April 2010

Currents: On the Fly

Hook your next prize catch with the likes of the Palmetto Prince, Bass Bully, and more.

Written By

Harold Rohrback

Photographs by

Paul Mehaffey

What do feathers, deer hair, rubber bands, and a very sharp hook have in common?

If you're fly fisherman Jan Peele, introduced to the sport only seven years ago, you have the ingredients to lure the grandest Grand Strand redfish. Peele has fast become a go-to fly-fishing guy. (He’s fly-fishing manager and tying instructor at the Orvis store at The Market Common.)

Here are his favorite fly patterns—including his own creations, the Peele-d Shrimp and the Palmetto Prince.

Rhett’s Special Tied on a long-shank, 1/0 hook, this streamer has large eyes and a body of spun red-white deer hair, green kraft fur, black-and-white kinky fibers, pearl krystal flash, and flash-a-bou tail.

	The Palmetto Prince A modified version of the original bend-back minnow, this tie works for a size-1 hook, with the hook shank completely covered with gold diamond braid. The belly is rootbeer bucktail, copper krystal flash, copper flash-a-bou, and black bucktail. Hologram eyes covered in epoxy can be added to simulate minnow.

Electric Chicken Clouser The clouser pattern stands as one of the best fish catchers of all time (and has nabbed many a redfish and speckled trout). The preferred hook for this fly is a long shank, size 1/0. The lead dumbbell eyes are tied about one-third of the way down, using chartreuse thread to produce a wobble when retrieved. The body is tied with chartreuse and pink bucktail, with a few strands of krystal flash added as an attractor.

	Bass Bully A freshwater-bass fishing lure, its crazy underwater action makes it irresistible to bass. Lead barbell eyes are used with a body made of estaz (holographic chenille), chenille, and silly legs. The tail is a rabbit-fur strip.

The Peele-d Shrimp Tied with a marabou tail, crystal flash chenille, and select saddle hackles. Bright colors work best in clear water and are visible from long distances for a foraging redfish. Black can be used for stained water, but a fluorescent pink thread color is a constant. A 1/0 hook is ideal.

Currents: On the Fly

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