favorite smelt patterns

[s2ary]

Anybody have any favorite smelt patterns?

[fessiewig]

Salt or Fresh water?

[s2ary]

How about fresh water

[fessiewig]

The Winnipesaukee Smelt

Hook: 6XL Streamer hook
Thread: White 6/0 - head: Black 6/0
Body: Flat silver tinsel double wrapped.
Tail: None
Wing: White Bucktail extended beyond the bend of the hook over which is 3 to 4 strands of thin peacock herl as long as the bucktail over which is sparce orchid bucktail as long as the peacock herl over which is a single white marabou plume tied flat as long as the orchid bucktail (find a plume with a very thin center quill) over which is 2 or 3 natural black silver pheasant crest feathers curving down over and as long as the wing.
Head: Black thread
Eye: Pearlesant lacquer (built up over several applications) with black pupil.

How's that?

[s2ary]

cool thanks

[flytackle]

I like the Counterfeiter - here's the pattern as supplied by Eric Leiser:

Body: flat silver tinsel
throat: red calf tail covered by golden pheasent crest, curving into shank, beard style, one third as long as wing.
Wing: Sparse purple bucktail over which four gray saddle hackles, one half to one inch past bend.
Shoulders: Finely marked pintail flank, two thirds length of wing.
Topping: Silver pheasent crest feather or peacock herl, to end of wing.
Cheeks: Jungle cock eyes.

Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen call for orange and white bucktail for the throat, with the golden pheasent crest, as above.
I also rib the body with oval silver tinsel.

Cheers, Alec



http://www.favoriteflies.com/counterfeiters2.jpg

[s2ary]

Nice, I like the way the traditional patterns blend the color layers to creat the irridecence of a live baitfish.