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Thread: My version of the Airhead

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Fresno, CA
    Posts
    2,749

    Default My version of the Airhead

    Been working on a version of the Airhead, not to be confused with the Wiggy Airhead which I tie for Baja.
    Too me the head has a little too much point but I'm working on that to come up with a flatter/round head.
    The finished fly photo doesn't do the fly just. It was taken with my iPhone when I got home from work.
    I use an "0" ring to keep the shape.

    The question that people have been asking me is "Am I going to start selling them?" Well after some thought, I have decided to perfect it a little more before I put it on the market. Right now, it takes me around 5 minutes to tie, I want to cut the time to where it's profitable.
    Jay Murakoshi

    Commercial Fly Tier

    Travel Coordinator

    Web site: http://www.fliesunlimited.com/

    Email us at: jaysflies@me.com

    Call us at (831) 809-4221

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Neither new or improved, but now in Redmond OR
    Posts
    568

    Default

    Nice tie, Jay. What are you using for the glue to shape the head?

    I tie these for Yucatan tarpon and they work very reliably, especially early in the morning when the rollers are cruising along the edges of the mangroves and under the trees covered in guano. I use a 1/4 inch section cut from a large soda straw to hold the material. Then I coat the head with thinned Goop, make it the viscosity of latex paint. The head is hollow and squishy. I stick the eyes on while the Goop is still tacky and trace a small bead around the edge of the eye and they hold fairly well. A frisky tarpon will still tear an eye off.

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    Last edited by DLJeff; 07-21-2019 at 05:31 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    7,786

    Default Airhead Pattern

    I like all of the Airheads you guys have tied. I have some Charlies Airhead flies left after fishing at La Paz and compared them to these. Only small differences noted. First, as Jay mentioned, is the rounded head on Charlies Airhead and, second, the adhesive is applied past the bend of the hook on Charlies fly (to keep the wing from fouling the hook??). Keep up the good work....
    "America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote."

    Author unknown

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    On one of Jay's trips to La Paz Jim Christensen gave me one medium size Umpqua (Bisharat) Airhead in 1/0 in brown over white.

    The Roosterfish really loved it and after 15 schoolie size fish it still looked like new.

    The Bisharat/Umpqua Airheads have a molded synthetic clear helmet like head which makes them a little different that home grown versions.

    _________________________________________

    Umpqua made them in size #3/0, 1/0 and 2.


    Just called Charlie Bisharat and he said that Umpqua was not making his Airheads or Pole Dancers anymore.




    Some are still out there on the Internet for sale new.

    https://www.umpqua.com/products/flie...%84%A2-airhead
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Santa Rosa, Calif
    Posts
    1,015

    Default

    Bill,

    This fall I plan on tying a ton of the original looking air heads and I will be able to offer them at a very cheap price in almost any color you want. This year in Loreto I spent a lot of time at the Rooster holes experimenting with different colors of tans and browns. The lighter colored Tan airhead with no flash was the most effective fly I have ever used for Roosters.

    Carl Blackledge

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Santa Rosa, Calif
    Posts
    1,015

    Default

    Bill,

    As I told you in an earlier message I tied a ton of these in different sizes and colors and offer them to my fishing buddies for sale at about 1/2 the prize of the original flies, I also sold them to many fly shops here in California. The first 500 sold out in about a week, Now tying my 2nd generation. I tie one fly I call the "plane Jane" in a light Tan in 3 different sizes from about 3 inches to 5 1/2 it should just murder the Rooster's and i have already tested them on Dorado, The Dorado seem to love them also. I have another larger one in Blue and white that should work great for laid up Bill fish. I have had a lot of fun tying these Air heads. Carl Blackledge
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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Citrus Heights
    Posts
    35

    Default

    Carl:

    As you know i'm a big believer in your airhead flies. Good news is that they work well. Bad news is that we get some really big fish in Magdalena Bay down here in Baja and they head right into the roots for an instant airhead haircut. That tan rattle fly you threw in on my last dozen got hit on the second cast and produced my first fly caught palometa. Luckily it was only an 8# fish and I had gone to 20# tippet so I was able to wrestle him away from shore. We get them to 30# on live shrimp as well as 20# snook so the big ones are almost impossible to land. I'll be ordering a bunch of the rattle flies when I get home later this month. Keep up the good work.

    Gary in Loreto

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Santa Rosa, Calif
    Posts
    1,015

    Default

    Gary,

    Sure glad you liked the Air heads i tied up for you, You will love the new "plane Jane" should be the perfect fly for those hard to catch Rooster's.

    The guys who are going to Brazil for peacock bass this winter cleaned me out of all the big Black and Black and Purple flies I had with rattles. I am trying to figure out a way to tie the Airheads indoors right now so i don't pass out by using all the toxic chemicals i need to use to create these beauties. When you come home give me a call I am sure I will have it figured out. Gary if you get a chance go to my Face book page . Carl
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