Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · Jack · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · Intermediate · 1 version
Reference Recipe
Hook short-shank streamer/saltwater hook, 2
Thread Gray or tan 140 denier
Materials
Lead dumbbell eyes Painted dumbbell eyes medium (1 pair)
Strung marabou (tail) Shad gray / pearl gray (1 plume)
Flashabou Silver flashabou (several strands)
EP Minnow Head brush Minnow gray (1 length)
Ice Dub (gills) UV hot pink ice dub (pinch)
Ice Dub (back) UV gray ice dub (pinch)
How to tie it
Start thread near the front and lash a pair of lead dumbbell eyes on top of the shank a short way back from the hook eye with tight figure-8 wraps and a drop of glue; this weight makes the fly jig and ride point-up.
Move to mid-shank and tie in a shad-gray marabou tail one-and-a-half shank lengths long, plus a few strands of silver Flashabou.
Tie in the EP Minnow Head brush and wrap it forward in touching turns to a full baitfish taper, stopping just behind the dumbbell eyes.
Dub a hot-pink UV Ice Dub gill spot on each cheek.
Sweep a pinch of UV gray Ice Dub along the top for the back.
Figure-8 dub or thread over the dumbbell eyes to blend the head, whip finish, and cement.
Coat the head with a thin layer of UV resin (add stick-on eyes to the dumbbell first if they are unpainted).