Tilapia "imitations"

[DJP]

Made a few colourfull tilapia "imitations". One can use more natural colours depending on what you target. I've caught some bass and barbel on them.

Body- latex ribbing with hackle

Eyes - plastic/glass beads on thick fishing line melted to make the cornea

Dorsal part- springbuck hair on skin waxed in place

Pectral fins - soft hackle

Tail - Synthetic hair stuff (or whatever you like)

 

[DJP]

1 more

 

[Searaider]

  excellent flies, well done, what size hook ?

 

[DJP]

Hook size depends on what you want to catch. These are smaller versions on size 6  nymph hooks. I've tied them up to size 2/0 but they get a bit heavy to cast on my 6wght. Just to ad: depending on how the fly is weighted it will swim right side up or upside down.

 

[tk]

insane flies! I reckon those would be the answer in the okavango! Do you put any flash into the flies?

 

[sebastiaan]

Does it work?

 

[deewy]

Why dont you just tie a flashy profile fly really small. You use only synthetics and they are really light and easy to cast, even on a 6wt. Just step down your hook size. Here is a pic of a flash baby shad immatation with the real thing next to it. Oh and this is tied on a 5/0

 

[DJP]

deewy wrote:

Why dont you just tie a flashy profile fly really small. You use only synthetics and they are really light and easy to cast, even on a 6wt. Just step down your hook size. Here is a pic of a flash baby shad immatation with the real thing next to it. Oh and this is tied on a 5/0

Sure deewy, thats the type of flies I use more often. Was just playing around with the other imitations and materials. Thats a real good imitation you made there, Leeries must love it!

Sebastiaan, yes it does work. Thats a realy interesting question though. One fly might work for somebody that uses it in a specific manner in specific conditions to target a specific species successfully, whilst the guy next to him might use the same fly without any success at all. I think that is what makes tying your own flies so cool...you can overcome problems by altering the way you tie the fly. I was trying to make a fly that wouldnt snag so easy and could be fished slowly on the bottom. Thats why I made some that swim with the hooks upwards and hackle around the body to send out minute vibrations even when fished slowly. Tilapia love just "sitting" close to vegetation or other cover and thats were I want to target the bigger fish. 

 

[tauruck]

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