The golden age of offshore fly fishing was the 90s. Trey Combs, Chico Fernandez, Steve Abel, Roy Beadle, Nick Curcione and others were the Rat Pack of the offshore movement. In the mix were two married ranch managers named Bill and Kate Howe. In the past their site flashyprofileflies.com was the number 1 source for offshore flies and their ties held what seemed like hundreds of world records. The Broadbill Swords taken off Kenya by Pate and the Morroccon Fouad Sahiaoui were taken using the married couples flies.
The site seems to have vanished, and although there are a few flies floating around on the net, I’ve never managed to find a Step By Step. They are deceptively difficult to tie. The materials (flash and supreme hair), need to be stacked perfectly on top of one another, starting at the back and working forward on the shank to build up the heads profile. If you think you’ve put in too much flash, add some more.
To simplify things slightly I did this one on a 8/0 gama sl12, but usually theyre tied on tubes.
Perfect fly Pete!
Pete, we are out of the business now…. again after a brief comeback…. some things are best left to the “good old days”.
Thanks for the wonderful write up!
Nice job on the fly….
Kate and Bill Howe
Hi Kate, What an honour to have you guys comment. Im a sucker for history and you are such a big part of our sports’. Any pointers on the fly or is that a similar method to how you tied them originally? Thank you so much for reading. Pete
Pete, when you’re finished with the first one, wet it a bit to see if the profile is tapered properly, other than that, good job. Use the best ss bar-bless hooks you can find. Well done.
Hi Bill, we met in San Mateo backin ’98, and you gave me a 7″ profile Fly and told me how to tie them properly. It was a huge success for decades. See my saltwaterx fly pages on http://www.fantasyflies.com. I expanded your style to a dual 12/0, 27″ long bonito fly, IGFA compliant.
I have always given you credit because you deserve it. If you remember,you really lovedmythemecollector flies like the mice and rats. After the show, you left the business and I lost track of you. You came back and left again, and now I find you. Hope all is well with you.
Pete and All…
Just wanted to let you know that after one of those brave and valiant battles with a terminal disease, Bill headed out for new fishing grounds on Feb 2nd…
He was flattered by your write up here and it always brought a smile to his face….
Thanks again Pete,
Kate Howe, the other half of love….