May FOTM - The Synthetic Deceiver

[Stephen Bradbury]

May’s fly of the month is the Synthetic Deceiver, this fly is a realistic and tough all round baitfish pattern. Pretty much any fish that eats baitfish can be caught on this fly including all Trevally species, Queenfish, Cobia, all Mackerel species, Giant Herring, Tailor, most Emperor species, most Tuna species, Mahi Mahi, Australian Salmon (Kahawai), Samson fish, Yellow Tailed Kingfish etc etc. Mostly tied in all white (translucent) with an olive topping (dorsal line) there are many other pattern variations possible depending on the size, colour and pattern of the baitfish you are trying to represent. Essentially this is a baitfish profile fly built primarily using one type of material (unique, super, supreme or steamer hair), tapered during the tying process with a small amount of flash. A 4/0 synthetic deceiver is my personal go to fly for Australian Salmon (Kahawai) and queenfish and can be deadly fished in a burley trail or weighted (ball sinker in the loop knot) and fished deep and deserves a place in your fly box.
Recipe: in order of tying.
Hook – size 2# - 8/0# Gamakatsu SL12S, 4/0# & 6/0# for the flies pictured.
Thread – White Flat waxed 210 denier.
Tail – 1 small, well tapered bunch of translucent white unique hair approx 2.5 – 3 x the hook length, tied in on top of the hook shank above the barb and spread slightly around the sides of the hook shank.
Flash – 4 to 8 strands of sparkleflash pearl or fine lateral scale pearl tied on top of the tail.
You can add some lead wire around the hook shank for weight if desired at this stage.
Body/collar – Roughly 4 tapered bunches (top & bottom) of translucent white unique hair tied in in pairs one in front of the other (one on top, one under, one on top, one under etc etc) and spread slightly around the hook shank (pushed around hook shank with a little fingernail pressure). Each pair of tapered bunches (top & bottom) should be tied in to be about ¾ of the length of the previous two bunches.
Topping/Dorsal line – Two small well tapered bunches of olive unique hair or chosen darker colour tied in on top, the first a fraction shorter than the tail length and the second about 2/3 that length. Whip finish and cut thread.
Head – Apply a small amount of hard UV resin to the thread finish point and head and cure with a UV torch to desired shape. Take care not to get to much resin under the hook shank (chin area) as this will reduce the hook gape and lead to less hook ups.
Eyes – Stick on 3D silver eyes, size to suit fly or colour/shape of desired baitfish.
Apply a second thin coat of hard UV resin finish over eyes and head and cure with UV torch.

Tie fly onto a 20lb fluorocarbon tippet or 40lb bite tippet with a lefty’s loop knot to allow for maximum movement. Usually retrieved using large, long single strips or fast with double overhanded strip, get some in your box now.

[Stephen Bradbury]

More pictures of the Synthetic Deceiver (tied at the clubs May meeting)

[Stephen Bradbury]

more pics

[Diarmuid O Laoghaire]

What brand of markers are you using for colouring in the green rib's? Are they the pantone markers?

[Stephen Bradbury]

Prismacolor markers Dee, but it doesn't stay on for ever, after a good session (quite a few fish) it needs re-applying.