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Here is an adult menhaden pattern
that is designed to have a high profile which matches the
natural body shape of a menhaden (bunker). In order to maintain a high profile
with minimal material, I have incorporated single strand wire
into the tying process. Portions of the fly are first tied on single strand wire. The portions are then bent at
the desired angle before tying onto the hook shank. This
technique allows for the materials to be propped-up at much
higher angles than can be achieved from traditional tying
methods of securing the materials directly to the hook shank.
The wire allows for construction of a fly with far less material
by providing support so excess material can be eliminated.
The result is a high profile fly that is castable and lively in
the water.
Materials
Hook: Tiemco 600SP, size 2/0 to 6/0
Thread: Danville Flat Waxed Nylon, 210 Denier
Body: Long bucktail
Wing: Long, narrow saddle hackle
Eyes: 3D prismatic, 3/8” to 3/4”
Glue: Beacon 527
Wire: Malin Hard Wire, size 10
Tying
Instructions
Step 1: Cut a ½” piece of wire and place it in your vise.
Secure thread near the end of the wire. Tie in 4 saddle hackles
surrounded by a small clump of bucktail. Repeat this process on
new pieces of wire, varying color as you please, until you have
a total of 4 complete pieces.
Step 2: Repeat Step 1 but only tie in a small clump of
bucktail with no hackle. Continue until you have 3 complete
pieces.
Step 3: Place the hook in the vise and tie in a medium
clump of bucktail in front of the hook bend followed by 4 saddle
hackles tied flat wing style.
Step 4: Tie in the wired pieces. You will work your way
from the rear of the hook to the hook eye placing each new piece
in front of the last. The pieces with hackle and bucktail are
tied on top of the hook shank. The pieces with only bucktail
are tied on the bottom. Before tying in each wired portion,
bend them with a pair of pliers to the desired angle you would
like them to be elevated off the hook shank.
Step 5: Apply glue along the tie-ins for durability and
attach dome eyes.
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