A tube variation of the fly The Undertaker - The Overtaker - Small, black and sexy... and no, it's not lingerie - Global FlyFisher

GFF logo




    

The Overtaker

Published Nov 8th 2008

Small, black and sexy... and no, it's not lingerie

By Martin Joergensen, Ken Bonde Larsen

A couple of Overtakers
Martin Joergensen

The Overtaker of course owes a lot to the Undertaker - a classical black fly with a green and red or orange butt. In this version, the universal small black fly has donned its tube clothing, and has become a universal small black tube fly, here dressed by Danish tube fly tier Ken Bonde Larsen.

Small black flies are a must in any salmon anglers box. They can be useful in almost any type of water under almost any type of conditions. If the water is very muddy or dark, they may not be as visble as larger, shinier and more colorful flies. But they may very well work there too.

This fly shows that tube flies need not be large flies. The Overtaker on a tube compares to a fly tied on a size 6 or 4 hook, and is a fairly small and compact fly. Again we have used a metal cone in the front, which will make the fly dive sexily towards the bottom when allowed and keep it horizontal when working in the current. You can omit the metal cone or substitute it for a plastic ditto if so inclined.

The Overtaker
TypeTube fly
Originator
Ken Bonde Larsen
Year of origin
2008
Difficulty
Easy
Target species
Atlantic salmon (sea run)
Steelhead (sea run)

Materials
TubeHalf inch black tube with inner tube (FITS)
1st buttOrange tying thread 3/0
2nd buttBright green tying thread 3/0
Tying threadBlack
BodyPeacock colored flash dubbing
1st wing sectionBlack Arctic fox
Wing flashPeacock colored Angle Hair
2nd wing sectionBlack Arctic fox
Front hackleBlack hen
ConeOrange cone or dish

Tying instructions
See the images below




Add comment  Go to article start
User comments
From: David Shaw · davidshaw13·at·hotmail.co.uk  Link
Submitted September 27th 2011

Iam looking forward to tying some of these flies as the Overtaker really looks the part, Iam a big fan of the FITS extra small turbo disc as it gives small tubed salmon flies a fantatic finish and they fish beautifully.A soft haclkle behind these little discs is a must.


GFF staff comment
From: Martin Joergensen · martin·at·globalflyfisher.com  Link
Submitted March 11th 2009

Les,

If you click on the picture you will be able to clearly see what's going on. So no, we're not going to use a white board. Maybe a background, which is slightly less confusing than this one, but not a plain, white board. That is simply too boring! ;-)

Martin


From: les cook · cooksofansdell·at·aol.com  Link
Submitted March 10th 2009

background doesnot help try a white sight board



Want to comment this page? Fill out the form below.
Comment
Only comments
in English
are accepted!

Comentarios en Ingles
solamente, por favor!
Your name Your email
Anonymize my information. Name and email will not be shown with comment.
Notify me on new comments to this article on the above email-address.
You don't have to comment to start or stop notifications.

All comments will be screened by the GFF staff before publication.
No HTML, images, ads or links, please - we do not publish such comments...
And only English language comments will be published.
Name and email is optional but recommended.
The email will be shown in a disguised form in the final comment to protect you against spam
You can see other public comments on this page

 
More stuff to look at on The Global FlyFisher
These other stories on "Salmon Flies - Flies for Atlantic and Pacific salmon" might also interest you:

Jungle Cock Repair

Mending: Prime Jungle Cock necks are rare to come by. Learn how 'upgrade' fishing quality JC necks in this article. Read the article by Steve Schweitzer.

Spey & Dee

Salmon flies: GFF partner Martin Joergensen writes: "...the often lightly dressed Dee and Spey flies with their long and swung back hackles and low riding wings are just soooo fishy!". That's why he finds John Shewey's book "Spey Flies and Dee Flies - Their History & Construction" interesting. Read his review here

More about Salmon Flies
A few random articles for your entertainment

Allan Kuhlman Hansen

A dedicated fly fisherman and fly tyer from Denmark

November 11th 2012

Salty dreams and glassy shrimp

Chris Edghill writes: "Fascinating to see how they worked together, one would dive in between the rocks and sea grass, completely burying itself and the others just milled around waiting for a shrimp to dart out from it's hiding place where it would be quickly devoured."

December 14th 2007

Buying hen and soft hackle

The soft hackle is supposed to be - as the name implies - soft. Soft hackle can come from many birds. Chickens, gamebirds like partridge, grouse and quail, pheasant and even crows and jackdaws.

May 7th 2013

Mart's Parachute Ant

During the warmer months of the year, they are just about anywhere... Ants. Martin Westbeek shows an easy way to tie a good ant imitation that will sit well on the surface and hopefully lure trout or grayling.

May 9th 2008