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3. Predator Fly

I put the dries on hold for a bit while I beef up my streamer box and musky flies. This is the newest fly for some toothy critters. It's nothing special design wise, but should fish alright.

Looks good.

How long is that fly? Any weight to it? What hook is this tied on?

One thing I started to use recently with my bigger flies is Gel Spun Thread. Holy sh*t what a difference! You can really crank on it and secure just about anything to the hook shank.

Thanks!

Not sure the exact length. I just looked at a pic I have with this fly in my hand. Probably 10-12" including the feathers. No weight to it, I only fish intermediate and sinking lines for musky, so most my flies don't have any weight. This is tied on a VMC 4/0 Trailer hook. They are much cheaper than most big fly tying hooks. I think the next one I tie will be on a Daiichi 6/0 so I have room for a spun hair head too.

I really tied this fly because someone was asking me questions on how to reverse tie hair. I took some step by step pictures to show them. I think it's easier to see and understand than hear and understand when it comes to tying.

I have never used gel spun actually. I probably should for spinning hair heads on trout flies. I can manage with my 140, but it's more difficult than it needs to be sometimes. On musky flies the only thread I have used in 210 flymasters plus. I feel like I could hang from my bobbin and not break it. That is obviously not true, but that stuff is strong! I'll have to take a look at the gel spun though. Have you ever had issue with the gsp slipping?

The GSP will slip. However, I find that when it starts to slip, it is the threads way of telling me I am using too many wraps. So, I just back off a few and boom - no slips. I even used it to repair a guide foot that slipped out of the epoxy on one of my rods.

I was right there with you on the 210 - loved it and thought nothing was stronger until the GSP. I haven't ordered some in a while, but I don't remember it being expensive.

Wow Kyle, that's a beautiful fly you tied there. Is that Spey hackle or bucktail you have wrapped so nicely around the hook?

Dreaming of spring there, I see... ;oD

Jonathon

Kyle, have you ever used the Gamakatsu SP11-3L3H? Its a nice hook for big flies.

Al514 - I'll check out some GSP. What weight do you use? I know it's way stronger, so you can get away with thinner thread.

Jonathon - Thank you. Pretty much the whole fly is reverse tied bucktail. The red on the front is just a couple turns of red marabou to give it better motion on the pause. Even though musky fishing can be great in the spring, I tend to not leave the trout stream until it gets really warm in July.

Eric - I have not used those. I will check the local shop and see if they have them next time I'm there. I do love Gamakatsu hooks!

http://www.saltwaterflies.com/ is a good place to get them. good one stop shop for synthetics too if you are looking for them. Chris Windram is a super nice guy and had built a good business over the years. I tie all my saltwater stuff with monofilament thread. I like the way the color of the materials shows through the thread wraps.

Very nice! That should pull a good wake.