The Skettle, Skittal or Skittle?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

New Permit fly from El Pescado Lodge Belizean guide.

Story below
http://www.fullingmill.com/news.asp?id=166263



Tying instructions for the Skittal by Orvis
http://www.orvis.com/detail.asp?subj...oup_id=&bhcp=1

[Darian]

Hi Bill,..... Good looking fly. Anybody have any experience using it, yet

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Darian,

I have heard it is being used in Belize for permit?

Should work for bonefish too.

Maybe surf perch? har har

[john]

I ordered a couple from Orvis and have been tying variants. Is a great looker, and will be testing them on Belizean fish in early March. I happen to think it'll make a good small tarpon fly. When I first saw the pics., thought it looked like too much material on top for permit esp. when it rides hook-up. I tried a few w/o the top strip but w/o it, there doesn't seem to be enough body. Hope it turns into my new lucky fly.

[john]

I wanted to follow-up. Last nite I realized the tying instructions from the Orvis site don't match how their completed flies are in fact tied. The web instructions describe a single zonker strip on the inside of the hook, followed by pearl diamondbraid that evenly separates the hair of the zonker. This then flattens out the zonker hair. The flies I purchased from them have 2 zonker strips. tied on either side if the hook shank, with the hair flowing toward the hook eye. The diamondbraid then lies between the zonker strips and the hair appears to be trimmed similar to sculpting a rug yarn crab. I do like the completed fly method, as it gives thr fly a bit more body.