Fly Tying Inventory
Sloppy Joe
A large single-hook baitfish from Cheech of Fly Fish Food, built as a simpler, smaller follow-up to his Sloptimus Prime. It still pushes a big silhouette, but the chassis is very light, so a 7 or 8 weight rod can throw it all day. Bands of Flash 'N Slinky and Squishenille build the body, and a craft fur brush forms the front. A lead wire keel runs along the shank. It uses few materials and can be tied in hundreds of color combinations. Tied here on a size 2/0 hook.
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Materials
Gamakatsu B10S, size 2/0 (or Fulling Mill FM6040 Streamer Stripper)
2/0
210 Denier Waxed Danville Flymaster Plus, black #11 (or UTC Ultrathread 210 Denier)
Black · 210 denier
Lead wire, .030, for the keel
.030
UV resin, for fixing the keel to the shank
Flash 'N Slinky, electric yellow, for the tail and body fibers (or chartreuse)
Electric Yellow
Medium Badger Flexi Squishenille UV, fluorescent hot yellow #142 (or fluorescent chartreuse #127)
Fluorescent Hot Yellow · Medium
EP Craft Fur Brush 3", chartreuse/black (or chartreuse/chartreuse)
Chartreuse/Black · 3"
How to Tie the Sloppy Joe
- 1
Step 1
Mount the 2/0 hook. Shape a length of lead wire to lie along the shank as a keel.
- 2
Step 2
Fix the lead in place with UV resin and cure it.
- 3
Step 3
Start the black thread, bind over the keel and wrap back to the bend.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a long bunch of Flash 'N Slinky at the bend for the tail. Bind it down and trim any waste.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in the Squishenille just ahead of the tail and take a few turns to make a short band, stroking the fibers back. Tie it off and trim.
- 6
Step 6
Tie another bunch of Flash 'N Slinky in by its middle in front of the chenille. Fold the forward half back and bind it down so the fibers surround the shank.
- 7
Step 7
Comb the Flash 'N Slinky fibers so they lie back along the fly with no tangles.
- 8
Step 8
Repeat the Squishenille band and folded Flash 'N Slinky bunch, working forward and combing as you go. Stop where the front body starts, with room left for the brush.
- 9
Step 9
Tie in the EP Craft Fur Brush and wrap it forward to the eye, pulling the fibers back after each turn so they stay free. Tie it off and trim the wire.
- 10
Step 10
Whip finish and cut the thread, then comb the whole fly back into a baitfish profile.
The same build works in hundreds of color combinations, so swap the fibers and brush to suit your water.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fsZykkcWNc
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food