Looking for SBFT patterns

[scruffy_fish]

Since it is still tying season. What was your hot tuna fly last year and what size fish were you targeting?
Trying to get a feel of what size and colors worked.
Thanks

[Strat]

It depends on the bait. When they were on the tiny bunker we caught a number of them on small mushies anywhere from 2-4 inches. Typical olive/pearl or bronze/pearl colors. The Gami SL12 hook is perfect for these and very strong.

We also caught them on tiny pink/white polarfibre flies and big deceivers.

[SamRiley]

Be it ever so ugly, this BoilerMaker was a sure thing when they were on micro PBs last year.

http://reel-time.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5457

No need to amp up the hooks for small fish (up to 30#). Standard Mustads did the job too.

[scruffy_fish]

Thanks Sam,
Great photo! It looks the braid sandeel I fish when the stripers are picky, only with a collar.
Anyone else willing to share?
Thanks

[Hardtail Hunter]

The type of bait that they are feeding on is the key to choosing the type of fly.
But if your just tying over the winter... learn how to tie mushmouths really well and fast. If you can make a bunch of them in a short period your in good shape. When I got into the SBFTs last year they along with bluefish would destroy a lot of my mushmouths so that night I would get back and tie as many as I could before I passed out so the next morning i could chase them again. The great thing about mushmouths is that you can modify them to fit the bait they are feeding on by using different materials and amounts of matrial to get the color, profile and movement to fit what they want. One fly that I wanted to try was one that I saw on the first light DVD, it was basically a mushmouth with a rabbit fur tail out the back.

Over the winter when I am tying I am usually trying to develop new types of flys to try over the summer. So just search for SBFT flies and look at the pictures and try to make something that will work better than those --125-3
Right now I am trying to work on a squid fly because the tuna I was catching last year were full of them. So if anyone has any suggestions help me out ;)

[scruffy_fish]

HH,
I should been in good shape if mushies are good. My wallet is full of them. They are my favorite pattern for stripers. I took a 40" striper (my personal best) on a mushy and a 15lb. Blue, the same evening on the same fly, several years ago.

I took my first SBFT on a fly suggested by Capt. Terry (Riptide) on a charter last fall. It was quite an unusal and simple pattern but made that tuna change directions to seek it out. I will be trying to duplicate it from memory this winter.
Keep them coming guys; "Let's see what's in your wallet?"

[sbw4]

scruffy fish,
Can you describe or post your version of Riptide's SBFT fly - or get Terry to do the same? I've tied many patterns this season and would like to have as many as there are. Thanks.
Sol

[scruffy_fish]

FWIW. here is the only picture of the fly that I took my tuna on.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e294/scruffyfish/flies/fe36f124.jpg

[sbw4]

Thanks. Looks like a green machine type fly.

[Soundking]

SBW-

Put a call in to Derek and Nat at First Light Anglers in Rowley at 978-948-7004. They carry the materials and patterns designed for this fishing. One of the Co-Owners of the store, Capt. Nat Moody, designed what in my opinion is the best fly for these fish. It is a bunny pattern with several modifications, and the tunas love them. They also carry custom-designed patterns specifically engineered to immitate the species of baitfish that the tuna are on. The best part, their small flies are tied on gamakatsu sc15 2h hooks, which will not straighten out on you like many commercial flies will on these fish. Give them a call, they're the best.

[sbw4]

Soundking,
I'm as addicted to tying as you are to fishing. I fished with First Light last season and have their DVD as well as some of their flies, several of which I've tried tying in the off season. Thanks.