Sea-Ducer

Gogga · 23-01-07

The Sea-Ducer (aka The Semper Fleye). Really simple to tie and a delightful action in the water. I would imagine it would make a good shad fly too. Not one I tie in smaller sizes, but if you want to tie size 4 and smaller then use a long-shank hook.

Hook: Standard saltwater (Long shank size4> )

Thread: Danvilles flat-waxed - colour to suit.

Tail: 6-8 saddle hackles, flashabou.

Body: Palmered hackle.

Step 1: Lay a base of thread along hook shank to bend. Although not essential, I find this base gives the body materials something to grip and use it on most of my salty flies.

Step 2: Tie in 6-8 saddle hackles as a tail. It's not particularly important how the feathers are tied in. Praying hands, flared outwards or round the clock are fine. Just try and keep them fairly even.

Step 3: Add 6 strands of flashabou along each side of the tail.

Gogga · 23-01-07

Step 4: Form body by palmering a nice webby hackle fowards. Repeat until 2/3rds of the shank is covered. When tying off each feather pull the fibres backwards and add a couple of turns of thread over the end.

Step 5: Finish body by palmering another webby hackle. You can continue using the same colour, although this fly is most often finished with another colour. I have used olive grizzly but traditionally red was used. It's all down to your preference.

All the best
Mike

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**fish** · 23-01-07

Thanks for that Mike,

A fly I've never fished before, will tie up a few. I would think dumbbell eyes can be added?

Cheers,

Philip

**MaXiMuM** · 23-01-07

That looks very fishy...

**rols** · 23-01-07

that looks cool.
are the feathers durable in salt water?
roland

Gogga · 23-01-07

Originally Posted by rols

that looks cool.
are the feathers durable in salt water?
roland

Rols,
Yea- feathers are OK, look at the deceiver - Lefty tied them and they work fine.

All the best
Mike

Gogga · 23-01-07

Originally Posted by fish

Thanks for that Mike,

A fly I've never fished before, will tie up a few. I would think dumbbell eyes can be added?

Cheers,

Philip

Philip,
If I want to get a jigging motion, and perhaps want the fly to swim upside down (weed - snagging etc) then I normally tie the shminnow..........

a handy little pattern to have in your saltwater arsenal. Not a pattern that you will sit back and admire after tying, but it does catch fish, which I think is the idea behind whipping stuff to a hook. Like most salty patterns, you can play around with the materials and colours. You can also tie this fly unweighted or add weight with lead wire, beadchain, beadheads and coneheads. I tend to use it as a 'when all else fails' pattern, but I know some people dress it bulkier and swear by it in coloured water. Perhaps, it works so well 'cause it looks so shrimpy....................

Hook: Standard saltwater O'Shaunessy.

Eyes: Beadchain.

Thread: Mono.

Tail: Marabou.

Body: Fritz.

Step 1 Attach a set of beadchain eyes 'clouser' style. Paint the eyes black (I use black nail varnish but modellers acrylic paint is a good alternative.)

Step 2: Tie in tail behind eyes.

Step 3: Catch in Fritz at start of tail then move thread up to eye of hook.

Step 4: Wind Fritz along shank, criss-cross over eyes and wrap up to hook eye. Tie off, whip finish.

All the best
Mike

**juan** · 24-01-07

The key with any fly is to understand what you want to achieve in the water (stating the obvious is part of commentary). For me, the Semper is a one of the few flies that can be used to achieve size and length but is still very cast friendly. The biggest Leeries I have landed and hooked but not landed at Blakes have been on Sempers. The important aspect about tying the Semper is to include a lot of fluff from the hackle, from tying in the hackle for the tail to palmering for the body. I also go for big hooks 6/0 – 8/0. I find that olive is the best colour to use. If you look at the size of Leeries that make a living on the reefs and the baitfish that live in fear, the Semper is the answer if you want to catch the big ones. I have also used the Semper in the Eastern Cape and the Transkei with success -