Emu Squid Other Saltwater Hook : Long shank. Thread : Tan or white. Tentacles : White hackles, long and thin - (Spencers saltwater Capes work well) Eyes : Large gold bead chain. Body : Emu flank feathers.
Tying Instructions 1) Tie in thread at hook eye and advance thread to hook bend. 2) Form a lump of thread at bend. 3) Tie in several long, thin hackles, hook eye side of lump. 4) Once all hackles desired are tied in (number depends on size of hackles), advance thread towards lump until hackle feathers flare out slightly. This helps with swimming action of fly. 5) Tie in bead chain, secure well and add a little super glue or the like. 6) Trim off the end of the emu feathers, you only want the fluffy part of the feather. (prototypes used the black tip ends for tentacles, but we found they were a little fragile) . 7) Tying in one feather at a time and wrapping around the hook shank till the hook shank is full. 8) Tying off and add a little super glue, nail polish or flexi cement to thread at hook eye.
Fly Notes Wrapping hook shank with thread then coating with glue or cement as your tie in each emu feather will help in fly durability. Two long hackles and about 6 -8 shorter ones (half length of long ones) is what I hope to tie in for the tentacles representation.
Fishing Notes A quick medium length strip and stop/pause retrieve will give the best swimming action. If you manage to spot a good flathead lie, cast past lie, strip till the fly is above the lie, then allow to sink. Two short strips once just above area of lie should see a result or at least a follow. A short shock tippet advisable as fish usually take this fly well down their throats, so don't rely on the long shank alone to stop bite offs or wear and tear. Can be targeted on most estuarine and inshore species - Flathead, bream, rat yellowtail king, small snapper and mulloway. Most saltwater species would find it hard to resist eating a small squid.
Location Notes Anywhere in the salt, weed patches, rock or gravel bottoms. Basically any typical squid haunts.
Prey Notes Squid representation, seeing the width of most emu feathers the pattern is limited to smaller versions.
Tier Richard Carter

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