why do my snake flies float ? ?

[knightfisher]

hi everyone ,

I have recently starteed tying snake flies and I am finding that they are very boyant . I am cutting the eye off old salmon singles I have for the front and a size 12 / 14 treble on the rear connected with pike trace wire . I am tying these to target sea trout and they are about 1.5inch/ 2" long . any ideas or help would be appreciated on getting them fishing right .

Knightfisher

[st7]

I used to have a similar problem. I think it is the type of mylar I used at the time that formed a hollow tube around the braid. It was a strange type of mylar with very close together strands (if that makes sense!). In fact they may have even been stuck together like actual snake skin!

This might not be the same problem as yours though so I would look at your winging material. Probably tied in too thickly? If you want a heavy dressed fly that sinks, you could run some lead wire downthe mylar before you tie it off or use more of the shank of hook when you make the eye. Or something I came up with - make them out of old sinking fly lines!

[speycaster]

they will float anyway , try making them slimmer they will catch on the top of the water used as a wake fly or use them on sink tip great fun .i some times use them on the dropper with a heavier tube on the point , in my honest opinion they are not as usefull as a tube anyway they look good though

[knightfisher]

I think it must be the mylar then , its veniard but its no the smalles its the 2nd size up ..... they arent really overdressed either the lead might be worth a try though !

thanks

[speycaster]

could be mate i only use the thin mylar unless i want them to float , problem is if im fishing the surface i would sooner use a wake fly made for the job .i got some really thin mylar of e,bay 6 different colors for £4.50 inc postage

[cammy]

Originally Posted by knightfisher

hi everyone ,

I have recently starteed tying snake flies and I am finding that they are very boyant . I am cutting the eye off old salmon singles I have for the front and a size 12 / 14 treble on the rear connected with pike trace wire . I am tying these to target sea trout and they are about 1.5inch/ 2" long . any ideas or help would be appreciated on getting them fishing right .

Knightfisher

Strange one, never had any of mine float.

Have seen trebles size 10 used which will help with them sinking.

I use an old bronze worm hook, Mustad size 2, 4 or 6 for the body and eye by cutting off the bend then its 20lb maxima to a size 12 or 14 treble, never had them float.

Are you using a floating line and they are skating rather than floating?

---------- Post added at 03:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:04 PM ----------

Have you any pictures you could post to help analysis?

[sewinbasher]

I slip a few lengths of lead wire inside the braid or fish them on a sinking line.

[cammy]

Maybe should have said, I always fish them on some sort of sinker, sink tip, inter or faster.

[rannoch raider]

I often add and tie in a few twists of lead wire around the shank which forms the eye. You can actually give the fly quite a lively action by weighting the forward end in this way. I find that when tied like this it can have it's moments in the saltwater, particularly when fished with a short sink and draw.

Jim

[fredaevans]

The answer, as noted above is to add some lead wire, or lead flat wrap, in the construction of the fly. Given a choice, look at the flat lead wrap as it won't 'bulk up' your fly as lead wire might.
fae