Presented from Issue 98

Over early winter I spent some time on Tasmania’s beautiful east coast. With all that water beckoning me of course one would have to go fishing. Flathead would be the target but then I guess anything that may swim past get something thrown at them. Certainly there was a lot of salmon around, but the majority of schools I saw were too far away to cast to.

I didn’t want to get into the saltwater with waders on as there are lots of people walking the beaches and you can imagine their reaction seeing this girl wading. So back to where to fish, if fishing from the shore? Personally a rocky point where the sand comes quite close and there is a nice depth of water is my choice. The flatties love to bury themselves in the sand in wait for their prey to come along.

A fast sinking line is my choice as with a good tide the water will come in rather quickly and a slow sinker can end up washed in at your feet. Let the line sink to the bottom then retrieve with a jerk then stop action. This will make the fly puff the sand up. The flathead just love it. A small bait fish fly pattern most will work. My preference is a fly in a green or olive over white with distinctive eyes.

98 jans flys

Flattie fly

  1. Hook – short shanked heavy gauge size 1/0 – 2/0 – 3/0
  2. Thread – Danville’s flat waxed nylon in white Body – nil Underwing – UV pearl sparkle flash
  3. Overwing – light olive sparkle flash Eyes – large silver and black stick on eyes

Method

  1. Take thread and wind on a small distance behind the hook eye. Now put a nice dob of glue as this will keep everything together.
  2. Cut a small clump of UV pearl sparkle flash place in over the hook eye so all the strands of flash are forward with only short ends tied in behind the eye.
  3. Now tie the same amount of olive the same way. Tie the flash in very firmly bringing the thread forward finishing the tightly behind the eye. Place another dob of glue and let it soak into the thread and sparkle flash.
  4. Whip finish with the thread and cut away.
  5. Now pull all the sparkle flash back over the body and hold there.
  6. Wet your hand free fingers and place a nice big drop of glue on each side of the head of the fly and pull sparkle flash back firmly. With the wet fingers squeeze the head together very firmly. Every few minutes give the head another squeeze. This will give the fly a really nice shape.
  7. While the fly is still damp press the eyes on. With a pair of scissors shape the tail end of the fly.
  8. Note: the reason for using a larger heavier hook than is probably required is when the hook hits the sand it tends to puff the sand better and will be more noticeable to the fish.
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