Black Toad Fly

January 2010

Sponsored by the Long Bay Fly Fishing Association









B


 

 

 




 

Black Toad Fly

This fly can be tied on any combination of colors.  Try pink/green for an Electric Chicken Toad.  Try combinations of rust and copper for traditional red fish colors.  We find black works best in dark, muddy water.  This fly will catch reds both on the mud flats and in the grass.  Big reds pounce on this fly, and it will also catch trout. 

Ingredients for a Black Toad Fly:
#2 hook.  Mustad 34007 or equivalent
Black poly yarn
Natural buck tail
Krystal Flash
Two grizzly neck feathers
Small red or black dumbbell eyes
50 lb mono for weed guard
Black 3/0 thread

Steps
1.  Wrap a thread base and attach dumbbell eyes, leaving room for a small head, by using figure 8 wraps.  Put a drop of superglue on the base of the eyes.
2.  Wrap back to just above the barb and attach a small bunch of bucktail, about the size of two pencil leads,  1 1/2 times the length of the hook shank.
3.  Attach approximately ten strands of k-flash on either side of the bucktail.  Trim the k-flask to different lengths, so the longest strands are just a little longer than the bucktail tail then trim the others different lengths .
4.  Attach two grizzly neck hackles on either side of the bucktail the same length as the bucktail tail, with the feathers flaring out.
5.  Cut the poly yarn into ten pieces approximately 2″ long.  You will be tying strands equal in thickness to 1 1/2 thicknesses of yard.  Take two pieces of yarn.  Separate one into two equal thicknesses.  Combine one of these split pieces with a whole thickness.  After combining them, starting at the tail tie in point, attach the 1 1/2 thickness strand to the top of the hook, using figure 8 wraps.  Make one wrap in front of the first strand.  Take a second 1 1/2 thickness strand, place it directly in front of the strand you just attached and tie it in place with figure 8 wraps.  Pack the strands together.  Repeat this process until you are up to the dumbbell eyes, about five or six tie ins.  Tie a half hitch in front of the eyes.
6.  Trim the pieces so they are about the size of a quarter and taper slightly from front to back.  Trim them evenly on both sides so the fly will sink and jig properly.  If you prefer, you can trim them into an oval shape, about the size of a quarter.
7.  Take the mono and pinch it into a V  (A pair of pliers helps get a sharp V.) Turn the fly upside down in the vise.  Put the V of the mono in front of the eyes.  Tie in the mono at the V, and post the legs of the weed guard so they flare back toward the hook point..  Trim the mono so it is approximately 1/4 inch beyond the hook point.  Tie a neat thread head and whip finish.   
8.   Take superglue and run a line of superglue along the hook shank/tie in points to secure everything to the hook.  Put a drop of superglue or head cement on the head.
10.  Go fishing and hang on.

 

The Toad fly was invented by Gary Merriman (owner of the The Fish Hawk in Atlanta, Georgia). It is a light weight, slow sinking fly designed for Tarpon fishing in the flats. The original version employed a rabbit strip for the tail. Later, the fly was changed by Captain Tim Hoover when he tied some toads with marabou for Andy Mill. The marabou version is now more popular than the original.  



Wrightsville Beach Fishing & Fly Tying, The Toad Fly





















 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 
Long Bay Fly Fishing Association Home Page

Forum Discussion & Toad Fly Photos
 
"Sure thing. I use a couple, the first being a black toad. really good fly considering the water is usually crystal clear during this time of the month. "