On the back of Mikes incredible White Musselcracker capture many of us have been trying to find a common denominator between Mikes catch and the only previous artificial lure catch we know of, also made by a fly angler (Keith Rose-Innes), however on drop shot tackle using a white paddle tail while fishing flat out for Leerfish.
Leonard headed up the next day and had a theory that these fish must have confused the silicon mullet and paddle tail for squid. When he ended up catching a little squid he was dead set on the theory, and I think he may be on to something.
Ive sight cast almost every pattern imaginable to these fish, but I didn’t think to throw a squid. That said, im not sure any of my fish were in feeding mode. The other similarity between catches was that both fish were caught at night. Gets you thinking.
I first tried tying squids like Johnny Kings famous stacked EP Squid flies, but those are massive things, and on a smaller scale EP just isn’t as neat. So I opted for EP Fibre brushes instead. The result is a bulletproof fly.
Very nice fly Pete – now to put this sucker to the test! Large black musselcracker, scotsman and red steenbras (also large members of the family Sparidae) are known to feed on squid and octopus, but I couldn’t find anything on white musselcracker – there seems to be very little information available on this fish (it is also only found along the South African coastline, which may explain the little research available on it). Anyway, they have been documented to eat small fish, but I have no doubt that white musselcracker will chomp a calamari for dinner!
Dear Pete
Would it be possible to buy a few of your squid flies from you? They look awesome on the blog photos! I have a farm at Stilbay on the coast; and want to target the mussel crackers on fly? (I know…?!) I am flying down first week Feb, please contact me on pgous@global.co.za or 0824165477
(I have hooked on before on a big crab imitation that took me to the cleaners…)
Absolutely amazing squid pattern flies. Do you have a tying videos?