Tag Archives: Saltwater

Favorite Patterns

The Half & Half

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A classic Half & Half
A classic Half & Half

The Half & Half fly is a must fly for any saltwater angler. This fly combines two of the most popular and deadly flies: Bob Clouser’s Clouser Minnow and Lefty Kreh’s Deciever.  The fly has great movement from both the hackle in the back and the lead eyes in the front.  The position of the lead dumbell eyes allow the hook to ride pointing up.

If I could only have one saltwater fly, this would be it.  This fly can be fished in the salt or in fresh water.  Last memorial day at Brant Lake, NY, I hooked up with pickerel, small and large mouth bass, trout, and crappie with a small all grey Half & Half.  Many version exist and once you get the hang of it you can create your own to suit local baitfish conditions.

Here is a recipe for a simple Half & Half

Hook: Any Size

Thread: White Danville 210 Denier

Eyes: Red Lead Dumbbell

Tail: White Saddle Hackle

Body: White and Pink Bucktail

Step 1:

Start your tying thread at the eye of the hook and work to the half way point of the shank, then come back half way to the 3/4 position on the hook shank.  Build up a small thread bump to put your dumbbell eyes.

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Step 2:

Tie in your dumbbell eyes using figure eight wraps.

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Step 3:

Work you tying thread to the back of the hook shank and tie in your saddle hackle.  I used two saddle hackles but most used up to six.  After you tie in and clip your saddle hackles, take your tying thread back up to the front of the hook shank.

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Step 4:

Clip off a clump of white bucktail that is just a little less then the length from the hook eye to the end of the saddle hackles.  Tie in the buck tail in front of the dumbbell eyes.  Then bring your tying thread behind the dumbbell eyes and take a few wraps to bring down the bucktail behind the dumbbell eyes.

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Step 5:

Take the fly out of the vise and put it back into the vise upside down.  Clip a  clump of colored bucktail that is same length as the first bunch.  Tie in the clump in front of the dumbbell eyes.  You don’t need to bring the tying thread all the way against the eyes.  You want the space for the epoxy that will hold it all together and make it more durable in the salt.

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Step 6:

Whip finish and apply epoxy in front and around the dumbbell eyes and then go fishing!

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Finished Half & Half

Once you get the basic Half & Half down you can add flash and create different variations.  This is a great saltwater and freshwater fly that has taken over 20 species of fish for me.

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Baitfish Variation:
Thread: White 210 Danville
Eyes: Medium Red Dumbbell
Tail: White Bucktail under white EP Fiber mixed with Krystal Flash and Flashabou
Collar: White Bucktail under Blue Bucktail
Topping: Peacock Herl
Head: 30 minute Epoxy
Another Baitfish Variation:
Another Baitfish Variation:
Thread: White 210 Danville
Eyes: Medium Red Dumbbell
Tail: White Bucktail under white EP Fiber under 3 Grizzle and White Saddle Hackles mixed with Krystal Flash and Flashabou
Collar: Mixed Green EP Fibers
Topping: Peacock Herl
Throat: Red Krystal Flash
Head: 30 minute Epoxy
The original riding the way it will when it is in the water
Baitfish Variation:
Thread: White 210 Danville
Eyes: Medium Red Dumbbell
Tail: Chartreuse Bucktail under Chartreuse Saddle Hackle mixed with Krystal Flash and Flashabou
Collar: White Bucktail and Chartreuse Bucktail
Head: 30 minute Epoxy
A skinny sand eel version:
A skinny sand eel version:
Thread: White 210 Danville
Eyes: Medium Red Dumbbell
Tail: White Bucktail under white EP Fiber mixed with Krystal Flash
Collar: Red Bucktail with Chartreuse Bucktail
Head: 30 minute Epoxy

 

 

Saltwater

Sanibel Pier Snook

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Caught this Snook today at the Sanibel Pier. Bait is difficult to locate and appears to be following the tide. Plan on sight fishing this afternoon on the beach.

 

Saltwater

Sanibel Island

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History

Sanibel and Captiva Island geologically formed roughly 6,000 acres ago. Early humans inhabited the area as early as 2,500 years ago; these indigenous peoples were known as the Calusa. While many local pirate legends are recounted, the first failed attempt at settlement was in 1832 and again in 1862. The now famous, Sanibel Lighthouse was finally completed in 1884. In May of 1963, a causeway linking the mainland was opened; combined with the post war boom, a real estate gold rush kicked off. Extensive local controls on growth have helped the island to resemble “Old Florida,” with buildings no taller than two stories and few fast food chains on the island.

Spey Cast at Sunset

Getting There

This trip was coordinated for Mark’s thirtieth birthday party; in this man’s opinion, there is no better way to spend the big three zero than fishing, eating Conch Fritters and enjoying a few “Man Sodas.” Departing on an 8 AM JetBlue flight out of Newark, we arrived in Fort Myers by 11:30 AM. This left enough time to fetch a rental car, purchase fishing licenses, secure drinks and wade out into the water. A perfect plan, combined with windless blue sky days is exactly what is required to catch a fish.

Sanibel Island has a Wild Side

Targeting Snook   

Snook are a tropical fish; Florida is on the northern part of their natural range. Warmer water makes for very active Snook, cold spells can result in mortality. They winter in the back bays heated by the sun, pass the spring along the beaches moving out to the in the ocean in the summer, come fall, they return along the beaches headed to the backwater.

Early AM Beach Blue Fish

What To Throw

The species, as an apex predator, will eat anything that fits in their mouth and cannot consume them; feeding in a manner similar to the Old Bucket Mouth (General Lee) residing in the farm pond out back. Mark and I stumbled to the beach around 5:30 AM; he netted roughly two dozen Green Back Shiners, we hooked them to our circle hooks. Not too soon later, I had a Snook on the end of my line. I hustled out into the flats chasing after this top water splashing Snook. Unfortunately, as I reeled him to shore he popped off the hook. The key lesson from this experience is to use a fly that matches the widely available baitfish in size and color. Looking back, the two flies I would select are the Chartreuse and White Lefty’s Deceiver along with a similarly colored Clouser Minnow. The aggressive Mackeral surely enjoyed Norm Zeigler’s signature Crystal Schminnow as well.

Gulf Toadfish on the Fly

That Saltwater Taste

The majority of what you have read here on Moose Knuckle is about targeting Trout. This Sanibel Island adventure is a new direction for the blog. Beach fishing has its perks; don’t get me wrong I love where Trout live. Nonetheless there is something good to be said about Fly Fishing, waist deep in 80 degree water while beautiful women stroll on the beach. Not to mention, the fish are huge and it’s a crap shoot what you might pull up. Further, the Lazy Flamingo’s Conch Fritters washed down with a pitcher of Yuengling is heavenly.

Dave's Sea Trout