The Noisy Bucktail Baitfish

The epoxy head and bucktail collar add action and noise to this streamer.

 Sometimes it just takes a little tweak to add some interest to a basic fly dressing. I like the simplicity of bucktail flies and they definitely catch fish. Basic streamer patterns can become a bit complicated and tedious when you are tying bodies with tinsel and tails. I produced this one with a little experimentation at the vise and on the water.

A long, two-tone baitfish profile add to the effectiveness of the Noisy Bucktail.

 The Noisy Bucktail is a simple pattern. It features a collar of bucktail folded back to move water, which creates a disturbance like many "muddler" patterns. The epoxy head encases reflective eyes, increases durability and adds action to the fly.

The Noisy Bucktail Baitfish has proven its worth so far on the bass lakes around southwestern Michigan. I have been a bit land-locked this summer, but with steelhead starting to run in Lake Michigan I anticipate some hot fall surf-casting action from this fly.

You could tie a bucktail like this one in any number of colors. Here are the combinations I have been using this summer:

I tie the Noisy Bucktail Baitfish on Mustad S71SZ hooks, size 2. These hooks are resistant to saltwater corrosion and are heavy enough to handle anything that you might hook into. The hook size is not as important as the overall length of the fly; you should try to match it up to your local baitfish and according to the size of fish you are pursuing. The flies that I use are about 3 inches overall.

Feel free to comment on these flies or to add photos of your own flies in the comments below.

 

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