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This is it...
The Granddaddy of saltwater flies. Lefty's Deceiver is probably the most
popular fly for saltwater fishing in the world. It has caught just about
every type of fish you can catch, because it's design lends it to be adaptable
to nearly every type of baitfish out there. It is important to realize
that the Deceiver is not just a fly pattern, but a concept of tying. The
wing, tied of saddle hackle and anchored to the mid shank of the hook marks
this innovation by Lefty Kreh. He wanted a versatile fly to chase the stripers
in the Chesapeake Bay and got it with this design. When wet, the wing lays
in a very small line along the hook, making the Deceiver much less wind
resistant than it's bulky silhouette suggests. It casts like a bullet,
but is supple and alive in the water. Any current or twitch of the line
makes this fly wriggle and dance like some small baitfish who has just
wandered onto the dinner plate. Below is the original pattern, but play
with this one. It's like an empty canvas, it begs to be experimented with...
Stuff you'll need...
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Hook: Mustad 34007
or equivalent.
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Tail Guard: 20#
or 30# monofilament (optional)
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Wing: 6 - 10 White
Saddle Hackles flanked by 1 Grizzly saddle on each side and mixed with
some Pearl Crystal Flash
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Collar: Two bunches
of White Bucktail, one applied to each side, extending about half the total
length of the fly.
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Throat: A small
bit of red Crystal Flash.
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Eyes: 3mm prismatic
stick types ( optional )
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Head: if you use
eyes, then epoxy the head to keep them in place.
Tie it up...
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Place the hook
in the vise and attach the tying thread.
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Tie in a tail
guard as shown here: Tail Guard Page.
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Tie in the whites
Saddles, one at a time, alternating sides. Try to keep the hackle from
rolling when you pull tension on the thread, and keep the ends together.
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Tie in the Pearl
Crystal Flash at it's mid point, just forward of the saddles, streaming
down one side. Pull the Crystal Flash around to the other side and lash
it down. Doing it this way makes it very strong and much less likely to
pull out when a fish grabs it but misses the hook.
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Throw in a few
half-hitches to lock it down.
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Tie in the Grizzly
Saddles and extend them to just about the ends of the White Saddles.
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Cut a medium clump
of unstacked White Bucktail, divide it in half and place one half on each
side of the hook, just slightly underneath and on the side to form a long
collar about half the length of the total fly.
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Tie in the Red
Crystal Flash to form the throat.
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Throw in a few
half-hitches to lock it down.
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Apply a whip finish,
and cut the tying thread.
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Stick on the eyes,
if you're going to use them.
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Apply nail polish
or your favorite head cement.
Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Ed Zaun, All Rights Reserved
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