HUD’S SUPER SIMPLE BAITFISH
Materials: Hook: Teimco 600SP #2 Thread: Fine Mono Wing: Baitfish Emulator Flash Pearl Eyes: Clear Cure Goo ¼” Agate Head: Mono finished with Clear Cure Goo Hydro
STEP 1
Cut a strip of the baitfish emulator about 2-1/2� long. You will notice that the attaching strip has 3 runners on it. I like to cut the bottom 2 runners off. This allows the material to build up on the head area without too much bulk. Just trim off the bottom 2 runners with you scissors.
STEP 2
Place the hook in your vise and advance the thread down to the hook bend. Secure in the baitfish emulator. Be sure and secure it so the fibers are facing rearward.
STEP 3
Advance your thread back up to the eye of the hook, and wind the palmer the baitfish emulator up to the hook eye. As you palmer the material forward, keep brushing the material rearward. Use a bodkin to untangle the material from around the hook gap. Once you reach the hook eye secure the material with the thread, build up a head, and whip finish the thread.
STEP 4
Now we have to trim the clump of fiber into a baitfish shape. To start, grasp the material along the hook shank and “pinch� it causing it to flare out vertically along the shank. I find it easer to do this trimming with the fly out of the vise. Next do the same thing, but pinch the fly horizontally.
STEP 5
Once you have the basic shape roughed out, place the fly back in the vise and continue to “snip� out any stray fibers. Remember to work the fly 360 degrees, trimming the top and bottom, as well as the sides.
STEP 6
Use permanent markers to color the top side of the fly. Here I used 3 different colors, a light blue first, followed by a darker blue, and finally a French Grey along the very topside.
STEP 7
Attach the eyes with a spot of Zap-A-Gap and coat the head and eyes with Clear Cure Goo Hydro. Finish the fly off by adding gills and spots or bars with permanent marker. By using the pearl colored material and permanent marker pens any color combinations can be realized. Swim this pattern with confidence!