Everyone is searching for the perfect fly for the gamefish they pursue and few think of analyzing the patterns they fish regularly for clues as to why they fish so well. I'll admit I have a few confidence flies that I hold dear but presentation makes up about 60% of my angler success rate. Lately I have been working with a few proven flies and using them on more learned redfish.

One of my all time favorite flies is Borski's Bonefish slider. Don't let the name fool you I have had plenty of success with this little fly on Smallmouth, Alaskan Trout, Redfish and Bonefish. When pursuing reds with this fly I usually use it over a light colored bottom or in clear water. If you retrieve it in short jerks it is ambiguous looking enought ot be perceived as a shrimp, let it sink lower in the water column and it works like a charm imitating a mud minnow.

Next in line is the Weber Rattle Shrimp for finicky feeding reds or fish that are in dirty water and feeding heavily on shrimp. This fly is designed to sink slowly and I prefer the bead chain version for lighter impact on the cast. I fish this fly slowly and like it over a grassy or muddy bottom.

One of the latest and most innovative patterns to arrive on scene is Murdich's Wiggler. This fly can be tied in so many color combinations as to boggle the brain. I am using the intel I have learned from the spin fishing crowd and their preferences on soft plastic colors. I am now tying my Wigglers in colors that mimic the hottest producing soft blastics be it rootbeer/gold or red/ white or elec. chicken. Typically I am fishing this fly in all water situations except the shallowest of conditions. I prefer a slow erratic strip for enticing bites and often fish it on a dead retrieve due to the very lively flashabou tail. This fly is very simply a spoon for the fly rodder.

So there are the top three as we head towards summer I will follow up with a note on crab flies as soon as I have the prototype I am working on dialed in on the flats. Until then....

Tight Loops & Lines,

Captain Seth Vernon