Giant BF Tuna Fly

[Jim Miller]

first shot at a big tube fly.
tied on a 4" bic pen body. :)

[zimmjas]

Very Nice! :cool:

[rhino]

wish i was a pro. but i get buy.


great fly and very tight lines with it rhino --123-3 --123-3 --123-3

[bass3six]

Love the color choice, Mr. Miller.
I think I'll try tying some Buffy/kinky fibre style flies with those colors.
Nice!

[bonesnbass]

Very nice, but go with a bigger eye

[peter mac]

Hey Jim,
The flies are all Yak hair and 11-12" long tied on 8/0 Gamakatsu SL12 hooks, the Adult bunker pattern (tan/brown fly) works great on stripers in NJ in the spring when the bunker being eaten are 2#, which they are in NJ most of June. The other 2 flies are snapper bluefish and herring flies that have worked well in the past, again for BIG stripers, would love to throw them at giants. We had good success with very small flies this year up on the cape, taking sbft on 3" deceivers on 1/0 hooks so who knows what size the giants will eat
When are you going and who are you fishing with, I assume it will be in NC?
Peter Mac

[Jim Miller]

Peter
Very Nice flys. 2# pogies and snapper blues are perfect!
to answer your questions:
Going to Atlantic Beach/Moorehead City, NC.... Dec.5-11. A contingent from Mass. is trailering down 2 boats. We are mainly going for "catch & release" trolling ballyhoo on 50wt. standup tackle.
Fish average 400#...a big one around 800#. neat part is the fish are in 12-50 feet of water!!!!!!
They feed on Adult Menhaden, 10" bluefish, 15" ballyhoo and 10# F. Albacore! These are not dainty fish!
Thinking if we can find them on a baitball of pogies....we will toss a fly at them. I do think it will be hard to bait & switch on the troll...I don't think they will follow & track a bait like a billfish.
I went with the tube fly because of the 2-300# leader needed to control them at boatside. Thinking a 10/0 hook crimped to the leader.
Chris (sageFG) has built a 19wt that we'll try out on these beasts. All new arena .......wish us luck!

--127-3- --127-3-

[Jim Miller]

BTW: here are some "conventional" flys that will make the trip too:

[peter mac]

Hey Jim,
I wish you guys good luck and SCREAMING reels!! When we were chasing Yellow fin in the gulf they would troll to find the fish and then throw live ballyhoos, get the fish worked into a frenzy and then throw flies at them. The fish were not able to be bait and switshed, but could be held on the surface by feeding them the live ballyhoos.
I have heard that the GBFT bite in NC in Dec-Feb is unbelievable, and not for the faint of heart. I have a few crazy friends that want to do a trip just like yours next year 17-19wts and reels with 1,000 yds of backing. I will be very interested to hear about you adventure, and the techniques that worked for you.
Good Luck and Good Weather,
Peter

[striblue]

Jim... those really look like they will do the trick. Nice job.

[lemaymiami]

Those are very nice bugs... Down here we use big stuff for bait and switch when teasing over wrecks with blue runners. We let the fish grab the teaser bait right at the boat then play keep away until they're hot enough to drop a big fly. You don't move the fly at all....

[Armando]

And Great Plan, Youve Got For The Season.
Best Of Wishes, And Watch Out For Your Digits.
:-% Cheers

[Armando]

Another Cool Fly

[Saltydog]

VERY NICE FLYS, I have forund that when BIG B.F.T.'S are at the back of the boat, an you can cast to them,these 2. colors work best, they can target them QUICKLY. this TUBE is 12" tied an then TRIMED to shape, a couple of packs of material is needed,when in the water the fly opens up (puffs up) the tail folds back. "GOOD LUCK GOOD TYIN" --127-3-

[Jim Miller]

Salty
THAT is a very cool fly! looks like a bonita!
Thanks to all for the response. I'll try a second batch of ties this weekend....and try out some of your ideas!

[Saltydog]

Have A Great Turkey Day!
"good Luck Good Tyin" --127-3-

[Jim Miller]

Order from Hunters arrived today......
Took some of your suggestions and came up w/ this 12"
fatback bunker. TMC 600sp 8/0 hook, yak hair, flash, hackle topping. Blue version next.
Happy Turkey!

[scruffy_fish]

Jim, you tye a sweet looking fly!
I liked the doll eyes, which I use also, I think it may add an ever so slight rattle sound.
You may have to add some weight on the hook or some sort of keel, these big flys often track on their sides.
Have a great hoiliday!

[peter mac]

Hey Jim,
Great looking fly!........The 600sp are super hooks what they stick usually stays on, good choice. Doll eyes are a nice touch, they do add to the fly's bouyancy (sp?) one way to avoid this is to cut a small hole in the outer shell so they fill with water, if you want the fly to sink quicker.

Good luck to you and your crew in NC looking forward to the report

Peter Mac

[Jim Miller]

Thanks Guys!
here is the "blue" version and shots of all 3 flys. Put bigger eyes on the tube version. time to go cook Turkey! --127-3-

[Jim Miller]

Here is the last 3....bright flies!
More angel hair & flash to go w/ the yak body bulk.

[Iwan]

Jim. Those flies are money --125-3

Iwan.

[peter mac]

Jim,
Are you too excited to sleep yet?..........the anticipation of a trip always keeps me up at night as it gets close.........also there is nothing like heading out of the marina that first day with all of the anticipation and adrenaline pumping.........oh the possibilities.......GOOD LUCK !!
Peter Mac

[Jim Miller]

Thanks Guys!
yup...I know what you are talking about Peter. Tough time sleeping....the sound of a buzzing drag in my dreams....keeps waking me up!!! plenty of time for sleep...once you're dead!
I'll post on our success. (#$121)