Stonefish recently turned me on to some new to me techniques for building bigger flies using bucktail. After doing some reading it seems these types of flies are pretty popular on the east coast for stripers and things.
Just playing around some here with materials I had on hand, but I really like the results so far. When wet these flies look incredible, with a very full profile. The longest Ive achieved with the bucktail I have on hand is around 6", but using SF Blend in one pattern helped add length, and another new to me technique of using hackles to add length seems to help.
I like that it enables a larger profile fly but will still be castable....and I think the 6-7" length will easily entice ling cod.
With SF Blend dry
Same pattern wet
Similar patterns without added length
Red and Yellow
Using hackle to add length
Its an awful lot of fun to play around with new techniques. I love how bucktail looks and all the cool possibilities it provides. I think next Ill try an articulated version to really come up with a monster
Just playing around some here with materials I had on hand, but I really like the results so far. When wet these flies look incredible, with a very full profile. The longest Ive achieved with the bucktail I have on hand is around 6", but using SF Blend in one pattern helped add length, and another new to me technique of using hackles to add length seems to help.
I like that it enables a larger profile fly but will still be castable....and I think the 6-7" length will easily entice ling cod.
With SF Blend dry
Same pattern wet
Similar patterns without added length
Red and Yellow
Using hackle to add length
Its an awful lot of fun to play around with new techniques. I love how bucktail looks and all the cool possibilities it provides. I think next Ill try an articulated version to really come up with a monster