Preface: I am posting this video today, as I am getting my tuna tackle ready to fish either tomorrow or Friday -ocean conditions permitting. I am super excited about the possibility of launching a Dory (most likely The Fly Guy) on the beach in the pre-dawn surf, and making a long run looking for Albacore. My host knows his stuff and if we can get to the tuna, they will probably cooperate enough to leave us all in a melt-down. Wish us luck, and expect a report if all goes well. JN
Now for the regular fly post!
Steve Farrar’s Blend is an excellent material – I was new to the saltwater fly tying game and this synthetic winging material a year ago. Not now. I can tell you that different colors of the SF Blend product line exhibit different textures. The vast majority of the Steve Farrar’s blend colors are easy to tie with but a few are in my opinion a little more difficult to work with. The only colors I use that are in the hard-to-work category are the Electric Yellow and Bucktail White.
The Electric Yellow is a base material that is too straight and glassy for my tastes, but it has the ultra-bright yellow-chartreuse color I insist on in some flies. The Bucktail White Blend is too crinkled for my tastes, but it incorporates just the right amount of flash and a stark white color just like natural Bucktail (only more durable), so I live with the crinkles.
And speaking of 5” – this is a very effective length for a saltwater Pacific albacore fly, although I am quite sure that a smaller fly is more effective when Tuna are keying in on little bait. Really.
Jay Nicholas
Saltwater Albacore Baitfish
Overall Length = 5” – 5.5”
Thread: Fine Mono
Hook: Mustad #3/0 Gamakatsu SC 15
Belly: Fishient Flash N Slinky – White
Under Wing: Steve Farrar’s Blend – Bleeding Gray
Lateral Wing: Steve Farrar’s Blend – UV Mackerel Blend
Over Wing: Steve Farrar’s Blend -Midnight Blitz
Eyes: Cure Goo 10mm Lava
Cure Goo: Thick and Hydro
