Saltwater Fly Patterns

Saltwater flies are a blast to fish! They are completely different from their freshwater counterparts. They are big and bold like redfish flies, and designed to catch fish that are way larger than those found in freshwater environments. Saltwater flies must also be able to hold up under harsh conditions like exposure to sand, coral, strong ultraviolet rays, and toothy critters like barracuda and sharks.

To start, saltwater fly patterns differentiate themselves by being tied on saltwater fly hooks. These heavy gauge hooks are built from stainless steel, and have chemically sharpened hook points. These super sharp hook points help penetrate the bony and toothy jaws found on saltwater fish. They also help keep your saltwater fly patterns from rusting when fishing in tropical environment.

Saltwater flies are also tied mainly from synthetic materials like super hair, krystal flash, and sparkle braid. The reasons for this are multi-purpose. First of all, these synthetic materials are much more durable than the natural materials used to tie freshwater flies. While you will find some saltwater flies tied out of animal feathers and fur, more often than not, those materials just don’t hold up well in saltwater. Secondly, saltwater fly patterns are designed to mimic baitfish, crabs, and shrimp. Since these menu items are much larger than the tiny insects that freshwater fish eat, more materials overall are needed to replicate them. Because synthetic materials are thicker and longer, by using them it is easier to create a more durable discount fly with a larger profile. Last but not least, the synthetic materials that are used to tie saltwater flies are stiffer in nature, and tend to push more water as they are being retrieved through the water column. This sends out larger vibrations that saltwater fish are able to key in on, thus making it easier for fish to hunt down your wet fly. When they choose to attack it, fish like bonefish and permit will pin it to the bottom of the ocean floor and crush it with their powerful jaws. On the other hand, toothy critters like barracuda and sharks, will chase down your fly and attack it with their ferocious teeth and chew it up.

The best thing you can do to take care of these saltwater fly fishing flies, is to make sure that you give them a freshwater rinse when you are done fishing with them…. if you have any left! Your saltwater fly patterns should then be laid out on a paper towel to air dry. This will help keep your saltwater flies rust free, and keep you from having to replace these flies every time you go fishing.