I really need to get serious about figuring out how to tie that Stinger pattern with the Spawn head! I've seen that thing catch an awful lot of albacore
I tie all the craft fur reversed it ends up looking like it is stacked but the tie In is so small with craft that it doesn’t build up to much bulk. If you look at each color transition it has a hump which helps to hold the material full and not collapse when stacked. I hope that makes sense.
I had posted this over at the other place, but I recently got some additional tones of these colors of bucktail to play around with, so there will be more where this came from. I'm not sure if you're aware that I really like tying and fishing with bucktail.
I ordered purchased some big game articulated shanks recently so started experimenting with those this morning. First attempt. I have some ideas on things I’ll do differently with the next. Question; does trolling mitigate some of the movement of articulated flies. Are they worth the effort? I read somewhere recently that articulated flies get most of their movement from the design (bulky, heavy head, light body) and stripping action. A fast pull and slight pause causes the head to stop abruptly causing the body to fishtail a bit. Thoughts?
Dry
Wet
And here is another I recently posted at the old mall in town….or wait is this the old mall? Whatever it is, it’s now where I prefer to hang .
I tend to troll a little slower than many tuna folks, but still I have to think that the trolling speed has to have some effect on movement, especially with articulated patterns. Slight changes of course, waves, fluctuation of speed etc probably helps offset that a tiny bit.
Personally I believe that when it comes to trolling, size and profile has more to do with success than movement.
With the exception of cedar plugs, virtually every traditional troll lure I use offshore doesnt offer much in the way of "movement".
Closest thing to a fly that I can think of off the top of my head would be swim baits with eel type tails. They track ultra straight, but the tail definitely flutters quite a bit. I think that's why I tie so many flies with hackle in the back. I figure that hackle will flutter and move in a similar fashion even when trolled.
Of course even if an articulated pattern isn't moving as much while trolled, as soon as a hookup occurs and the boat goes to neutral and sides, I'd think that exaggerated movement would come into play as the fly is then retrieved normally
I will look thru my stuff for the brand I used in the SBS, but now I make my own out of stainless wire. I will post some pics of the tool and the process when I get a chance.
Hey Clarkman, I tried to find the packaging for the shanks and no luck. Here's some pics of the tool and the spinner wire stock I use for the homemade shanks.