Milkfish fly hooks

[Brad Yates]

Anyone thrown scum/weed flies at milkies up north in WA? I have a customer asking for a few to try out, material I think Im right but hooks are a little harder. Mustad C68's look ok but wondering how they will go on such a strong fish. Maybe owner flyliners?

[Tony Ong]

Would stick with the fly liners Brad.
Larger sizes of C68s should be fine. Ie #2 and larger. I've straightened #4 & 6 in the past when chasing Millie's. Those were the older version the C68. Not sure if the new version would have a higher tensile strength.

[Craig Radford]

I doubt the WA Milkies are any different to the CXI versions or those in the Seychelles.
So SL 12 in # 2 would be the go to hook. The couple Milkies I've seen landed including the one I got were on those and we went hard on 16 lb flouro tippets.

[Brad Yates]

Tying for a mate in Karratha who has found schools of milkies out off dampier. I too found them years ago, never got the opportunity to throw a fly at them so never got to do the fly development. Going to try a few different things but I only have size 6 B10S, size 2 C68 and size 2 SL12s here. My head was telling me that something around a size 4 would be good. Black apparently is the colour of choice.

[Craig Radford]

Based on what we experienced at CXI the biggest issue is finding actively feeding fish. Forget those ones just milling around with their big ass tails taunting us. Look for those with their O ring mouths and pointy heads sticking out of the water.
Accurate casts in their path with flies no longer than 20 mm - the flies I tied were a variation on Arno's Milky Dream in similar colours with a body of fizzle dub but I used buck tail in the tail which we thought helped to keep the fly suspended high in the water column where the fish are looking for food.
Anything is worth a try to get into them. Worthy targets. They go ok.

[David Reverdito]

Any hook will work for milkies as long as it is a size 2 SL12S

What Craig said is spot on, don't waste time with cruising fish, you want them feeding and feeding hard. Not only the O rings slurping the surface, if you have bubbles then you are in with a good chance. In my experience the ones that eat do so about 1-2 feet below the surface, not on the top, so you want your fly to be down there.

[Chris Hedges]

Hi Brad,

I saw a heap of Milkfish at Ningaloo a few weeks back and had nothing to throw at them, I also live in Karratha. So if you happen to tie up some extras I will buy them off you.

Cheers
Chris

[Sean]

I would have said the B10S are way too light. Last trip we had to Exmouth I used the SL12.