HEY OMC . . . IT worked

[BYRD]

Look what you went and made me do!!! Second strip on the third cast.

I think this may be the first step in an addiction. Damn that was fun.



27 inches on a orange silicon fly. Here is a closer up pic.



The only thing that sucked is I was by myself. Couldn't get a pick with me holding the fish and fly and fly rod. Oh well I had a hell of first torut on the fly. This fish qualified for a VA state release citation. This fish is my 6th speck citation this year, however this one is more special because not only is it the biggest I have caught, it was also on the fly. Can't wait to that again.

[Dave Sikorski]

BYRD....YOU ARE A SLUT!

Pretty work buddy. I knew that clone would do the trick.

I'll get OMC and we'll make a road trip down there as soon as we can.

-D

[BYRD]

Come on down. This bite will not be here much longer, but in the middle to end of March they will turn on in another spot that is much easier to fish. Water is about 6-7 feet and there is a mix of specks and grays.

[CapeMayRay]

Beautiful fish. On the fly evern better. That is a great fish in anyones book. Would be neat if you get a chance to see the fly that it took. Makes us guys to the north jealous that you are catching this time a year. No fair that we have to sit and wait till it gets warmer.

Keep killing us. Next best thing to catching it seeing someone else catching them on the fly. Hope you get many more.

[OneMoreCast]

Holy smokes Byrd....
Clones are cold blooded killers man..
I've never caught a speck close to that. What a beautiful fish. I guess you figured out how to cast far enough now huh? I'm real happy for you man... real happy.. That is just awesome.
Ray...orange over yellow clone..
I don't have a close up but below is a pick of a batch I finished before tiefest. The clones are on the top strip.

Byrd said that he needed a fly that acted like a spook.. pushes water, zig zags like walkin the dog.. So I gave him a few clones at the fest.. from his description of the location, I knew they would work.

[fishsalmon]

Byrd,
now i am really kicking myself for passing on the invite. That is an awesome fish. I will chat with you tonight, maybe this next weekend I will be up for it.

[BYRD]

OMC - getting a little better at casting. Still couldn't get all the way were I wanted, but they were chewing yesterday and weren't exactly being picky.

Fishsalmon - we'll get it right sometime. Plenty of opportunity is a few weeks away. See you tonight.

[CapeMayRay]

I see now. Just like a regular Silicone mullet type fly. looks like you like to use a fluffy type tail section with some flash. Will have to try some in that orange/yellow color. Clousers, Jiggies and Deceivers have all worked wll in those colors, but I have never tied a mullet in that combo.

Again, what a beautiful fish!

[gottaflylee]

I here ya...mean see ya there Bird... Pretty work there...pretty work...

[OneMoreCast]

I see now. Just like a regular Silicone mullet type fly. looks like you like to use a fluffy type tail section with some flash. Will have to try some in that orange/yellow color. Clousers, Jiggies and Deceivers have all worked wll in those colors, but I have never tied a mullet in that combo.

Again, what a beautiful fish!

Ray,
Instead of a fleece collar for the transition, I use a marabou feather with the stem cut to make a v notch. In our waters, there is so much sediment that fleece will pick up dirt. White fleece will soon be brown..
I used Bob's siliclone for years.. I changed a few things that make it better for our area... still a clone..
Instead on a spun fleece head... trimmed estaz. The estaz holds the silicone better, traps air, and is fairly indestructible. The veil of fleece is replaced with marabou...the rest is the same.
I hated when the fleece got wet on a clone. Invariably, it would cast like a wet sock.. and the silicone would separate from the fleece.. Many times, it would slide right off...
So, I tied the head as a rubber candy and added marabou. The result is a fly that has the same ability to suspend, dart, and dive.. but is 10x more durable. The marabou gives the fly life without movement.. I think that was a key in Byrd's fish. When the water is this cold.. specs will take the time to inspect a target.
In no way I am saying it is better than one of Bob's creations... in fact... it is bob's creation... or a combo of two.. He is the master.. and a gentleman of the highest order..
The reason for my long winded discourse... when you tie flies, you give credit where credit is due. But, I wanted to explain the difference you noticed. It drives me bonkers when someone adds flash to a clouser and renames it like they invented the wheel..
Byrd... again.. what a fish!!!!