My association with the Rhody Flat Wing style of fly began 4 or 5 years ago. It was during an ill-fated trip to Monomoy Island, with the Crossroads Anglers club, that I first saw this fly. We were unable to get to Monomoy because of the thick fog which blanketed the area. On the trip back in, one of the other anglers showed me a fly pattern. He guaranteed it to be a killer. The fly looked interesting. When I got home I tied several.

A couple of days later I was fishing one of the Canal area beaches. The fishing was rather slow and my normally productive patterns had not drawn even a sniff. As I searched my fly box for a different pattern, I noticed the white fly that I had recently discovered. What the heck, I figured, as I tied it on. Needless to say I was shocked when my first cast produced a strike and a fine schoolie. The next several casts produced similar results. Was this fly truly a ‘killer’ pattern as its owner had stated? Most likely a school of stripers had just happened by at an opportune moment.

With new-found confidence, I continued to use this fly with excellent results. It was sometime later that I discovered that this fly was in fact the All-White variation of the Rhody Flat Wing.

I have subsequently used the Rhody Flat Wing and several of its color variations with excellent results. Last year my largest fly rod caught striper succumbed to a Rhody Flat Wing cast off a Cape Cod Bay beach in October.

The Rhody Flat Wing is a pattern that was originated by the late Bill Peabody. Bill stated that he combined the flat wing hackle concept, popularized by Ken Abrames and the proven color scheme of the Ray’s Fly developed by Ray Bondorew. The result being a very effective pattern. This fly is tied in a very sparse manner. In addition to being very effective at catching fish, it casts extremely well.

The Rhody Flat Wing, like most effective flies, is not really a pattern but a style of fly. It lends itself well to innovation by the flytier. The flytier also has the luxury of returning to the tying techniques of the original, after he has ‘improved’ it to the point that it no longer works!

This fly, like all others, performs no miracles. It, however, is a worthy addition to the Saltwater Flyfishers tool bag.

• Hook:  #4 – 7/0 Eagle Claw 254SS or 254
  
• Thread:  White monocord or fine clear
  
• Tail Collar: White Bucktail twice as long as hook shank
  
• Tail: Sparse white bucktail long (determines length of fly). May mix in or use synthetics or Yak Hair for more length. 4 or 5 pieces of Gold Flashabou (more if desired).   Olive saddle hackle tied in flat – curve Down.
  
• Body: Pearl Bill’s Bodi-Braid.
  
• Front Collar: Short white bucktail on bottom and long white bucktail on top. 
  

• Wing: Sparse yellow bucktail.  Sparser light blue bucktail. Several strands of pearl and olive Krystal Flash. Olive bucktail sparse.
  

• Topping: Five or six strands of Peacock herl.

    Step 1: 

Secure tying thread to hook shank at position opposite hook point. Tie in a small bunch of white bucktail about twice as long as hook shank. Twist bucktail so it spins around hook shank and add some thread wraps. This forms the tail collar.

    Step 2: 

Next we construct the tail by tying in a small bunch (15 –20 strands) of long bucktail at tie in point. The length of this bunch will determine the length of the finished fly. Add 4 or 5 strands of gold Flashabou, which is about ¾ - 1" longer than the bucktail, which forms the tail.

    Step 3: 

Tie in an olive or yellow saddle hackle with the concave side down. The hackle should be positioned so it extends almost to the end of the bucktail, which forms the tail.

    Step 4: 

Secure Bill’s Bodi-Braid near hook eye. Wind it back to tail. Then wind back to a position about ¼ " from hook eye.

    Step 5: 

Select a small clump of white bucktail, which extends almost to the end of the tail collar. Tie in as a throat. Before thoroughly securing, spread bucktail so it covers lower half of hook shank.  Select a small bunch of white bucktail, which extends almost to the tip of the tail and secure as a wing. Spread the bucktail so it covers the top half of the hook shank.

    Step 6: 

Select a small bunch (10-12 strands) of yellow bucktail extending to about the tail collar end and secure as a wing.  Secure about ½ as many strands of light blue bucktail over the yellow. Sort of mix it in as you secure it.  Secure 3 or more strands of pearl and olive Krystal Flash to either side of the wing.

    Step 7: 

Secure a small bunch (20 or so strands) of long Olive bucktail over the yellow and blue.

    Step 8: 

Finally secure 6-8 long peacock herls as a topping. To get a nice curve in the herl, use the back of your scissors as you would to curl ribbon on a present. Easy does it. Apply head cement.

Step 9:  Walk on over to the fridge and pop open a Sam Adams Spring Ale and admire your handy work.