I recently sent a fellow angler a selection of saltwater flies that I routinely fish for a variety of target species (Speckled trout, redfish, snook, bluefish, ladyfish, pompano and grouper) on the inshore flats, potholes and channels of the Central Florida Gulf Coast. Of the dozen flies I sent, I estimated the top five on the list were used at least 80% of the time. All of these can be tied in a wide variety of color/material combinations to deal with the most common forage available. Here’s the list, but I am confident I've omitted favorites of other anglers.
1. Soft-Hackle Bucktail Deceiver:
#1 producer for Speckled Trout. Sinks slowly, has a good baitfish profile with lots of movement. Can be tied in a infinite array of color and flash combinations. Usually 2-5” long depending on hook size.
2. Myakka Minnow:
The Myakka Minnow was a freshwater creation from Steve Gibson, a Sarasota guide. Originally designed for Bass and panfish in Sarasota area lakes, the fly quickly got adapted to saltwater targets. Constructed of braid and flash the fly is dense and sinks quickly and is usually unweighted. It also casts extremely well due to its streamlined profile.
3. Gummy Minnow (Crease Fly Profile):
This fly is an sub-surface adaption of the Crease Fly. Constructed Gummy Minnow style, the convoluted profile provides a lot of erratic movement when stripped. It can be constructed in a wide variety of color combinations.
4. Bucktail Deceiver:
Similar to the Soft-Hackle streamer, but a bit denser, this more traditional baitfish pattern is very versatile.
5. Shrimp Gurgler:
The Shrimp Gurgler is a floating shrimp pattern that is extremely effective during low-light conditions when there is a light chop on the water. Usually tied with a small rattle along the hook shank. It can be a bit wind resistant and casting benefits from a stiff tippet.
6. Thunder Creek Minnow:
Another classic bucktail fly, this one with a very slender profile. It is a bit denser than the Bucktail Deceiver and sinks nicely on the strip.
7. EP Minnow:
A classic baitfish pattern that unweighted somewhat suspends in the water column. Easy to cast as it sheds water well. An excellent pattern when finger mullet are around.
8. Clouser Minnow:
Traditional bottom bouncing baitfish pattern. Very useful to connect with Mangrove Snapper and Grouper in deep channels or with Flounder around sandy bottoms.
9. Flash Minnow:
A simple, small flash fly to simulate grass minnows or small fry. Very useful when there is a lot of small bait in the water, especially along beaches.
10. Gibby’s DT Minnow:
This is a Go-To fly for sight casting to Snook along summer beaches.
11. Shrimpadillo:
This spoon fly shrimp/crab variation is an excellent fly when Redfish are tailing in shallow water. It will also work for Speckled Trout in potholes and Snook along mangrove shorelines.
12. Kwan:
Classic shrimp/crab fly useful for tailing Redfish or Snook along mangrove shorelines.
Additionally, I’ve committed to Joe Mathis of Firehole Outdoors to give his Predator line of barbless hooks a real trial in the salt this fall on the flats. Of the top five flies, one through four are unweighted sub-surface flies that excel on my TFO Axiom IIX 7 weight with a 30’ SONAR Sink-tip and short 0X leader. The Shrimp Gurgler works well on the TFO Axiom IIX with an SA Grand Slam floating line and longer leader. So, I’ve included images of the top five tied on Firehole Outdoors Predator models 801P and 802P.
1. Soft-Hackle Bucktail Deceiver:
#1 producer for Speckled Trout. Sinks slowly, has a good baitfish profile with lots of movement. Can be tied in a infinite array of color and flash combinations. Usually 2-5” long depending on hook size.
2. Myakka Minnow:
The Myakka Minnow was a freshwater creation from Steve Gibson, a Sarasota guide. Originally designed for Bass and panfish in Sarasota area lakes, the fly quickly got adapted to saltwater targets. Constructed of braid and flash the fly is dense and sinks quickly and is usually unweighted. It also casts extremely well due to its streamlined profile.
3. Gummy Minnow (Crease Fly Profile):
This fly is an sub-surface adaption of the Crease Fly. Constructed Gummy Minnow style, the convoluted profile provides a lot of erratic movement when stripped. It can be constructed in a wide variety of color combinations.
4. Bucktail Deceiver:
Similar to the Soft-Hackle streamer, but a bit denser, this more traditional baitfish pattern is very versatile.
5. Shrimp Gurgler:
The Shrimp Gurgler is a floating shrimp pattern that is extremely effective during low-light conditions when there is a light chop on the water. Usually tied with a small rattle along the hook shank. It can be a bit wind resistant and casting benefits from a stiff tippet.
6. Thunder Creek Minnow:
Another classic bucktail fly, this one with a very slender profile. It is a bit denser than the Bucktail Deceiver and sinks nicely on the strip.
7. EP Minnow:
A classic baitfish pattern that unweighted somewhat suspends in the water column. Easy to cast as it sheds water well. An excellent pattern when finger mullet are around.
8. Clouser Minnow:
Traditional bottom bouncing baitfish pattern. Very useful to connect with Mangrove Snapper and Grouper in deep channels or with Flounder around sandy bottoms.
9. Flash Minnow:
A simple, small flash fly to simulate grass minnows or small fry. Very useful when there is a lot of small bait in the water, especially along beaches.
10. Gibby’s DT Minnow:
This is a Go-To fly for sight casting to Snook along summer beaches.
11. Shrimpadillo:
This spoon fly shrimp/crab variation is an excellent fly when Redfish are tailing in shallow water. It will also work for Speckled Trout in potholes and Snook along mangrove shorelines.
12. Kwan:
Classic shrimp/crab fly useful for tailing Redfish or Snook along mangrove shorelines.
Additionally, I’ve committed to Joe Mathis of Firehole Outdoors to give his Predator line of barbless hooks a real trial in the salt this fall on the flats. Of the top five flies, one through four are unweighted sub-surface flies that excel on my TFO Axiom IIX 7 weight with a 30’ SONAR Sink-tip and short 0X leader. The Shrimp Gurgler works well on the TFO Axiom IIX with an SA Grand Slam floating line and longer leader. So, I’ve included images of the top five tied on Firehole Outdoors Predator models 801P and 802P.