand Shrimp

Okay, I am just going to start out by letting you know that my photography does not do this fly justice. This fly was designed by Rob McAbee, you know him by now as the Bugslinger guy, and he definitely "designed" this fly. He asked me my opinion on what makes a good redfish fly and I told him the basics. First it must sink fast and land soft, second it must ride hook up, and third it must have a weed guard that works. The last bit of advice was, the fish have to see it. Rob created a fly that sinks quick but is delicate enough to land soft and throw on a 6 or 7 weight. This fly always lands hook up and has a killer weed guard. Rob tested it and when I got it I tested it, if you drop this fly in the water it always falls hook up, hence the name "head stand shrimp". This fly has a vibrate yellow tail and 2 rubber legs, and 2 pieces of flash that give this little critter loads of life. This fly could easily be tied in a whole array of colors that would be geared toward redfish, bonefish, permit, and everything else that eats shrimp. I think it can go unsaid that the quality of this fly is perfect, but what else would you expect from an artist? I photographed this fly outside on the boat mainly because I wanted a background that helps see the detail of this fly. I may have some of the materials a little off but I am going to give you a basic recipe. Tail is a little yellow marabou. The body is ice dubbing with a feather palmered through the dubbing. Lead eyes tied back by the hook bend, 2 rubber antenna and 2 pieces of holographic flash tied off the back. The top of the body is epoxied for both strength and looks and the double weed guard is made of hard mono. Have fun with this one I think it would be a killer Bahamas bonefish fly if it was tied with tans and pinks or even just the way it is in yellow. Thanks Rob.



I am going to use this post to keep everyone up to date. Rob is currently redesigning my web site, and from what I have seen so far everyone should love it. I won't give away any details but it will include some incredible images. Check out Rob's line of fly fishing lifestyle apparel at http://bugslinger.com/ I would also like to thank everyone that has ordered shirts so far, I must say that the micro fiber shirts have been the biggest hit. Bug slinger also has a new micro fiber shirt out, as a matter of fact I am wearing mine right now, and also a brand new snook design. I would love to see some comments on these flies. I have 5 entries for this fly tying contest so far, so if I do not recieve anymore emails for people wanting to enter I will post the poll as soon as I post all five. Stay tuned and don't forget to spread the word about this blog with your friends.



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Cabin Fever Fly Tying Contest, entry number 1- Midnight Tarpon

"Midnight Tarpon"

Here are my thoughts on this fly the Midnight tarpon, it rocks! The first entry was sent in by Rob Signorello of Boca Raton Florida. I met Rob years ago when I did a seminar at the Ole Florida fly shop. Rob actually sent me these flies a few months ago because he wanted me to try them out.I first asked his opinion on the contest and then asked if he wanted to enter his tarpon fly in the contest. I personally have caught snook on this fly, but I know it is primarily a tarpon fly and I can't wait until this summer to throw it at our pods of tarpon. As far as quality this fly is a perfect 10, Rob obviously put a lot of effort and time in tying these flies. He ties them in a variety of colors as you can see by the pictures, but the black in his opinion works the best. Rob it would help if you threw the other colors? Just kidding.



Here is Rob's original email to me about his fly:

the basic recipe is simple….
Tie in 4 saddle hackle curved out on each side
Steven Farber Midnight Blitz flash top, bottom, and sides
Big silver holo eyes epoxied…..
That’s it……very simple, anyone should be able to tie this fly…..
All materials purchased at Ole Florida Fly Shop…….go see the man Darren!!!
(there’s a good plug for you Darren!!!)
This fly has caught snook and tarpon in Biscayne Bay, St. Lucie River, and offshore



I believe Rob just named this fly for the sake of this contest, like many of us we don't have names for our flies. For added fun post comments below with name suggestions and your thoughts of this first entry. I will ask that we do this for all the entries, by the way, I believe I have four more entries in route to me. I will post the next entries as I get them. Great job Rob! I will be sure to send you an email with the high resolution photographs I took. The tying contest is officially under way, so keep checking back for more.






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Cabin Fever Fly Tying Contest

"Armor"

Here we go, a way for you to share your flies with others and win a cool prize. I am launching a fly tying contest right here on this blog, the “Cabin Fever Fly Tying Contest”. This contest is open to anyone who wants to enter and is not a species specific contest, any saltwater fly will do. The winner will get a 16X20 print of my photo, “Armor” a $60.00 value. Here is how to enter, just email me with the description and name of your fly, if you don’t have a name, maybe one of our readers can help? I want to know what species it was designed for and what makes your fly cool. Include as much information as you like, this will help me write a review. Each entry will get its own post with photographs and a description. I know many of you are thinking that I am just trying to fill my fly boxes. Well, I am! Just kidding, the winner will also get each of the flies entered. If you want me to fish with your fly and write future reviews then include a couple copies of your fly, because one of the flies is going to the winner. I would suggest that you send in different color variations, if they apply, it helps with photos. I am not the judge of this contest, you are. Once I have at least 5 entries, hopefully more, I will put a poll on this blog and you guys get to vote. The poll will run for 2 weeks, and then the winner will be announced. I will post entries as I get them, and then once I have the final entry I will group the post together before the polling, so it is easier to compare flies. Anyone who enters will also get the high res photographs of their flies for your own personal use. Good Luck and I hope to get many entries. You can email questions and entries to info@stuartflyfishing.com

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