Can you make this?
That was the subject line of the email I received on Friday morning from my mother-in-law, with a link to the following fly tying video…
Hmm… Tim Flagler’s Flounder Snack? Now I don’t really tie saltwater flies (nor steelhead flies which is where this pattern was derived), but I told her “sure, I just need to go to the fly shop to pick up some materials.”
So, Saturday’s mission was in place… I mean who doesn’t like to wander around a fly shop?
Now, while people in Jacksonville are rabid about fishing, the only fly shop in town is Strike-Zone Fishing. Once upon a time the fly shop used be called Black Fly Outfitter, but Vaughn Cochran divested of the physical business a few years back. I guess he sold the business to the Strike Zone folks, who operate what I’ll call a bit of a mini Bass Pro Shops. Featuring tons of fishing gear as well as a modest assortment of hunting supplies. The main building and the fly shop are two different storefronts, but literally right across the parking lot from each other in a strip mall near Jacksonville Beach.
Their selection of fresh and saltwater gear is phenomenal, with all the baitcasters, surf rods, deep sea supplies, kayaks, YETI coolers, and associated accoutrements an angler could ever want or need out of their main, anchor storefront. The adjoining fly shop is a bit smaller and far less “in your face,” but it’s solid too, as it’s fine tuned to the Jacksonville fly fishing scene and has just enough stuff to be a very valued resource to anyone who want to chase a tailing redfish during flood tide.
Fortunately, I was able to find everything I needed to tie up the Flounder Snack between the two locations. I should also qualify this by saying that my mother-in-law does not fly fish. She saw the video in her Facebook feed and plans to toss these suckers out with her spinning rod. She belongs to a fishing club near her house and told me she wants to catch a “doormat” sized flounder. I hope she does, and invites me over for dinner…
Anyway, the subsequent tying session went fairly well. The pattern only uses a few materials and is stupid simple to tie. Plus, tying on a size 1 saltwater hook is way easier than the size 10-18 trout hooks I’m used to battling.
I like that it’s one of those flies that is fished “upside down” with the hook facing up. And if you watch the very end of that video, you can see it’s lively as all get out underwater. (I might even tie up one or two to toss at some bass).
While my version certainly isn’t as clean as Mr. Flagler’s, I think they’re a fair representation. I guess only time will tell if the flounder feel the same way.