Published Feb 23. 2015 - 9 years ago
Updated or edited Nov 17. 2015

The Poly Dodger

The Poly Dodger imparts its own action and sound by deflecting water via mounting a polymer clay disc onto the main hook itself.

The Poly Dodger -
Damon

The wiggle eyes and beads give it sound. They rattle as the streamer dodges and darts around because of the Dodger Disc.

Here's how it all came about: The tying bug hit me amid winter 2014 as I waited for warmer days. I come from a largemouth bass angling background. Bass fishermen use crankbaits that impart action and sound to their presentations. Saltwater fishermen call these plugs. They almost all imitate baitfish.

Fly tyers spend a lot of time tying streamers and baitfish patterns, sort of our own handcrafted version of a crankbait. What do we lack? Motion and sound. Could streamers be made to swim and give off sound on their own? Yes. We can do even better because we can use any color combination imaginable, and the way we vary retrieves, we can better simulate wounded or fleeting baitfish.

Variations - Any color you like
Ready for some action - Large and colorful - and \"noisy\" in the water. That\'s the whole idea
Damon

Fishing The PolyDodger

Trolling works best. For trolling use whatever fly lines you have. Let out all the fly line straight down to the backing. Use an 8 ft. to 12 ft. straight monofilament leader in 10 or 12 lbs test line. Never troll in a straight line: zig zag, go in circles, or figure eights. Think of how baitfish swim.
For casting use 6/7 wt bass or saltwater tapered lines. This fly has a lot of wind resistance. You hear it whiz past like a bullet, so use heavy lines. I use 50 lb mono, two foot section of leadcore line, down to a short 4 ft. mono leader in 6 to 8 lbs test line. Casting these doesn't require as heavy a leader as trolling. Use the shorter leader lengths for casting.

Let's get into tying this thing.

Poly Dodger
Pattern type: 
Streamer
Originator: 
Damon
Materials: 
Trailer Hook
Mustad 3366 #4
Thread
Black (something strong)
Connector
50 lbs monofilament line
Adhesive
CA glue, superglue
Beads
Pearl beads 4 mm
Main hook
Mustad 3366 2/0
Dodger Disc
Polymer Clay (size of a U.S. Quarter)
Underbody
18 lbs leadcore line for weight & under body (optional)
Throat
H20 Twist/Krystal Flash pearl
Body
Yellow yarn
Wing
Congo/synthetic hair (color depends on the baitfish imitated or streamer pattern used. Here I use a Mickey Finn because it\'s a classic streamer)
Eyes
Wiggle Eyes
Skill level/difficulty: 
Easy

Step 1: tandem hook

Step 2: connector

Step 3: secure

Step 4: main hook

Step 5: start the thread

Step 6: stinger

Step 7: underbody material

Step 8: underbody

Step 9: body material

Step 10: wrap body

Step 11: throat

Step 12: first wing material

Step 13: middle wing

Step 14: top wing

Step 15: eyes

Step 16: finish

Damon

NOTE: I use synthetic materials. Use whatever materials you see fit. Traditional bucktail streamers work are fine. To adapt your favorite streamer, use a tandem hook instead of a long-shanked hook, then add the dodger to the main hook.

Videos

Making the discs

Mounting the discs

The finished fly


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