Saltwater Kreelex Fly
Saltwater Kreelex Fly
Chuck Craft’s variation of Bob Clouser’s Deep Minnow fly was originally created for targeting trout, over time it has also proven effective for catching numerous saltwater species. This pattern has fooled ladyfish, snook, baby tarpon, trevally, barracuda, snappers, jack crevalle and even salmon. By simply changing the colour of the “flash” materials used the tier can replicate a variety baitfish species.

This fly can be tied in a wide assortment of colour combinations, in fact you are really only limited by your imagination and the array of Kreinik colours available. Some of my most popular colour combinations include pearl/chartreuse/blue, silver/chartreuse/green, pearl/pink/blue and silver/gold/black.

Materials
Hook: Daiichi 2456 - size 1
Thread: UTC Ultra 140 - white
Weight: 3/16” Dazl-Eye - silver
Tail: Kreinik Flash-In-A-Tube – silver [001HL], light blue [9732HL], chartreuse [053F]   
Belly: Kreinik Flash-In-A-Tube – pearl [032HL], sky blue [014HL], chartreuse [053F]   
Wing: Kreinik Flash-In-A-Tube – chartreuse [053F], sky blue [014HL] and dark holographic blue [033L]
Adhesive: Zap-A-Gap gel and Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish - thin.
Miscellaneous: Permanent marker – blue

Tying Instructions
Step 1. Insert the hook in the vise and attach the thread.
Step 2. Place a drop of Zap-A-Gap on the thread wraps and then figure eight wrap the dumbbell eyes to the top of the hook (This fly rides hook point up). End with the thread behind the eyes.
Step 3. Wrap a mixed colour clump (6 silver strands, 6 light blue strands, 4 chartreuse strands) of Kreinik Flash around the thread (‘fold over’ method) and tie down behind the eyes. Wrap back over the flash stopping at the bend of the hook. Next wrap the thread forward to the point in front of the eyes, making sure to cover all of the material along the hook shank.
Step 4. Trim the tail flash so it extends past the bend of the hook about one and a quarter the length of the hook shank.
Step 5.  Select another mixed colour clump (12 pearl strands, 12 light blue strands, 8 chartreuse strands) of Kreinik Flash, wrap it around the thread (‘fold over’ method) and tie down in front of the eyes. Then wrap the thread to the point behind the eyes and again tie the flash down behind the eyes creating the belly of the fly. Move the thread back in front of the eyes.
Step 6. Trim the belly material so it extends past the bend of the hook about a quarter the length of the hook shank.
Step 7. Invert the hook in the vise (if your vise rotates, then rotate). Select another mixed colour clump (12 sky blue strands, 12 dark holographic blue strands, 8 chartreuse strands) of Kreinik Flash, wrap it around the thread (‘fold over’ method) and tie down in front of the eyes.
Step 8. Trim the wing material so it extends past the bend of the hook about a quarter the length of the hook shank and is equal to the length of the belly.
Step 9. Build up a thread head in front of the eyes and whip finish.
Step 10. Using the blue permanent marker colour the top of the head.
Step 11. Coat the head with Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish and “zap” with UV cure light.
Your Saltwater Kreelex Fly is now complete and you are ready to head out On The Water!

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