Color and profile, flash and eyes are all ingredients of successful patterns.

Ruby Red Head Smelt, size 10

May 4, 2005 Central Maine Willow buds are as big as a Mouse's ear. The Trout and Salmon are feeding on Smelt. I'm wondering if my flies I've just tied will perform. I know that I'll perform because I'm ready to probe streams and lakes from surface to bottom, wading gravel bars, riffles and pools. I'll chose the rod-reel- line setup for each situation and I'll try to fool Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon by stripping Smelt imitations. But I want to test new patterns too. I've just tied these flies to the left with White and Olive E.P. Fibers, some E.P.Flash, the bodies trimmed to shape and colored with permanent marker.

I need some fly pattern validation here, because ordinarily, I'd simply fish a Mickey Finn, Black Nose Dace, Gray Ghost, Black Ghost, Woolly Bugger, or any of a number of proven traditional ties and be happy. Today, I want to fool the fish with a Maine-adapted tie that's been good to me in Florida. The EP Perfect Minnow is a proven baitfish pattern in South West Florida, so why wouldn't a Smelt tie work as well here in Maine? The originator of the EP Series of baitfish patterns is Enrico Puglesi and he markets a number of Smelt-like patterns for fresh water. I've simply used the same fibers and tying technique to produce these Smelt imitations.

The Tying Technique in a Nutshell

The small bunches of fibers are alternately tied to the top and bottom of the hook shank from the middle of the shank to the head with flash added along the lateral line as the bunches are tied in. Next, the fly is tied off and colored with permanent marker, dark olive on top, leaving the belly white. With the fly held with forceps, I sculpted the body to shape with scissors, in some cases I added eyes, ending with a whip-finish and head cement coats.
Stay Tuned for validation.