Bodkin / Patterns

Bonefish Bitter

Shrimp · Bonefish · Permit · Redfish · Intermediate · 4 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook saltwater standard, 6-8
  • Thread to match body (amber, olive or orange) 6/0

Materials

  • Eyes/head Small bead-chain coated in tinted epoxy or UV resin (amber/olive) (1 pair)
  • Legs Fine round rubber or Sili Legs, barred (4-6)
  • Body Krystal Flash chenille or dubbing, amber/olive (1)
  • Wing/collar Fine deer hair over the body (1 small clump)

How to tie it

  1. Tie bead-chain eyes on top of the shank near the hook eye so the fly rides point-up, then coat them in tinted epoxy or UV resin to form the smooth colored 'bitter' head.
  2. Behind the head tie in 2-3 rubber legs per side, splayed like crab legs.
  3. Wrap a short body of Krystal Flash chenille or dubbing over the rear half of the shank.
  4. Tie a small clump of fine deer hair over the body as a wing/collar, tips just past the bend. It flares slightly to suggest a scuttling crab's carapace and softens the landing.
  5. Whip finish behind the epoxy head and cement.

Other versions

3 more in the app: Bitter's Crab, Bitters, Bitters Hot.

Tying videos

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