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BASS & SALTWATER

RATTLER                              
 

This fly has a number of particularly useful applications. For Bass and EP's and in discoloured water it works well with a zonker strip back. In Estuaries it works well with a back of Superhair. As a prospecting fly it can be fished at a variety of depths. Perhaps the best method is to count the fly down and then jig it through the area you believe is holding fish. The more active the fish the faster the action. Offshore , without any back at all this fly is a great fly when Pelagics are feeding on Krill or Eyes.

BASIC
 RATTLERS		 BASS
 ZONKER RATTLER		 ESTUARY
 ZONKER RATTLER		 ESTUARY
SUPERHAIR RATTLER

MATERIALS:

Hook - Size 2 long shank stainless steel
Eyes - 3/16 painted dumbbell lead eyes
Thread - Clear monofilament
Belly  - Mylar or plastic tubing with glass rattle inside
Back & tail - Zonker strip or super hair
 

A)

  1. Starting at the eye wind the thread 1/3 along the hook shank in touching turns.
  2. Secure the Dumb Bell eyes on top of the hook shank at the 1/3 point using figure 8 wraps. To tighten the connection wrap the thread around the base of the eyes on top of the hook shank.
  3. Secure the eyes in place with couple of drops of super glue or head cement.
    4.
Positioning of the eyes at the 1/3 point described above is important because you need to leave enough room in front of the eyes to tie in the dressings and to form a nice shaped head.



 

B)

  1. Tie in the Mylar tubing in front of the eyes and whilst holding the Mylar tubing forward wind the thread to the bend of the hook.
  2. Push a rattle chamber up the Mylar tubing all the way to the eyes and then lay the Mylar tubing along the top of the hook shank with the rattle inside.
    3.


 
 

C)

  1. Tie the Mylar tubing off behind the eyes and above the point of the hook with the tag end extending of the tubing extending a distance equal to about 2/3 the length of the hook as a tail.
  2. Whip finish the thread above the point of the hook and trim the thread.

 
 

D)

  1. Mix a little 5 minute epoxy and apply a thin coat over the body of the fly taking care not to put any epoxy in front of the eyes or beyond the tie in position above the point of the hook.
  2. Rotate the fly whilst the epoxy goes off to ensure a uniform finish.

 
 

E)

  1. Put the fly back in the vice and attach the thread in front of the eyes.
  2. Tie in a body of zonker strip

 

or

  1.  Super hair    

 

 
Copyright © 2005 Stephen Chatterton / Fish on Fly P/L - All rights reserved.
Last modified:11-Jun-2008.

 
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