Buck Tail Baitfish

This pattern holds a great profile in the water, while remaining easy to cast. Buck tail does not have a lot of movement in the water, but the flash and saddle hackles that make up the tail compensate for the lack of movement in the buck tail by having a lot of movement and color. The hot melt glue is awesome for making heads on flies because it is very easy to work with and available at every craft store.

Materials: Flashabou, Saddle Hackle, Krystal-Braid, Buck Tail, Mirage Saltwater Flash, 

                 Laser Dubbing, Eyes, Hot Melt Glue.

Tools: Vise, Scissors, Bobbin, Hot Glue Gun, Whip Finish Tool.

The Steps:

Step 1: Start a thread base

Step 2: Tie in a pinch of flash off the back of the hook shank

Step 3: Tie in two saddle hackle feathers on either side of the
              hook shank in the same spot that the flash was tied in.

Step 4: Tie in a 3" piece of krystal braid

Step 4: Wrap the braid up the hook shank until it is roughly 1/4"
              behind the eye of the hook.

Step 5: Tie in a clump of buck tail to the underside of the hook shank

              and cut the excess amount. When cutting the buck tail, cut 

              on an angle to avoid extra bulk.

Step 6: Repeat Step 5, but on the topside of the hook shank.

Step 7: Tie in three strands of mirage flash to both sides of the

              hook shank

Step 8: Repeat Steps 5 and 6 on the top of the hook shank, but

              use a darker color buck tail.

Step 9: Repeat Steps 5, 6, and 8 but use a darker color of

                buck tail than what was used in Step 8

Step 10: Tie in laser dubbing to the underside of the hook

                  shank, whip finish, and cut the thread.

Step 11: Using a hot glue gun, apply glue to the thread that

                 forms the head of the fly. While the glue is still hot,

                 set the eyes in the glue on either side and allow the 

                 glue to dry.

Finished pattern in different sizes and colors.