Redchaser Whistler
w . w . w . r e d c h a s e r . c o m
A Deadly Pattern For Redfish.
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Redchaser Whistler
The Redchaser is a
variation on Dan Blantons Whistler. I started tying these in the Spring of 2001. One of the things I find
most rewarding about fly tying is the problem solving aspect of it.
I was met with the challenges of the marsh being particularly muddy.
I needed a fly that would be visible in bad water. I also
wanted a fly that would push water and look like a mouthful to big
fish. Having already come to the conclusion that the mouth of
redfish is on the bottom of their head for a reason (they feed down)
I knew I wanted a fly with a little weight that would settle on the
bottom. Combining these attributes, plus a desire to always
have the fly ride hook up, and be fairly weedless, the Redchaser
version of the Whistler was
born. Tied in the style of Dan Blanton's Whistler, this fly
substitutes frayed mylar for the bucktail traditionally used, and
has the addition of a build up of epoxy in front of the eye's to
help it slip through the weeds more easily. In addition, this fly
uses lead eyes in place of the bead chain more traditionally seen on
Whistlers. After first tying this variation it took me a long time
to actually get a fish to refuse it. It produced aggressive strikes in many varied conditions. The
Redchaser Whistler is now my go
to redfish fly. I hope it catches as many
fish for you as it has for me.
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Materials:
Hook - Eagle Claw EC413 60 degree jig hook, or Mustad 34007 with eye bent 60 toward point, size 2 or 4
Thread - Red Flat Waxed Nylon
Eyes - Small dumbbell or hourglass eyes
Tail - Prismatic Gold Braided polyester piping (pictured) available in sewing dept. of Hobby Lobby. Or gold mylar piping
Body - 2 Wraps of red chenille
Hackle - 2 red saltwater neck hackles,
Head - 5 minute epoxy
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Instructions:
1. Sharpen hook
2. If using Mustad 34007, place eye of hook in vice, and bend toward point at about 60 degrees to resemble a jig hook.
3. Tie in dumbbell or hourglass eyes on top of hook right behind 60 degree bend.
4. Tie in a tail of gold mylar or prismatic polyester piping. small/narrow size, tie 2 or 3 peices of equal length. When tying in piping begin less than 1/2
5. Fray piping to form tail.
6. Tie in end of chenille in where mylar is tied in, make 2 or 3 wraps and tie off front end.
7. Tie in 2 red saltwater hackles and palmer to just behind eyes.
8. Apply 5 minute epoxy from dumbbell or hourglass eyes to rotate to dry.
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