This page is the tale of two flies. Well, one fly pattern that was passed on through different channels. It's orginally the creation of Jaime Boyle, and was related to me by Dave Skok prior to a trip I took to a bonefish spot that Dave and I both like. I posted a piece about the fly some time ago, and eventually received an email from David Thompson, who was there when Jaime invented the fly. I have kept both my original posting about howI learned about the fly, tied it, and used it, and Dave's recollection of the fly's creation and his own version. This brings to light one of my favorite aspects of fly tying - we're always tweaking, tinkering, and adjusting the flies we are taught, come across, or create. It's a never ending pursuit. Cool stuff.

My original post
This is a variation of a pattern told to me by Dave Skok, and he learned it from Martha's Vineyard guide Jamie Boyle. Dave said this fly worked great during their trip to an island in The Bahamas, and he was right on. I've found this pattern to work well in locations where the bonefish appear to eat a lot of small fish. It should be stripped so it remains in the water column, like a small fish darting away. This fly was the most productive fly on my research trip to Cuba.

Hook: Mustad 34007, size 2 or 4 (I prefer size 2)
Thread: Pink Danville flat waxed nylon
Tail: Tan EP fibers or craft fur, barred with a brown Sharpee permanent marker
Body: coating of pink thread, over which is palmered brown hackle. tied in at the hook bend and wrapped around hook shank to eye
Eyes: Medium beachain for shallow water
Wing:Tan rabbit strip, tied in at the hook bend (on the hook point side) and tied in at the hook eye.

The Real Deal
Jaime's tie as I recollect it - the original material came out of a baggie of stuff we brought with us and was a total improvisation from what he had at hand.

Tail: flashabou, same length as shank, sparse

Body: diamond braid wrap or pearl tubing wrap. I think we tied them both ways due to a scarcity of material.

Eyes: 5/16 (large) ss beadchain

Wing: a few strands of root beer crystal flash over which is shrimp kinky fibre at least twice the shank length, held together so the waves in the material stay aligned.

Comments: In my own tie I fray out the pearl tubing to get the tail, and I trim a few strands off.  I use super hair for the wing becaue I like the way the wave in it stays together. I use shell pink thread when the shrimp kinky fiber is used because the fiber has a pink hue. The super hair is more tan so there I tie the head tan to match. I tie in the root beer crystal flash under the wing. The fly is long, skinny, segmented, and sort of neutral, subtle, non-flashy, nondescript. It's not an "oo-ah-this is cool" type of fly at all. That is, until you use it.

Originally the wing was Shrimp Kinky Fibre, lined up so the wavy material gave a segmented appearance when wet, which is one of the reasons why I think the pattern was so effective, as well as a long, slim profile. A truly killer pattern from a guy who just sees stuff most of us do not.

All material copyright Aaron Adams 2009, and beyond, unless noted.