Fly Tying Videos
Fly Tying is a big part of our interest at MCFF. We have tyer’s at nearly every meeting.
As a note to ALL of our members, we would love for you to do a video of your favorite fly. Craig would be happy to help you produce a high quality video to publish on our site and YouTube
Wigged Out Ballyhoo
Published on August 24, 2015
You really don’t see many Ballyhoo flies. This one was designed for beach fishing for larger Snook and the occasional fly stealing mackerel. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com.
Craig’s Psychosis Shrimp
Published on July 10, 2015
This fly is destined to be a redfish killer. In addition to tying instructions, there are tips on tying in a mono weedgaurd and how to dress up your flies with Copic Markers. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com.
EP Fiber Synthetic Seaducer
Published on Jun 23, 2015
The Seaducer is an under used and misunderstood class of flies. Being able to suspend with little movement is their strength. Being fragile is their greatest fault. Using synthetic increases durability and can still nearly suspend in the water. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Craig’s Best of all Worlds Fly
Published on May 11, 2015
It’s a little Clouser Minnow. It’s a little Deceiver. It’s weedless like a Bendback. It’s Craig’s Best of all Worlds Fly. Designed for very shallow grass flats, it hits the water with a whisper. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Bi-Polar Bunny
Published on Apr 19, 2015
This fly was originally tied by Jeff Wagner of our club as a FW trout nymph for his home waters in Utah. Although mine is much the same as his pattern, I’ve put my spin on this (now) redfish pattern. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Tarpon (Single) Bunny
Published on Apr 17, 2015
Last year I did the Tarpon Double Bunny. This year I thought I’d show you the simpler Tarpon (single) Bunny. This is the bread and butter fly for this area’s Tarpon. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
EP Tarantula Hairy Legs Shrimp
Published on Mar 15, 2015
Shrimp are an important part of most predator’s diet during the winter months. Here is a really simple shrimp pattern to tie to serve that need. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
UV Cure Epoxy Light for fly tying Part 2
Published on Mar 5, 2015
After receiving many response questions about my first video, I filmed the follow up. This video talks about the different brands of light cure epoxies, and which frequency of light cure them. It also shows the disassembly of my modified dental light, and how to replace the UV LED to correct the frequency of light for many different UV Light Cure Epoxies. By Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Tampa Bay Clouser Minnow
Published on Feb 12, 2015
The Tampa Bay Clouser Minnow is a simple but effective fly for winter time redfish and seatrout on the shallow flats. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Night Time Snook Blonde
Published on Jan 17,2015
January is a great month to target night time snook on the lighted docks. Since the season is closed, the pressure is much lower. There aren’t as many shrimp around for the snook to feed on. They tend to forage on large numbers of very small baitfish, sometimes nearly microscopic. This pattern can be adjusted to the size of the current baitfish (match-the-hatch). Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Light Cure Epoxies and UV Lights for Fly Tying
Published on Jan 16, 2015
I am unimpressed with the lights included in the Light cured epoxies kits. Many are very low wattage LED lights. The higher powered lights are very expensive. I have modified a dentist’s light curing tool to cure the “UV cure epoxy” used by many fly tyers’. By Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Proper Construction of a Bendback Fly
Published on Feb 17, 2013
I’ve seen too many improperly bent hooks (flies) in the bins at many fly shops. This video explains how to properly bend the hook, and construct the fly. It explains why it is so critical to not over-bend the hook. There are several examples of flies which I’ve tied showing many of the possible variations in design.
Green & Gold Redfish Bendback
Published on Nov 17, 2014
The Green & Gold Bendback is a great fly for redfish. The gold body and flash, olive, brown or black hair, and the peacock hurl are extremely attractive to them. This is an easy and quick fly to tie for one of my favorite quarry…
Tie by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Tools & Tips When Working With Enrico Fiber
Published on Sept 27, 2014
I have put together an assortment of tools and techniques for easing tying with Enrico Fiber. How to manage your materials. Easy weedgaurds. Proper glues for attaching 3D eyes and binding thread (Flymanster, not mono thread). Combing and trimming the fly. Highlighting the fly with markers. By Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Sugarman Shrimp
Published Sept 11, 2014
Stan Sugarman designed this fly for everything from redfish to permit. This old-school pattern was featured in the Anglers Image catalog back in the nineties. Being a unique collection of materials, and given that it was designed by the owner of Anglers Image, I thought it deserved a new look. RIP Stan. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
EP Fiber-If It Ain’t Chartreuse
Published on Aug 25, 2014
Every fisherman has heard this. This EP Fiber Deceiver is a great blend of two of the different chartreuse colors and sparkle flash to live the color. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Greenan Redfish Bendback
Published on Jul 20, 2014
This fly was designed many years ago by Capt. Pete Greenan of FloridaFlyFishing.com for fishing for redfish in the back country of Boca Grande Florida. I was once an Orvis endorsed pattern. It is a simple to tie bendback pattern that gets down to the redfish and remains weedless. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com. Fly image tied by Capt. Pete himself
The Batman
Published on Jun 20, 2014
This looks like a great redfish fly. I first saw it several years ago and thought I’d tie a few. I’ve tied it in black, purple, olive and might do it in crawfish orange/rootbeer. It would look like a crab or shrimp to the redfish. It sinks well as is and could be made heavier for deeper applications. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
The Tarpon Double Bunny
Published on Apr 18, 2014
Want a bigger profile for you tarpon flies? Learn the secret sauce to doubling the tail on your tarpon bunny flies. See the basics of building your own tarpon flies out of rabbit zonker strips and crosscut strips. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com.
The Cactus Bunny
Published on Apr 13, 2014
To continue with flies I like to throw I’ve tied the Cactus Bunny. This one is quick to tie, uses common materials, and catches trout snook, redfish and bonefish. There are vast combinations of colors in which it can be tied in. Watch it in full screen HD. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Tri Colored Bendback
Published on Apr 6, 2014
The Tri-Colored bendback has been my go-to fly for many years. This is most frequently the fly I start my day off with when fishing grassy drop-off’s. It is very weedless and can be tied with, and without added weight. Try it rather than a Clouser Minnow next time. Great for snook, redfish, sea trout, and just about any other fish found in Florida. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com
Craig’s EP Floating Minnow
Published on Nov 1, 2013
This is a pattern I developed to fish right at the surface much like a Rapala Floating Minnow. It is tied from EP Fibers in chartreuse and white, but darker colors might be better since it’s a surface profile fly. Tied by Craig Smothers of SaltFlys.com.