Third Coast Fly

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!

Steve and I were tying and talking the other day about how we should revise many of our old patterns, switching out the lead-eyes for Sculpin Helmets. The Sculpin Helmet is great at always keeping the hook riding up and they do a better job of not becoming wedged in the rocks. On some patterns they will make the fly glide or even spin as they fall and the fish seem to like that.

We found that the simple change of swapping out lead-eyes on a plain old fly often gives them a new and improved look.

Many years ago Steve came up with his Frankenstein Sculpin that does a perfect job of imitating a goby on the Lake Michigan flats or a sculpin anywhere. One of the patterns I’ve always had luck with on deeper tailing fish is the Rockhopper. I don’t know why they like the hot pink body but all that really matters is that carp eat it.

You can Expect to see us throwing more Sculpin Helmets in the future.

It only takes a few windy rainy days on Beaver Island for the carp flies to really start hatching. They start popping off the vises in different sizes and colors, with about every material you can think of.

You can see the evolution as tying boredom combines with cocktails to create crazier and unfortunately mostly useless flies but every now and then a new great fly is born.