The Complete Fisher Forum

[lakefisher]

Having tried out some Fulling Mill "wiggle tail flies" on my last visit and had some success using them, I decided to tie up some myself.

After asking the very helpful guy at Eyebrook tackle how the described sizes relate to actual inches and ordering the XXL (approx 4" when opened and 3/4" at it's widest) I set to at the vice and produced a selection, based on my previously most successful colours.
Silver, Gold and Black, all holographic, are the colours of tail contained in one packet (2 of each) so the body colour for each fly was designed to complement the tail, but sticking to a mainly baitfish profile.

Here's the selection I came up with



Some of the flies also incorporate a rattle under the body for added sonic attraction - it also adds a little weight to the front to enable a faster dive when hanging my fly - experience has shown it is enough to activate the wiggle tail without retrieving

As shown on this photo, the wiggle tail opens out when retrieving, to give (the fly) a total length of 6". The "humps" in the tail flow down the length producing scintillations of colour and pressure waves, albeit small in the water.
Just a small tip - to make these tails work properly, it is necessary to slightly stretch the inner curved edge of the tail, before using.



Hoping to give them a proving swim early next week.

Cheers ....... Tony
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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[BristolFlyer]

Those look fantastic Tony - my money is on the silver ones!

[lakefisher]

Thoughts after testing.

Tried these flies for the first time on Tuesday 13th June. Report will be found here http://www.completefisher.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22365
Very satisfied with them on the whole, working as designed, and attractive to the Pike. The ones with the inbuilt rattle diving, but only slowly, when hung at the end of a retrieve, unfortunately failing to induce followers to hit. Judging by the very loud hum as they pass close to my ear during casting - they may well produce more vibration in the water than I first thought

Most successful retrieve on the day was after counting down to 3 to 4 feet above the bottom, a very slow roly poly (on my Guideline 3-1) with the odd spurt thrown in to try to induce a take from any possible follower. All three colours looked attractive in the water, but the silver and gold rather too flashy when the overcast at the start of my day was replaced with bright sunshine.

But Bristolflyer was correct - the silver ones did all the catching on the day - the gold and black ones got followed, but not eaten The silver roach style ones accounting for 5 jacks and an escaped leviathan

My only reservation with the flies was that very occasionally, the tail would get wrapped around the hook bend, or penetrated by the hook point - but either situation produced a "covered in weed" feeling that made me check the fly prior to recasting.

Now thinking of acquiring some Green tails with a view to designing some Perch.

Tony
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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[lakefisher]

Green Wiggle Tails now arrived - obtained as a packet of 6, all the same colour, from "Big Streamers". These are rather more of an "emerald" green than I would have liked.

I've set too and produced a few Perch patterns - these are the results. Some tied with a more mid green flashabou, others a more matching emerald green flashabou.



a little more detail


All tails "striped" with Sharpie Permanent Marker.

Now I just have to hope the Pike like them, preferably, as a snack

Tony
_________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[lakefisher]

Having obtained some chartreuse XXL wiggle tails from "The Lure Box" - and already having a near matching flashabou for the body - work at the vice commenced

Pictured below is my latest variation on a Perch .....



Quite pleased with this one ..... Tony
_________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[roallen]

Nice. Have you tried the Green Wiggle Tails?

[lakefisher]

Yes, that's what the big girl followed to the boat, mentioned early in the report to be found here http://www.completefisher.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22412

Very poor water clarity on that day ...... Tony
_________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.