If you want success with picky sea trout you can consider two tactics: go small ... or go LARGE!
Fishing really small flies can be a key to success when fishing for searun sea trout. Here's a trio to try.
Low Water Red Tag, Killer Bug and Copper Bully
Low water Red Tag, Copper Bully and Killer BugLow Water Red Tag - materials
| Hook | Gamakatsu F-16, size 4 or 8Any down eye 2X streamer hook can be used. Stainless or salt water resistant recommended. |
| Thread | Black |
| Tail | Red wool |
| Rib | Copper wire |
| Body | Three strands of peacock herl |
| Hackle | Small, soft, brown hen hackle |
| Head | Thread |
Tying Instructions
- Start the thread behind the hook eye
- Cut off a short length of red wool
- Tie in one eye width behind hook eye
- Cover wool with tying thread to the middle of hook shank
- Cut wool leaving a small tuft for tail
- Tie in copper wire under hook shank
- Wind thread to front of wool
- Tie in three strands of peacock herl
- Cover herl with tying thread to the middle of hook shank
- Twist herl and thread a to form a peacock rope
- Wind herl to form a tight, cylindrical body
- Prepare a small, soft hen hackle
- Tie in base first in front of body
- Wind the hackle 3-4 times backwards to form a mini palmer hackle
- Wind ribbing 3-4 times forwards over hackle to secure it
- Tie down copper and cut surplus
- Form a small head from the tying thread
- Whip finish
- Varnish
One standard and four Low water Red Tags
Much more about the Red Tag is found in these articles: Red Tag Odyssey and Red Tag.
Copper Bully (Kobberbassen) - materials
| Hook | Short shank wet fly hook size 8-10 |
| Thread | Red or orange |
| Rib | Copper wire (optional) |
| Body | Copper flash dubbing, Angel Hair, SLF or similar |
| Head | Thread |
Tying Instructions
- Start the thread behind the hook eye
- Cover hook shank with thread
- Tie in optional ribbing
- Dub with flash dubbing to a slightly tapered shape
- Rib counterclockwise, tie down and cut ribbing
- Form a small head from the tying thread
- Whip finish
- Varnish
- Tease out material with velcro
It has its own article here: The Copper Bully
Killer Bug - materials
| Hook | Small wet fly hook, size 10 or 12 |
| Thread | Black |
| Rib | Copper wire (optional) |
| Body | Natural grey hare's or rabbit dubbing |
| Head | Thread |
Tying Instructions
- Start the thread behind the hook eye
- Cover hook shank with thread
- Tie in optional ribbing
- Dub with wool to a slightly tapered shape
- Rib counterclockwise, tie down and cut ribbing
- Form a small head from the tying thread
- Whip finish
- Varnish
It's essentially this fly: Hare's Ear Bug
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