{"title":"Flies for Redfish","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"s-s-merkin","title":"S.S. Merkin","description":"\u003cp\u003eAnywhere there are permit there are Merkins (a.k.a. the Del Brown Permit Fly). The problem is since Del Brown first started fishing his fly the permit in the Keys have had a whole lot more flies chucked in front of them. The fish are pickier and crab patterns have evolved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill the original idea of the Merkin remains sound, a wide body tied with stiff yarn, tail feathers to look like claws, rubber legs and weight to get to the bottom. The S.S. Merkin has all these basics with a little wool \"fuzz\" in the body to add color and dimension plus natural Cree colored feathers to look more like crab claws. The result is a robust very effective pattern that has become the primary crab fly some Keys guides are throwing at permit (and big bones).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"light \/ #1","offer_id":54393577341227,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"light \/ #2","offer_id":54393577373995,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"dark \/ #1","offer_id":54393577406763,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"dark \/ #2","offer_id":54393577439531,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/DSC_0039_038.jpg?v=1785010796"},{"product_id":"permit-crab","title":"Permit Crab","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis simple, easy to cast fly has been fished in some form, by Florida captains for decades. Our version has become the standard.  The key is in the tail; we use the hard to find cree and barred olive feathers, then mount them carefully so they spread wide like a defensive crab. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose the color to match local crabs and bottom color. Don't let the name be limiting, the Permit Crab is very effective on bonefish, use the stock size 1 for the large fish in the Keys or on Andros or in deeper water, the lightly weighted #2 is for shallow bonefish flats. Comes with a single post weed guard.  The #1 large is the standard permit size and weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"olive \/ #2","offer_id":54464311460139,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ #1","offer_id":54464333644075,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ #1 large","offer_id":54464333676843,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ #2","offer_id":54464311492907,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ #1","offer_id":54464333709611,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ #1 large","offer_id":54464333742379,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/permitcrab_581fdeaa-203f-420a-9f9d-478e92b7e21a.jpg?v=1785094229"},{"product_id":"ssimple-bait","title":"SSimple Bait","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the flies in the \"R\u0026amp;D\" (rip off and duplicate) series introduced at the Bonefish Tarpon Trust 5th International Symposium. Aaron Adams is a former commercial fly tier, marine biologist and director of BTT. Aaron's \"Fisherman's Coast\" and \"Fly Fisherman's Guide to Saltwater Prey\" are essential to understanding flats fishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAaron's patterns are basic, beautiful and remarkably effective. His Simple Bait was originally tied with exactly three materials; synthetic Slinky Fiber, and E.P. Brush and a stick-on eye lashed and glued to a hook. We thought it would be almost as simple but add movement if we worked in a couple of natural materials. Like our Willy the Pimp the tail is a bit of Cashmere goat veiled with Slinky Fiber. A mix of fox fur and flash hollow dubbed substitutes for the E.P. Brush head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first time we tested this fly was with Capt. Jeff Legutki in the Everglades. He wasn't too impressed before we tied it on. He thought the tail was too sparse, that it would foul and not be durable enough. We tied it on and a slow day turned into hours catching fun. The snook couldn't leave it alone. After considerable abuse an eye finally fell off but the rest of the fly stayed intact until we ran out of tide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1\/0 SSimple Bait is a relatively small general baitfish pattern. It'll catch anything keyed in on three inch baitfish. The larger version is great for stripers, tarpon and anywhere big bait is being served for lunch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTied on Gamakatsu SC15 1\/0 and SC152h 3\/0.  Weed guard included!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"gray \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54604702449963,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"gray \/ #3\/0","offer_id":54604702482731,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"chartreuse \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54604702515499,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"chartreuse \/ #3\/0","offer_id":54604702548267,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54604702581035,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ #3\/0","offer_id":54604702613803,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"black\u0026purple \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54604702646571,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"black\u0026purple \/ #3\/0","offer_id":54604702679339,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/simplepimpgray2_abf4d2bd-c13a-4cfb-bd0d-bcf0c1124761.jpg?v=1785251731"},{"product_id":"notep","title":"Notep","description":"\u003cp\u003ev\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe classic profile of this baitfish pattern has been a standard in the salt for years. The problem with the original is that it is made of just one material leaving it fairly lifeless. It bothers us to tie lifeless flies so we started playing with material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe belly of the Notep is composed of fairly stiff Slinky Fiber which keeps the Cashmere goat hair in the tail from fouling. The top of the fly is our favorite fox tail fur. These three materials combine to form the nearly perfect baitfish profile that is far from lifeless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Notep is tied on a 2\/0 Gamakatsu SC15 and is appropriate for any game fish chasing bait: stripers in the Northeast or on the West Coast. Tarpon in the Everglades, tuna off shore, monster snook in the mangroves will crush this fly. We've been told Giant Trevally can't swim by custom tie big Noteps. It's also great in fresh water - bass, pike and even big browns!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd unlike the original version with the Notep you can leave you comb at home.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"black\u0026purple \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673229545771,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"gray \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673229578539,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673229611307,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/notepblackpurple.jpg?v=1785347152"},{"product_id":"boehms-gurgler","title":"Boehm's Gurgler","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe developed this gurgler years ago for Capt. Alex Boehm. He had just signed on as a full time private guide for an angler in Key West, a man who had the means to employ a captain on his personal staff. One of the Alex's first big trips was to Ascension Bay and he needed a baby tarpon fly. It was the before times when we couldn't share photos.  We talked about a few patterns and I started tying samples and shipping them off, it took a while. We ended up with a gurgler style fly with rabbit fur tail and front collar. Alex wanted a fly that would keep pulsing after being stripped and fish in or just under the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis original version confused some anglers because everyone expects a gurgler to float high. Over time we altered the fly. It now has a larger piece of foam. The fly as is, floats well and can be fished with splashy jerks.  For tarpon it is commonly trimmed to settle into the surface film. Trim the backend first, the sides can be taken down a bit and the front can be altered to push water the way you want it. This fly is certainly more fishy than the original Gartside Gurgler.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years \u003cspan style=\"color: #333333;\"\u003ethis\u003c\/span\u003e fly has become one of our more versatile saltwater patterns. It has jumped plenty of big tarpon, fooled permit and barracuda, feed snook and has migrated to the Northeast landing blues and stripers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"white \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673301438763,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"black\u0026purple \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673301471531,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"chartreuse \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673301504299,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54673301537067,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/boehmsgtan_JPG.jpg?v=1785348370"},{"product_id":"backcountry-sweeper","title":"Backcountry Sweeper","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a fairly well known pattern developed by Capt. Steve Huff. The first sample that was sent to us was an unusual color combination of brown tan and orange; white with red deer hair up front is the original combo. We've worked up the common white version with a bit of pink; a popular finger mullet color combination in the Everglades. We also offer a dark brown version that will cast a silhouette in muddy or tannic water. The tan has hints of orange and yellow, more shrimp than mullet colors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Backcountry Sweeper is generally thrown at snook or baby tarpon in the mangroves. We equip it with a heavy bent fluorocarbon weed guard so it can be tucked right into the mangroves and not hang up. We know this fly has caught big tarpon on the flats so we put it on the strong Gamakatsu SL12S then put an in-line foul guard through the rabbit strip tail to keep it from wrapping around the hook.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an un-weighted fly. If it seems to float too high don't be afraid to trim or pluck some of the deer hair from the head to get it in the zone.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"white \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54673352655147,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54673352687915,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"black \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54673352720683,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Brown \/ #1\/0","offer_id":54673352753451,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/sweeperwhite.jpg?v=1785349074"},{"product_id":"floatind-crab","title":"Floating Crab","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a favorite at S.S.Flies; it's hard but fun to tie, looks great, moves wonderfully and triggers tarpon and redfish. The tan and olive are realistic, the black and purple casts a great silhouette in low light situations. When crabs are on the move this is a must have fly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"black\u0026purple \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54712910315819,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54712910348587,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54712910381355,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/floatingcrabpurp.jpg?v=1785426732"},{"product_id":"fox-fur-tarpon-fly","title":"Fox Fur Tarpon Fly","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"That is one bad ass fly, it's been turning fish like nothing else ... it's the best laid up fly there is bar none!\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's what Capt. Bill Houze said after he fished it for the first time. Over the decades many captains have considered this an essential fly.  The Fox Fur Tarpon Fly has one many tarpon tournaments and jumped many anglers first tarpon.  It has caught, stripers and snook, permit, red fish and blue fish.  It has even brought HUGH trout to the net.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore first introducing this pattern a scene kept replaying in my daydreams. Capt. Benson and I were staked-out on the edge of a pothole in the Marqueasas. Tarpon, scores of them, were lazily milling about. The water was clear, air still, the morning sun perfectly illuminating the water underneath us. Every fly box in the boat was open. We could see the fish eat every now and then but not what we had to offer. An occasional fish would look at whatever fly we were trying then just move off. After a couple hours of toying with these fish Will finally got one to eat, it ate the fly we originally started with. There had to be a better fly for these lazy happy fish. The fly had to sit still but move in place, it had to pulse. It also needed a wide body but still land on the water with the slightest disturbance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA winter's worth of daydreams presented the solution. The wide body of \"hollow tied\" fox fur provides a big profile with almost no weight; it settles gently on the water. Every part of the fly pulses, the long fox fibers and the barred bunny tail. When stripped the collar collapses then puffs back out, the rabbit fur tail moves like nothing else. Put this fly in the strike zone of a lazy tarpon, let it twitch and see if the fish can resist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"black\u0026purple \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54869617180971,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"chartreuse \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54869617213739,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54869617246507,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"tan \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54869617279275,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"white \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54869617312043,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/foxfurtarponblackpurp.jpg?v=1785525932"},{"product_id":"dinah-moe-drum","title":"Dinah-moe Drum","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the longest time we knew we needed a big heavy red fish fly. Willy the Pimp is big and effective but isn't terribly heavy, our Clousers are heavy but not very bulky. We had tied a number of modified Toads and Sliders that caught fish but the patterns weren't compelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTim had plopped down a sample tarpon fly that was interesting enough to avoid the recycle bin but it wasn't a fully formed idea. I'd pick it up now and then, it had good potential but missed the spot. It stayed on the tying bench for a year, maybe longer. One day we just got to it; I lashed on a heavy eye, flipped it over, trimmed the fuzz off the bottom stroked back the rest and Dinah-moe Drum came to life. This four-inch beauty might not be worth a forty dollar bill but it'll certainly make redfish quiver and quake. And no one will make any jokes about your mental health if you throw this thing at tarpon deep in some Central American channel or stripers against the rocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDinah-moe is tied on a Gamakatsu SC15 3\/0 and comes in three colors; golden olive, purple and chartreuse and natural.  Comes with a weed guard\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"chartreuse \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54869675213099,"sku":null,"price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54869675245867,"sku":null,"price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"natural \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54869675278635,"sku":null,"price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/dinahmoedrumchart.jpg?v=1785531335"},{"product_id":"clouser-minnows","title":"Clouser Minnow","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lot of commercially available Clouser Minnows are tied to work like jigs. This was not Bob Clouser's original intent. This fly was designed to sink quickly but more or less horizontally. The idea is to mimic the attitude of a baitfish deep in the water column. A baitfish may be diving but is seldom head down tail up. We take care to mount the heavy eye back further on the hook to minimize the jig effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe S.S.Flies Clousers are constructed with a thoughtful blend of flash and bucktail colors to imitate common baitfish. We also take the time to hand paint a pearly eye. With the addition of a heavy-duty fluorocarbon weed guards these flies can be cast into mangrove roots, fished deep into seaweed or stripped under floating weed mats and remain effective.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"white \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54898059837739,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"white \/ #1","offer_id":54898059870507,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"chartreuse \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54898059903275,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"chartreuse \/ #1","offer_id":54898059936043,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"gray \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54898059968811,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"gray \/ #1","offer_id":54898060001579,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ 2\/0","offer_id":54898060034347,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"olive \/ #1","offer_id":54898060067115,"sku":null,"price":6.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/clouserwhite.jpg?v=1785583482"},{"product_id":"electric-chicken","title":"Electric Chicken","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe phone rang, on the other end was the distinct voice of one of our customers: “Hey you guys tie the Electric Chicken?” After a giggle or two I said “ No never heard of it.” So we looked around, worked up some samples and sent the customer photos. After tuning up the pattern a bit the order went out and the flies got fished. As it turns out the Electric Chicken is nothing to giggle about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe marshes of the Carolinas harbor great redfish. There's a quite group of anglers who stalk the shallows and spartina grass beds year round for redfish. Most of the flies are crab or shrimp patterns. The original pink and chartreuse Electric Chicken seems to be neither but when tied in more common colors the fly starts to look like something that could be a redfish snack.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course we can't leave well enough alone. Our Electric Chickens are tied with extra long Estaz and trimmed on the bottom to help it turn over. We put on our heavy fluorocarbon weed guard and plenty of weight to get it on bottom. Certainly the pink version is a great choice in dark waters, the root beer in clearer conditions. Use the black and purple also in dark water or low light conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"pink \/ #1","offer_id":54899506708779,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"black \/ #1","offer_id":54899506741547,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"root beer \/ #1","offer_id":54899506774315,"sku":null,"price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/electricchickpink.jpg?v=1785584331"},{"product_id":"willy-the-pimp","title":"Willy the Pimp","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt was one of those days in the Keys when the idea of fishing was silly. The wind was up around 30 knots; it'd been blowing like that for days. Capt. Will Benson and I were in his workshop playing with tarpon patterns when our conversation wandered to redfish flies. Will rummaged around and pulled out this monster. Will is a renowned Key West captain fishing a couple hundred days a year but he spent his college years fishing the Mississippi Delta. At the time he had just released \"Drum\" that year's World Angling film so what was I to say about a redfish fly that was bigger and nastier than any I'd seen before. Still I had my doubts about the fly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mississippi River Delta a great fishery.  At the right time of year the big reds get up into the marsh, they eat big flies that can be seen in dark water. Willie the Pimp is big and the original chartreuse version is certainly visible. After leaving a sample kicking around the shop for a few months we figured a more ... realistic version might be nice so we worked up the white Willie the Pimp. White baitfish patterns often work for redfish. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilly the Pimp has more general uses, it's a great baitfish profile and has beautiful movement.  It has caught many stripers in the Northeast.  We put it on a 3\/0 Gamakatsu SS15, weight it with large stainless steel eyes then finish the head with our heavy fluorocarbon weed guard. It can sink, push water and bounce off of oyster bars.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S.S. Flies Inc.","offers":[{"title":"white \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54900862812459,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"chartreuse \/ 3\/0","offer_id":54900862845227,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/files\/willyspimpwhite.jpg?v=1785585252"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0802\/4875\/collections\/redfishhead_0c81e94e-3b62-41ab-a09a-c4c789375bd9.jpg?v=1786131165","url":"https:\/\/ssflies.com\/collections\/redfish-flies.oembed","provider":"S.S. Flies Inc.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}