Hook: Mustad 34007, sizes 4 – 2/0

Thread: 3/0 or 2/0 Monocord, same color as body or Clear monofilament

Eyes: Saltwater Lead Eyes – medium to heavy

Body: Ice Chenille or Kyrstal Chenille

Wing: 4 splayed grizzly saltwater cape feathers

Collar: Wound saddle or neck hackle

Tail: Clump of bucktail with 2-3 strands of Flashabou and 2-3 strands of Krystal Flash

Step 1: 

Tie a monofilament loop on top of the hook near the bend (heavy – 30 lb test) to help avoid fouling during casting

Step 2: 

Tie a clump of bucktail about as long as the hook shank strait off the shank at the bend. Tie in 2-3 strands of Flashabou and 2-3 strands of Krystal Flash

Step 3: 

Select 4 to 6 grizzly hackle feathers and tie them in at the hook bend so they splay out over the tail

Step 4: 

Tie in and wind a saddle or neck hackle to create the collar.

Step 5: 

Advance thread to 1/3 the way up the shank from bend – tie saltwater eyes using figure eight wraps – put a couple drops of head cement over the wraps

Step 6: 

Wrap thread back to collar and tie in a length of Ice Chenille – should be long enough to make wraps all the way forward.

Step 7: 

Advance thread to the hook eye and wrap Ice Chenille the entire length of hook shank, making one figure eight wrap over the eyes. Tie off at hook eye, trim excess Ice Chenille and then wrap thread backwards through the body opposite the body wraps, making a figure eight over eyes and then back to hook eye (this helps keep the fly durable even after chewed on by a few fish). Whip finish or make three to four half hitches – apply a drop of head cement.

Step 8: 

Trim some of the Ice Chenille body to give a tapering affect from the hook eye to the lead eyes. Trim any excess Flashabou and Krystal Flash from tail.

I have found that yellow/black saltwater cape wings with a white collar, white tail and yellow Ice Chenille body to be the most productive combo yet, but it is an attractor pattern, so experiment with the color combos. I usually match the tail to the body color and use a white collar, with accent colors in the Krystal Flash and Flashabou in the tail. Rainbow Krystal Flash is always a good bet.

This fly was developed originally as a Striper Fly. I fish a lot of rocky areas with deeper water, and I wanted an all purpose, attractor pattern that would get down in the current, have a lot of flash and push a lot of water. The resulting fly is one that maybe looks like a crustacean, or a baitfish, or a squid - who knows? It's possible it just triggers the strike out of aggression. Whatever the reason, this pattern has been killer for Striped Bass, Bluefish and Pollack, which frequent my local fishing haunts. It is a staple pattern for me at this point, right up there with Clouser Minnows and Deceivers.  

Versatility is something that I look for in an attactor pattern as well. Along with the Stripers, Blues, and Pollack already mentioned, the Gong Show has taken Jack Crevalle, Large and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Pike. Although I have not had the chance to test it, this pattern tied on a size 6
hook looks like it should be a viable bonefish fly. 

 One thing I can't stress enough when tying - the louder the better in terms of color combos. When fished, I usually use short strips followed by pauses that cause the collar and wings to move against the water, and for a "jigging" effect - this really helps the fly to come alive in the water.

This fly was submitted by Greg Smith.