In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Jari Koski shows us how to tie his secret weapon for targeting false albacore, the Albie Snax Flex fly.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Finding yourself in the middle of August as an angler can be difficult. Questioning the species to target or if it’s even safe to can be both confusing and frustrating. The best way I put my mind at ease is late nights by the vise, creating patterns for better days to come. The fall is one of my personal favorite times to fish, as rivers cool and several migratory species become more frequent, including the false albacore. This football sized tuna must be planned and prepared for and there’s no better way to kill the dog days of summer than tying staple patterns that have proven to fool these finicky fish like the Albie Snax Flex fly.
Saltwater baitfish patterns can be either some of the easiest or most complex flies to tie. You are able to create elaborate dubbing brushes, spin bucktail, and even add body segmentations for additional movement. For the novice tyer, they also can be the most simple to master as you typically are handling large materials and hooks, making them easier to work with than technical trout flies. The Albie Snax Flex fly is just the pattern to begin your baitfish tying journey on, as nearly any mistake can be easily corrected or ignored altogether.
Restlessness is normal for anglers without adequate access to coldwater fisheries this time of year. If you are finding yourself in this boat, do not snub your nose at warm water species such as bass, which can be found nearly anywhere in the United States. For those who prefer to wait, migratory fall fish are on the horizon and the time to prepare for their arrival is now. Enjoy the rest of summer while being conscious of the fragility of our trout friends, and turn your attention to patterns such as the Albie Snax Flex fly to pass the time!
Ingredients:
- Hook: 1-3/0 Short Shank Live Bait Hook
- Thread: Mono
- Tail: Pink Bucktail
- Body: Pink Laser Dub
- Wing: Pink High Quality Long Craft Fur
- Eye: 5mm Red or Pink
- Resin: Solarez Flex
Now you know how to tie the Albie Snax Flex fly!
Video courtesy of Jari Koski.
