Monday, September 22, 2008

Experimental bass seaducer fly


On my last trip to Lake Travis I took along my 6wt but I really wanted to take along my 5wt or even 4wt as I think it would be more fun to fish. However, I really would like to throw a "big" fly to get the attention of bass. I was thinking I could lighten up one of my current patterns and stay away from a lot of zonker strips. Instead, I thought about and decided on modifying the lightweight Seaducer pattern slightly.

The Seaducer is a great shallow water fly. It is composed of mainly feathers so it is light and is great to present to shallow fish in that it falls on the water softly. It is also buoyant and the hackle sheds water easily on the back cast. Those are great characteristics but I do need it to stay below the water so I decided to make a simple modification and add some medium bead chain eyes which are not too heavy but should be enough to get it below the surface.

In order to give it a little bit more "action", I added a small tip of olive grizzly marabou to either side. The idea behind this also serves to change the profile slightly so they look like fins (I hope).

The collar on the fly is composed of red hackle though I may do another one in black or olive.

The components of the pictured fly are:
  • Gamakatsu size #2 SS15 hook (a light hook)
  • Black medium bead chain eyes
  • Four Olive/Black rooster saddle feathers
  • Two grizzly marabou feathers
  • Peacock flash
  • Hot red saddle hackle
  • Red 6/0 UNI thread
The resulting fly is ample in size to attract a bass but it is also very light and I expect that I will be able to cast it on my 5wt with no problems. We'll have to see how it fishes though. I am kind of eager to go back to the lake this weekend and try some of these experiments. I'll see what other experimental flies I can come up with before then.

EDIT: It has come to my attention that this fly pattern is essentially a cross between a Whistler and a Seaducer fly.

4 comments:

Mark said...

Good looking fly. I can't tell from the picture, but do you have the tail feathers curving inward, or outward?

texasflyfisher said...

Hi Mark,

They curve outward like on a Seaducer. I don't recall but I think the originator of the Seaducer, Dan Blanton, wanted a fly that would sort of mimic a frog in the marshes were he went after tarpon. So when you strip the fly in, the drag from the water closes them and when you stop they open again (kind of like frog legs). I think this is why they are tied that way. At least it makes sense to me. :-) Thanks for asking!

Mark said...

I have a dvd of Lefty Kreh tying Seaducers...he mentions the outward curve for frog leg type motion , but also mentions you can curve them inward as well for a different motion...though I am not sure what type of action that would impart on the fly.
I thought Lefty had originated that fly...

Rick said...

Amigo,

Great looking fly! A little too technical for me yet at this time. I am still trying to tie the sponge spiders I promised to send you to try on Brushy Creek.

Rick ><>
Water Walker Lanyards