Fly Fishing Tampa.com Fly of the Month May Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

This is a fly that was designed by & tied by Ron Cavalier.

In Tampa Bay I use this fly at night under the deep water dock and bridge lights for Snook, Tarpon, and Trout. This fly picks up all available light from the docks and bridges.

I will help you all with the step by step tying instructions for this great fly

Tying Material List for the Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow.

Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 2/0

Thread: Danville Ultra Fine Clear Mono

Tungsten Scud Body Large

DNA White and Dark Olive Holofusion and White Frosty Fish Fibers 5/32”

stick on eyes chartreuse or silver Liquid Fusion, Loon Hard Head or 5 minute epoxy

Tying Sequence for the Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow.

Step 1: Place hook in vise and run a mono thread base.

Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

Step 2: On top of the hook tie on a large tungsten scud body.

Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

Step 3: Tie in some White Holofusion veiling the scud body on top and each side (wrap liberally with clear mono to hold it’s position).

Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

Step 4: Tie in some White Frosty Fish Fibers on top of the White Holofusion.

Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

Step 5: Rotate vise and tie in a bit of Dark Olive Holofusion on each side, pushing the material to cover the top of the body as well.

Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

Step 6: Place a 5/32” stick on eye on each side and wrap over a couple of times to hold the eyes in place when coating with finish.

Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow

Step 7: I usually coat this fly twice, the first time with a thinner coat, the second time with a heavier coating.

Tips: Don’t overdress the fly or you will counter balance the scud body, which when tied sparsely allows the fly to swim hook point up.Use the ultra fine as an initial coating for the body of the fly, by wrapping each wrap tight to one another at least once up and down the hook. This insures the material will stay in place, and protect it.Once the coatings are applied most of the mono wraps disappear.If you want an almost indestructible fly, coat with Devcon 2 ton epoxy, it will not yellow and makes the fly almost bullet proof.

Hope you enjoy tying the Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow as much as I do whether you’re fishing for Snook or Tarpon under the lights, you’ll find the Tampa Bay Tampa Minnow a welcome addition to your fly box.

Capt. Jim Lemke

(813) 917-4989 cell

[email protected]

www.flyfishingtampa.com

Fly Fishing Tampa.com Fly of the Month March
SYH Shrimp Special

This is a fly that was designed by & tied by Ron Cavalier.

In Tampa Bay I use this fly at night under the dock and bridge lights for Snook, Tarpon, and Trout. This fly picks up all available light from the docks.

SYH Shrimp

I will help you all with the step by step tying instructions for this great fly

.Tying Material List for the Synthetic Yak Fly.

Hook: Mustad CS70SD size 4-2-1.

Thread: Clear Ultra Fine Mono.

Under body: White CCT Synthetic Yak Hair.

Eyes: Medium or Large black mono.

Legs: CCT Crystal Tri-Lobal in Pearl.

Shellback: Tan CCT Synthetic Yak Hair.

Tying Sequence for the SYH Shrimp.

Step 1: Thread the hook from the eye to the bend.

SYH Shrimp

Step 2: Take about 1/2 the thickness of a kitchen matchstick of White CCT Synthetic Yak Hair and tie down from the eye of the hook back to the bend and allow about 1” over the bend of the hook (you’ll trim this later), tie down along the shank of the hook.

SYH Shrimp

Step 3: Place mono eyes over the bend of the hook and tie down.

SYH Shrimp

Step 4: Take a piece of CCT Tri-Lobal and tie down along the hook shank and make one or two wraps criss crossing over the eyes and once behind the eyes and tie off. Allow bobbin to hang down at this point.

SYH Shrimp

Step 5: Take a kitchen matchstick of CCT Synthetic Yak Hair in Tan and place it on top of the hook, between the eyes, allowing about 1 1/2” to stick out in front of the bend of the hook and now make criss crossing ties over the eyes and behind the eyes, not in front, when the material is secured, lift the SYH and wrap the CCT Tri-Lobal to the eye of the hook and tie off.

SYH Shrimp

Step 6: Trim any Tri-Lobal sticking upright and then lay the shellback down along the shank of the hook and adjust it and tie off at the eye, wrapping over the shellback to hold it in place.

SYH Shrimp

Step 7: Take each end (the horn and tail) in your left and right forefinger and thumb and pull shellback to make sure it’s aligned to your satisfaction and trim off the tail and the horn to whatever length you’re satisfied with. I usually allow about 3/8” for the tail and about 1 1/4” for the horn.

SYH Shrimp

Step 8: At this point, you can apply either a thin coat of Liquid Fusion, Loon Hard Head or Hard as Nails to the shellback and you’re finished.

SYH Shrimp

Hope you enjoy tying these simple shrimp as much as I do whether you’re fishing for snook under the lights or along the mangroves or redfish or speckled trout, you’ll find these simple shrimp a welcome addition to your fly box.

Capt. Jim Lemke

(813) 917-4989 cell

[email protected]

www.flyfishingtampa.com

Tampabay Fly of the month February

This is a fly that was designed by Pat Dunlap & tied by Ron Cavalier.

I call it the Tampa Bonefish Special

In Tampa Bay I use this fly as my number one go to Redfish fly for those spooky tailing reds (aka Tampa Bonefish). I will help you all with the step by step tying instructions for this great easy fly.

List of materials are:
Hook: Gamakatsu SL45 Bonefish Hook, size 6-8-10.
Thread: Clear Ultra Fine Mono.
Body and Shellback: Root Beer, Orange, Tan, White or Gray Krystal Flash.
Eyes: Small or Medium Black Mono.
Legs: CCT Crtystal Tri-Lobal, Pearl, Orange, Tan or Gray in 3/4″ material length.

Tampa Bonefish Special Tying Sequence:

tampa bonefish

Step 1
• Wrap a mono base on the hook from eye to bend.

tampa bonefish

Step 2 Place about 20 to 30 strands of Krystal Flash on top of the hook, allowing it to hang over the eye of the hook about 2” or so and tie down from eye to bend of hook, make sure you leave about 1” in front of the bend of the hook to simulate a mouth.

Step 3 Tie on a pair of mono eyes over the bend of the hook.

Step 4
Tie down a piece of CCT Crystal Tri-Lobal along the shank of the hook and make one or two wraps of the Tri-Lobal over the eyes, criss crossing them, tie off Tri-Lobal just behind the eyes and advance mono thread to eye of the hook.

Step 5
Wrap Tri-Lobal around the shank of the hook to simulate legs until you reach the eye of the hook and then tie off, but leave the bobbin hanging.

Step 6
Trim and materials sticking up in the air and now bend the Krystal Flash back along the top of the hook and between the eyes, allowing it to stick out in front by at least 1” and tie off at the eye of the hook to hold material down and whip finish.
Super Glue the Shell back down and place a drop between the eyes and on the back thread.

This is what it should look like.

I’ve tied many of these for Captain Jim Lemke and he’s caught many redfish on this fly. This fly will work great for Redfish, Bonefish, Snook, and Baby Tarpon.
Capt. Jim Lemke
(813) 917-4989 cell
[email protected]
www.flyfishingtampa.com