Baitfish Fly Patterns

An easy to tie streamer that can be altered to imitate almost any baitfish, the Baby Fat Minnow brings excellent realism in the water and helps coax

The Tarpon Toad is a fly that has long been used to target the Silver King. This is a fly that’s great for a variety of Tarpon scenarios including casting at laid up fish or cruising fish. Jared ties a slight variation here that also works well for Bass, Stripers, and other predatory fish in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Tune in as Jared shows you step-by-step how to tie the Tarpon Toad with a slight twist.

Ray’s Fly is another saltwater streamer pattern that can be used in a variety of angling scenarios. A perfect imitation of smaller baitfish, this pattern is deadly on a host of saltwater species. Again, this pattern can be tweaked and tied with different colors depending on what species of baitfish you’re trying to imitate. Watch Jared deliver step-by-step instructions to tie the Ray’s Fly.

The Rump Shaker is a Redfish fly that’s really designed to imitate a fleeing shrimp (although fish eat it as a crab or a baitfish, too). This fly has a great profile in the water and moves a lot of water to attract large Redfish when the water is 1-3 feet deep. Jared has thrown a weed guard on this version to make it a perfect fly for the Louisiana marsh, the coast of Texas, or anywhere else you’re likely to find Redfish in shallow water conditions. Learn how to tie this modern Redfish fly including step-by-step instructions, a materials list, and more.

The Surf Candy is a popular pattern in the northeast for Albies and Stripers in the marsh. This particular version is built with an Epoxy head that allows it to swim straight and true in the water. Whether you’re targeting Stripers, Albies, or other predatory baitfish, this fly catches the attention of fish from a long way off. Plus, it’s easy to tie! Tune in as Jared provides step-by-step instructions for a Bob Popovics classic.

Borski’s Butterfly is a pattern that’s similar to the Borski Slider, a Redfish fly we’ve already tied on our channel. The Butterfly is another phenomenal Redfish pattern and fools large fish in muddy marsh-like environments. This is a great fly for Redfish along the eastern coast of the US and even as far south as Louisiana. Learn the steps necessary for crafting the perfect Butterfly Streamer including a materials list, recommendations, and more.

Chicone’s Midnight Special Fly is a stellar pattern for imitating small baitfish in a saltwater setting. This fly is great for Snook under dock lights and a host of other species. If you’re chasing Stripers, Redfish, Tarpon, and more, this fly is a great floating pattern to entice picky fish. Tune in as Jared provides step-by-step instructions to tie this simple pattern that should be in every saltwater angler’s fly box.

This versatile pattern moves water to attract Bull Redfish from a mile away… Well, almost. If you’re looking for a pattern that creates a commotion and pushes water, you’ve found it. The Grass Monkey is designed to sink and hover which makes it a great fly for fish feeding in shallow water or near the surface. The large head of the fly creates a big push of water to attract the big-mouthed predators on the block. Redfish will eat this fly as a baitfish, shrimp, and sometimes even a fleeing crab. Tune in as Jared teaches us how to tie the Grass Monkey with step-by-step instructions with photos, a video, and much more.

Monster Redfish don’t come easy. We learned that the hard way during our 2020 New Years trip to New Orleans to fish for Redfish on the fly. Weather, water conditions, storms, and more required plan changes, city exploration, and tough fishing. That being said, we found some trophy fish that made the whole trip worthwhile. Read on to get the full report including advice, recommendations, tons of photos, and much more.

The Gurgler is a great pattern for aggressive fish in both freshwater and saltwater. This fly can imitate a frog, mouse, and more for Bass laid up on weed beds or Redfish in the marsh. This fly can either be stripped aggressively to fool ambush feeders or defensive fish like Pike or stripped slowly to imitate a baitfish. However you fish it, this is one of the most popular fly patterns for aggressive fish. It can be tied in a variety of styles and colors… here’s our take including videos, photos, step-by-step instructions, and much more.