This fly was designed to be flashy, with a wider profile than a Mushmouth. It is intended to imitate the peanut bunker shape rather than silversides or anchovies. After chasing Spanish mackerel and Skipjack Tuna inshore, I wanted a small, wide-profile, flashy fly to drift and twitch, given the tunoid tendency to hit small metals. After tying a few, I saw that Orvis had exactly the same fly on sale but without an originator. They probably beat me to it. Anyway, it's about 2 1/2” long and an inch wide at the tail. It can't get much easier to tie than this.

Tying Sequence

Step One

Cut a double length of pearl Angel Hair (a pinch), tie it in, then double it back about 1/4” back from hook eye and tie in again.

Step Two

Tie on a second pinch of pearl Angel Hair in front of the first. At this point, tease out the hair with a bodkin and continue to run your fingers over it to keep the shape. This should straighten the hairs and reduce the amount of materials. Tease out half of it.

Step Three

Tie on a smaller pinch of green Angel Hair, and double it back. Keep this on top, and work it to shape with fingers. Do not tease this part, and be careful when cutting the pinch off the pack, so it has longer straighter hairs. Teasing it with the bodkin will mix the green with pearl, and that's undesirable. If you try it, you will see what I mean.

 

Step Four

Last, add a drop or two of Softex to your fingers and run them over the fly. Add more at the hook eye, and very little towards the tail. The tail should be as limp as possible. Softex keeps the shape of the fly, and the material won’t foul on the hook. Widen the tail to give it a wide, flat profile. (Ed. Note: Using a toothpick or other tool may work as well as your finger and will not expose you to chemicals.) Add the stick-on eyes and a light coat of head cement or superglue to the head, and then trim the tail to shape. Good luck!

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