Comment on this pattern

Current Tags for This Pattern
/ Black / Bucktail / gar / white / Yellow / zonker /

Gar Getter with Stinger

 
tied by BigDaddyHub
Fly Type: General Freshwater,
Imitation: General Baitfish,
Material List: White Rabbit Zonker strip approx 3 inches long
Chartruese Bucktail
Sz 4 Mustad Sproat hook
Sz 12 Eagle Claw Treble (stinger)
20lb stiff mono (connector loop)
Yellow bucktail
Black sz 6/0 thread
Self adhesive eyes-Silver/Black-#2
18 gauge florists wire

Tying Instructions: Start by using a short peice of mono to make the connector loop for the stinger. Melt the ends of the loop to form a small bead, much like you would making nymph eyes.

Place the loop on the shaft of the hook. The end of the connector loop should be approx 1/16 of an inch behind the eye of the hook. The loop should be only long enough to freely dangle directly behind the bend of the sproat hook. Tie in the connector loop using close, tight wraps. Secure the wraps with a generous coat of your favorite CA adhesive (superglue).

Next, tie in your rabbit strip. Tie it in at the same point you tied in your stinger.

Now, turn the hook and tie in the yellobucktail for the throat of your fly.

Right the hook, and tie in your favorite flash.

Next, tie in the chartruese bucktail as the overwing.

Build a "healthy" head with your thread. Some tiers find building a head is easier with 3/0 thread. I prefer the look 6/0 thread gives...it takes more thread, but I prefer to use the 6/0. Ultimately the choice is yours.

Whip the head.

Using the CA adhesive, glue the eyes to each side of the head.

Varnish, lacquer, or cement your head and place it to the side to dry.

Now, we're ready for the "bite guard". Take two strands of the florists wire, approximately 9 inches long, and place them in your vice. Take a set of hemostats, grip the other end, and begin twisting the wires together. Once you have achieved a tight spiraling of the wires, remove from the vice and snip it in half. Form a loop in one end of the now single wire guard. Using your thread, begin whipping the loop closed. Wrap the thread tightly. The thread will bind against the twisting of the wire, making the loop almost impossible to pull out once whip finished and glued.

Now take the other end of the guard and thread it through the eye of the now dry fly. Bend the wire to form a loop that is small, but still allows free swinging movement of the fly. Whip it and glue it. Now your guard is complete and your ready to fish.!

I was leary of the wire bite gaurds, but I have found that if your use a short bite guard (3inches or smaller) it provided great bite protection and does not affect the movement of the fly. Using a shorter guard also allows the fly to suspend as opposed to longer, heavier guards/leaders that "drag" the fly and really screws up the natural action of the zonker strip. The leader/guard is also very tough and suprisingly flexible. I took 5 large fish and the guard held tight and tough!
Presentation Tips: stripped at various speeds and depths...sight fishing helps...when the gar are shallow and actively feeding, strip it quick and erratic and hang on!