EP Baitfish video

1102 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Bones, Apr 3, 2017

ScottP

Discussion Starter · Apr 1, 2017

Found this nice vid over on Chiwulff

Considering the cost of EP's stuff, and all the material left on the cutting room floor after trimming, this is why I use Congo Hair. Bring a comb with you when you fish these flies; we had jacks turn them into something that looked like a scrubby pad. A couple passes with the comb straightened them out.

Regards,
Scott

Save

Reactions: 5

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

James St. Clair

· #2 · Apr 2, 2017

Yep, the fly tyers dungeon Congo hair is awesome, and worked just as good as the EP flies in Ascencion Bay on barracuda, tarpon, jacks, permit, and bonefish. Also, when I am trimming those, I save all the waste and throw it in a dubbing brush. Makes some awesome flies!

Here is a crab I tied with a dubbing brush that I made from trimming Congo hair from other crabs.

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 5

JohnB

· #3 · Apr 2, 2017

Any recommendations on Congo Hair colors for fishing the Everglades? There are too many color options on Fly Tyers Dungeon and I have analysis paralysis.

Save

James St. Clair

· #4 · Apr 2, 2017

@JohnB what patterns are you going to tie? Like the baitfish above? What is/are your target species? I might start here, with the everglades tarpon fly:

https://www.epflies.com/estore/18821/174047

At the bottom of the page you can click on the recipe tab and find all of the materials you need. Just sub out the ep fibers for Congo hair in similar colors.

And then I would look at the other tarpon flies on that site. I would go with red/black, yellow/orange, and white/red to start. Those color combos and patterns will all work for snook too.

Fly tyers dungeon also has a lot of good flash you can substite for ep flash. Also, the water silk is like a slightly finer Congo hair, similar to ep 3-d fibers, so if the recipe calls for those you might give the water will a try. The baitfish blends and water mix are pretty nice too, with some good color combos.

Save

SilverFly

· #5 · Apr 2, 2017 (Edited)

Great fly and video, but agree that's a lot of expensive materials going on the floor. I use similar techniques layering EP on my anchovy fly. One thing I do differently is do much of the profile shaping by adjusting bundle lengths being tied back. Granted, mine is a much sparser pattern, but have probably less than 10% trim waste.

Save

JohnB

· #6 · Apr 3, 2017

James St. Clair said:
@JohnB what patterns are you going to tie? Like the baitfish above? What is/are your target species? I might start here, with the everglades tarpon fly:

https://www.epflies.com/estore/18821/174047

At the bottom of the page you can click on the recipe tab and find all of the materials you need. Just sub out the ep fibers for Congo hair in similar colors.

And then I would look at the other tarpon flies on that site. I would go with red/black, yellow/orange, and white/red to start. Those color combos and patterns will all work for snook too.

Fly tyers dungeon also has a lot of good flash you can substite for ep flash. Also, the water silk is like a slightly finer Congo hair, similar to ep 3-d fibers, so if the recipe calls for those you might give the water will a try. The baitfish blends and water mix are pretty nice too, with some good color combos.

Thanks. I've got a friend in SW Florida and we've been bouncing the idea of a 5 to 10 day canoe trip around so it would likely be a bit of baby tarpon, snook and whatever else I can catch on flies or gear. I just got overwhelmed by all the different color options of Congo Hair. I appreciate the advice though and I will tie up a few of what you suggest. Thanks a ton!

Save

Bones

· #7 · Apr 3, 2017

JohnB said:
Thanks. I've got a friend in SW Florida and we've been bouncing the idea of a 5 to 10 day canoe trip around so it would likely be a bit of baby tarpon, snook and whatever else I can catch on flies or gear. I just got overwhelmed by all the different color options of Congo Hair. I appreciate the advice though and I will tie up a few of what you suggest. Thanks a ton!

Hey John

I have fished the Everglades several different times. My experiences with most mangrove fishing is that a couple key color groups will get you covered. My last trip, we fished a chunk of black Congo hair with red gills. No eyes. Tore it up on snook.

Baby tarpon like to feed on little baitfish (I can't remember their name but they eat mosquitos) and white with a little flash covers that. Chartreuse with white can be a good color combo too.

If you go with black/red, white/flash and white/charteuse you'd be covered. Popping white gurglers are a blast for redfish.

As for patterns, pick a baitfish pattern you like and run with it.

I think the biggest challenge is locating fish. With such a large area, it's hard to pin down where fish have been holding, unless you have a good guide who is willing to work those smaller bays.

Baby tarpon love little "creek" mouths that flow into bays and will play up in the mangroves. Snook love points with some shade. Reds are wherever you find them.

If you want the name of a good guide, shoot me a PM. All guides are not created equal down there

Good luck!

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 2

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month