Streamers: Step-by-step fly tying instructions

Fish-Skull Deceiver created by Martin Bawden.

If you like fishing Half-and-Halfs or ever wished for a heavier Deceiver, then the Fish-Skull® Deceiver now gives you another option. The Fish-Skull® Baitfish Head™ compliments the general baitfish profile, simple design, and effective action of the classic Deceiver design to produce a wonderful fly to fish. Essentially a weighted Lefty’s Deceiver, the basic tying method for this great, time tested fly pattern remains the same with the only exception being that the traditional thread head and painted/stick-on eyes are replaced by the Baitfish Head™ and Living Eyes™.

Fly tying materials

Hook: Standard or slightly longer shank saltwater hooks (#2 to #4/0).
Head: Fish-Skull® Baitfish Head™, golden chartreuse, medium or large.
Eyes: Fish-Skull® Living Eyes™.
Thread: Mono.
Tail: White saddle hackles.
Flash: Flashabou Pearl (or your favorite flash material).
Collar: White and chartreuse bucktail.
Topping: Olive DNA Holo Fusion fiber.
Throat: Red craft fur.

Fly tying instructions

Step 1

Put the hook in the vise.

Step 2

Prepare 6-8 saddle hackles, 3-4 for each wing. Tie in the wings at the bend with the dull sides facing inward.

Step 3

Tie in several strands of flash on each side of the tail. Wrap the excess flash around the butts of the hackle to form a pearl under-body. Tie off the flash.

Wrap the excess flash around the hackle butts to form a shiny under-body.

Step 4

Tie in a small bunch of bucktail low on each side of the hook.

Top view.

Step 5

Tie in a third, longer bunch of bucktail on top of the hook shank.

Step 6

Tie in the darker topping. I am using some strands of Olive DNA Holo Fusion fiber instead of the traditional peacock herl.

Step 7

Turn the fly upside down and tie in a red "throat". At first glance the amount I am using may seem excessive, however, most of the throat will be covered over by the Fish-Skull®is fitted leaving just enough red material protruding realistically out of the gill plate area.

Step 8

Turn the fly back upright, wrap a few turns to form a thread-head, tie off and cut your thread.  Apply a coating of super glue to the top, bottom and sides of the thread-head. Fit the Baitfish Head over the eye of the hook and position in place.

Step 9

Re-attach your tying thread in front of the Baitfish Head and tie a small thread dam between the Baitfish Head and the eye of the hook to secure the head firmly in place.

Step 10

Apply a small spot of super glue on the middle of each eye socket and stick on the 3D Fish Eyes.



There it is!