Bodkin / Patterns

EP Baitfish

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · False Albacore · Jack · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · Tuna · Mahi · GT · Cobia · Barracuda · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Saltwater hook, 1/0-2
  • Thread White 1/0

Materials

  • Body EP Fibers (white and olive/gray)
  • Eyes 3D molded eyes (1 pair)
  • Flash Holographic flash (sparse)
  • Coating UV resin or epoxy (head area)

How to tie it

  1. Mount hook, lay a thread base.
  2. Tie in EP Fibers in crosswise clumps along the shank, working back to front. White clumps low for the belly, olive or gray high for the back. Figure-8 each clump and sweep it rearward before the next.
  3. Add sparse holographic flash along the lateral line.
  4. Brush everything out thoroughly with a velcro brush. This blending step is where the profile comes from; don't rush it.
  5. Trim to a baitfish silhouette: deep at the shoulder, tapered to the tail, compressed side to side.
  6. Set 3D eyes with UV resin and coat the head area.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of EP Fibers: EP Silky Fibers — Finer, more translucent; EP 3D Fibers — Pre-tapered, easier baitfish shape; Craft fur — Budget option, still good; Pseudo Hair — Hair-like synthetic, similar result; Big Fly Fiber — Larger profiles
  • Coating instead of UV resin or epoxy: Solarez Bone Dry — UV cure, fast; Loon UV Thick — Builds up well for heads; 5-minute epoxy — Traditional, rotator needed

Tying videos

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