Saltwater Fly Patterns

Below are some of our favorite Saltwater fly patterns. Included with the pattern is a brief description of how and when to fish these great flies.

Christmas Island Special Coachroach Tarpon Crazy Charlie Permit Crab The Gotcha Christmas Island Special Randall Kaufmann’s slender, flashy fly is a great milkfish fry imitation and continues to be a great producer at Christmas island or anywhere else that bonefish are found. Keep this pattern sparse to maintain the profile and movement of a small baitfish. This fly is a great choice over sandy bottoms and can be tied in a variety of colors. Tie with bead chain, lead eyes and "blind" to cover deep running or tailing situations. Hook: Tiemco 811S or Dai Riki 930 sizes 4-8. Thread: 6/0 or 3/0 Fl Orange or color to match body. Body: Krystal flash—same color as tail. Can be reinforced with clear hard mono or V-rib. Tail: Krystal Flash—Pearl, Orange, Pink, Yellow or Rootbeer. Eyes: Stainless bead chain, gold or nickel plated lead eyes or can be omitted. Wing: Tan Craft Fur topped with a few strands on Krystal Flash for added sparkle. TOP OF PAGE

Christmas Island Special Coachroach Tarpon Crazy Charlie Permit Crab The Gotcha Coachroach Tarpon A simple yet still highly effective Tarpon fly that is used in all tarpon waters. The cockroach is still a first choice when a darker pattern is required. The barred grizzly tail and bucktail collar represent shrimp, baitfish and a variety of other food types. A "must have" for Tarpon fishing. Hook: Tiemco 800S or Dai Riki 930 sizes 4/0 to 1/0. Thread: A Black Tail: Grizzly neck hackle—wide and webby. Three feathers per side, convex sides together so the the fly swims naturally on the retrieve. Head: Black thread coated with epoxy—eyes can be painted on if desired. Collar: Natural brown bucktail tied deceiver style. TOP OF PAGE

Christmas Island Special Coachroach Tarpon Crazy Charlie Permit Crab The Gotcha Crazy Charlie One of the oldest and still one of the most effective patterns for bonefish anywhere! This pattern was one of the first to incorporate the inverted wing profile and has spawned many variations. The original used white saddle feathers for the wing but has since been replaced with calftail or a variety of synthetics. Mix and match weights and colors to cover almost any bonefishing situation. Hook: Tiemco 811S or Dai Riki 930 sizes 2-8. Thread: 3/0 tan, white or pink. Body: Flashabou, tinsel or Krystal flash covered with clear mono or V-rib. Eyes: Stainless bead chain or plated lead eyes. Wing: Calf tail---tan, brown, pink white or yellow. TOP OF PAGE

Christmas Island Special Coachroach Tarpon Crazy Charlie Permit Crab The Gotcha Permit Crab Del Brown’s "Merkin" fly has accounted for more fly caught permit than any other pattern. It may be the way it falls or the lifelike movement of the rubber and hackle but it does have some appeal to the most fickle of saltwater gamefish. It maintains a wide profile but remains easy to cast due to the soft yarn body. There are no guarantees with permit but this pattern has a been a proven crab imitation that continues to take the most prized gamefish of the flats as well as bonefish, tarpon and a number of other species. Hook: Tiemco 811S or Dai Riki 930 sizes 1/0 to 6. Thread: A or 3/0 Chartreuse. Body: Alternating bands of tan and brown sparkle yarn. Tail: Cree hackle tips, craft fur and a few strands of rootbeer Krystal Flash. Eyes: Nickel plated lead Legs: White or tan rubber tipped with red marker. TOP OF PAGE

Christmas Island Special Coachroach Tarpon Crazy Charlie Permit Crab The Gotcha The Gotcha This variation of the Crazy Charlie has fast become one of the best flies wherever bonefish are found. The Craft fur wing coupled with a few strands of Krystal Flash closely mimics the swimming motion of shrimp and small juvenile fish. There are many color variations but the original catches fish on both sand and turtle grass. Be sure to tie different sizes and vary the weight so they can be fished in a variety of conditions. Nickel plated lead eyes get the fly down in a hurry in deep water or strong currents while sparsely dressed patterns with different sized stainless steel bead chain eyes cover a wide range of depths or impact on the surface of the water. Sometimes a slower sink rate with a softer splash can make a huge difference with spooky fish. Unweighted versions are great for tailing fish. Hook: Tiemco 811S, 800 or Dai Riki 930, sizes 2-8. Thread: Light pink 3/0 Body: Pearl Krystal flash or Pearlescent diamond braid in pearl, pink or tan. Tail: Pearl Krystal flash or pearl mylar fibers from tubing—body length. Eyes: Stainless steel bead chain, nickel plated lead or omit. Wing: Light tan Craft fur and two strands of yellow Krystal flash. TOP OF PAGE

For a great selection of quality fly tying materials, visit the Fly Tying  Section of our Online Catalog. In addition to the Fly Tying section you can also purchase these great patterns in the Flies  category in the Online catalog. There are also great photos of hundreds of additional patterns.

If you have any questions or need some information on a specific fly pattern feel free to call our toll-free line at 1-800-227-7127 or drop us an e-mail at mrfc@3rivers.net.

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