In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Alphonse Fishing Company guide Cullan Ashby ties his version of a predator fly known for enticing cruising Giant Trevally on the flats, the Semper.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Alphonse Fishing Company is a name that everyone in fly fishing should know. Their operation is first class and is perfect for anglers looking for the adventure of a lifetime. The saltwater species that inhabit the Seychelles make for a world class experience, but there is one species that reigns supreme, the Giant Trevally. Although they are known to eat birds, baitfish are always on the menu and the Semper is a great pattern to target these saltwater predators on.
Tying this fly is intermediate in difficulty due to using two dubbing looks for the body. With dubbing loops, making sure to go slow and not rush is the key to perfection. For beginner fly tyers, you could also simply wrap the marabou on the hook shank to create the body. The movement of the combination of materials makes for exhilarating eats and can trick more fish than just the Giant Trevally. Using a variety of colors to match a specific baitfish will allow you to fish for any predatory species out there with the Semper.
With only a few materials being used to construct the fly, once your dubbing loops are mastered this fly is a piece of cake. Whether chasing bass in freshwater or Giant Trevally in the Seychelles, predators will be enticed by the movement and profile of this fly. Remember to change colors to imitate the fish your target species regularly eats and take your time when creating loops. The Semper is a baitfish pattern that will become a weapon of choice when fishing for predatory species, especially the Giant Trevally.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 2H
- Thread: Tan
- Tail: SF Fibre – White
- Body: Marabou – White and Tan
- Flash: Crystal Flash
Video and ingredients courtesy of Alphonse Fishing Company.
