Bodkin / Patterns

Spanish Mackerel

Baitfish · Jack · Barracuda · Advanced · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Gamakatsu Octopus (short-shank saltwater hook), #4
  • Thread Gray 6/0 UNI

Materials

  • Belly UV off-white (Small pinch of SF Fibre, folded)
  • Mid body UV chartreuse mid body (Small pinch of SF Fibre, folded)
  • Lateral line Emerald shiner (3-4 strands of Krystal Flash per side)
  • Back Mackerel (Small pinch of SF Fibre, folded)
  • Top wing Grizzly, colored blue (2 slender saddle hackles)
  • Topping British mix / baitfish (A few strands of Ice Wing flash)
  • Eyes Blue/silver/black molded ultra eyes (One pair 5/16 in molded Ultra Eyes)
  • Finish Clear solarez resin (Solarez UV resin for the head, Marine Goop for the eyes)

How to tie it

  1. Mount a size 4 octopus hook and start gray 6/0 UNI thread behind the eye, a textured thread grips the slippery SF Fibre better than a smooth one.
  2. Pluck a small pinch of UV off-white SF Fibre straight from the bag, fold it in half, clip it and taper the ends; tie it in for the belly and fold the remaining butts down around the underside of the shank so they cover the hook.
  3. Add a small folded, tapered pinch of UV chartreuse SF Fibre on top of and just ahead of the white, then pull it back over itself and lock it down.
  4. Tie three or four strands of emerald shiner Krystal Flash on each top corner of the shank as a lateral line.
  5. Take a small folded pinch of mackerel-colored SF Fibre, taper both ends, and pinch it onto the top of the shank with plenty of wraps; pull it back over itself and secure.
  6. Color two slender grizzly saddle hackles blue with a prism marker (add black bars with a marker if you want the mackerel look) and tie one on each top corner, not flat on the very top and not on the sides.
  7. Take lots of thread turns to taper the head down tight and slender.
  8. Lay a few strands of baitfish-mix Ice Wing flash over the very top, caught in the center of the thread, then whip finish.
  9. Coat the head with thinned Solarez and cure it under the UV lamp.
  10. Goop the 5/16 in molded eyes on with Marine Goop, iris forward, tight behind the head; brush the fibers out with your fingers so the colors meld.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns