a l u H p m i r Sh The
by Terry Baird
The Hula Series grew out of my observing the actions of
Varying the basic design has allowed me to imitate
diamond jigs while ice fishing in Bear Lake, Utah, in the
such diverse food items as shrimps, minnows, crabs,
early 1980s. Fishing these small spoon-like jigs vertically
palolo worms, inch-long bobtail squid, as well as
down to nearly 50 feet, I was amazed at how much
freshwater nymphs and leeches. I’ve also created
action they had. Some would circle while swimming with
Hula versions of a number of classic fly patterns,
a wiggling action on the drop, while others would shake
including Bob Nauheim’s Crazy Charlie, Winston
and dart on the retrieve. There was continuous inherent
Moore’s Agent Orange, and Chico Fernandez’s
action of the lure itself!
Bonefish Special. I’ve used Hula variations successfully in ultra-thin water for bonefish, in
Being an avid fly angler, I knew I had to try to develop
the West Coast surf for corbina, and in deep water
a tying method that would recreate the same self-
with sinking lines for tuna. In fresh water, Hula flies
swimming action. Testing early prototypes in buckets,
have caught trout and panfish, largemouth and
sinks, and bathtubs, I could see a wide range of
smallmouth bass, and landlocked stripers, to name
possibilities. Simple changes in design affected the
only a few species.
water flow or resistance, effectively altering the action of the fly. Varying the size of the metal bead chain (or
Salt water or fresh, surface to 50 feet or deeper,
substituting them with lead dumbbells), the size and
trout to tarpon to giant trevally—your specific
number of plastic beads; the hook gauge, gape, or length
angling needs will dictate the wonderful Hula
of the shank; or the tail or winging materials all altered
variations you’ll create. And to think it all started by
the fly’s action.
fishing through a hole in the ice!
64 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
