Third Coast Fly

We were reminded of the presence of leeches in the flooded vegetation around the islands after several of the devils attached themselves to our legs. This inspired Steve to whip up a leech pattern, knowing that fish love eating leeches as much as leeches love eating us.

Shank:
Shank – 10 mm Fish-Skull articulated shank.
Tail – black marabou.
Body – black schlappen palmered up shank.
Hook:
Hook – Daiichi 1530, size 6.
*Secure shank to hook.
Body – black schlappen palmered up shank.
Flash – black Flashabou, tie in 3 strands then palmer schlappen feather.
*Use schlappen to build base for Sculpin Helmet.
Head – glue black Fish-Skull Sculpin Helmet.

On a weathered out day this summer Steve and I had the flies flying off the vises. I said that I was going to tie a few with purple, “used to catch some fish on that color and non of us have given it a try in years.” The next day brought perfect carp weather with bright sun and the purple fly could do no wrong and this was while all the other flies we threw struggled.

That purple fly caught every carp that saw it while all the other patterns we tried were either completely refused or refused by several before finally finding an eater.

Let me tell you, I got home that night and tied me up a big handful of purple flies. I was ready to change this Beaver Island carp game forever, I had rediscovered the lost or at least overlooked key.

On the following day we had another perfect sunny day and the carp would not touch the purple. In fact they were repulsed by it, if they saw it, they turned the other way. I tied on a few other patterns and we had a good day of carp catching.

The day of the magic purple fly was slow to leave my memory and I couldn’t help myself from trying it often but it would catch no more carp.

That is until a few weeks later on a thick foggy morning where nothing was working, I tied on the purple and the magic was back. Though as soon as the sun burnt the fog away the magic purple prince turned back to the disgusting purple toad that repulsed every carp that saw it.

For the rest of the season the purple fly remained a toad.

This leaves us with a bright day and dark morning where the purple was IT and then many dozens of other attempts where it failed completely? I’ve always said that black is either your best or worst carp fly and I’m guessing that purple may fall into this same category.

A while ago Steve surprised me with a handful of my gobies. It must have been because I was complaining about using my last and was missing having a few in the box. That goby pattern is probably my go to fly when nothing else will work.

The goby is a great fly but an unpleasant tie, I almost refuse to tie them. Thanks to Steve I now have a few in the box and can hit the water with confidence.

Here is a link from last time I ran out of gobies.

Here is a link with tying directions, just in case someone enjoys frustration.

Thank You Steve!