By Frank Abbate

This is the time of the year when Herring and adult bunker patterns will be most widely used to entice fall gamefish. The Big Eyed Baitfish is generic in nature, but uses the deceiver as its foundation. Tied on a 4/0 to 6/0 hook and thrown with at least a 10 wt. Rod, that has enough backbone to bring a large fish to bay, this pattern will certainly do the trick.

Hook- 4/0 –6/0

Thread- white flat waxed nylon

Tail- wide saddle hackle in white and white long bucktail

Wing and underwing- brown and white bucktail

Underbody- pearl Bills Bodi Braid

Top wing- peacock herl

Flash- olive/yellow and silverflashabo pearl krystal flash

Eyes-41/2 yellow stickon

Tying instructions:

• Take a bunch of white bucktail and tie in at the bend of the hook to surround it. Take 6 wide saddle hackle and tie in on top of tie in point for bucktail. This will make a fuller silhouette and also add support to the hackle.
• Take a few strands of yellow flashabou and tie in on both sides of tail.
• Take a length of bodi braid and wrap halfway to eye
• Take another bunch of white bucktail and tie in on top and bottom of hook shank and continue to wrap towards eye of hook.
• Take a bunch of olive bucktail and tie in right behind hook eye followed by another bunch of white tied in as throat and collar.
• Apply a few strands mixed, with silver flashabou and pearl krystal flash.
• Add 6 to 10 strands of peacock hurl and apply stick on eyes.
• Epoxy head and eyes.

Just remember to slow down your casting tempo when fishing this fly and you will be surprised at the results.