Charlene with the Group and "Just Eat Me" panfish fly

Thank you all for the Group Picture with Charlene. She is getting ready to make her way back home to Iowa. She has had a great time up in the frozen north. Especially with groups like the Fly Chuckers.

Next Week the Tie-Along will be one of my original panfish patterns "Just Eat Me". This throw back pattern go all the way back to the early 90's. It was a no name fly until Shirley wanted me to do it as a class fly at "The Fly Fishing Cabin" and I had to come up with a name. This was, and still is one of my favorite go-to flies. It is simple and quick to tie.

 "Just Eat Me"

 (original pattern by Scott Nordby)                            

Pattern Recipe:       

        Hook:           Mustad 3399 or equivalent, Size 8 - 14 

                              (I now prefer the Mustad 3366 size 8)

        Bead:           Gold Bead

        Thread:       6/0 Black

        Tail:             Chartreuse Marabou 

                             (original pattern was Yellow because there was no Chartreuse) 

        Tail Flash:  Pear Flashabou 

                             (the original pattern did not have Flashabou either.)

        Body:           Black Chenille

        Hackle:       Grizzly hen Hackle (Extra soft and limp)

Tying Process:

1.   Put the Bead on the Hook. Note: Most of the time you will have to pinch down the barb to get the bead on.

2.   Tie a thread base to the back at the point above the barb.

3.   Tail: Tie in one Marabou feather on top of the hook. Length should be about 2 times the length of the shank. Tie in a few pieces of Flashabou (only 4-6 pieces just enough for a little added flash). I try to get the Flashabou spread around the marabou. The flash should be a little bit shorter than the tail.

4.   Strip off a little bit of chenille from the end of the piece to expose the bare thread. Tie in the chenille by the bare thread. Wrap the Chenille forward to just behind the bead. Leave about 1 eye length distance behind bead. Trim off excess chenille and wrap excess down.

5.   Tie in Hackle and make 2 to 4 wraps.

6.   Tie off hackle, and make 3 half hitches behind the bead

7.   Whip Finishing may create to big of a collar between the bead and the hackle. The half hitches should be enough to secure this fly.

8.    Cement.

Fishing the Just Eat Me. This is a wet fly and should be fished below the surface with a slow somewhat jerky retrieve. The deeper you can get any fly for panfish the better chance you have of catching a big one. Bead Heads can also be fished like a small jig. You can tie this in any color combination that you like.  

Thanks

Scott Nordby