OB's Grassy Whistler

A Florida bass variation on a striped bass fly

          Central Florida’s largemouth bass country includes some waters that are so tannic they look like a gritty old bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. And at some times of year our bass sink deeper into that murky water. When we cast into that difficult hunting ground, we need flies to do more attracting than sleek bait fish imitations are capable of. One solution is my variation of the Whistler fly, OB’s Grassy Whistler.

          To match the baitfish hatch, the sky, or the water clarity, I work with colors of chartreuse and white, or black and purple. And the fire tiger combination is attractive.

          I begin by mashing down the barb on a heavy hook, like a Mustad C52S or equivalent.

          Dumbbell eyes replace the bead chain eyes called for by the creator of the fly, Dan Blanton. During certain seasons, we are trying to sink this fly as deep as 10 feet, so dumbbells of various weights help pull down the fly line, then create the enticing jigging movement when we slowly strip it up. I tie them on top of the hook to gain a little weedlessnes by turning the fly over.

          Wraps of lead-free wire provide more deep dive weight. I start wrapping somewhere in the middle of the shank and move toward the dumbbell eyes 8 wraps or so. For more water pushing bulk, I wrap 2 or three turns on top of the first layer and jammed forward against the eyes.

          The tail begins with UV flash. Because maybe it works. Then several strands of flash in a convenient color. All strands are about three times the length of the hook shank. Bucktail builds up the tail, extending about 2 times the length of the hook shank. One grizzly hackle outside each side of the buck tail fibers add another factor of attractiveness.

          The body is another place I choose to bulk up this fly. I’ve gone to the extreme of using wired Christmas chenille. (Don’t bother.) I have now settled on a medium fly fishing chenille in red, or a color to match the overall pattern. I cover the thread wraps, then make a couple more turns near the eyes.

          Regular bass hackle strikes me as best for the collar. The stiffer fibers stand out and push more water toward waiting lateral lines.

          Blanton gave us one more trick to attract those deep sleepers, a flash tail. Create the ghostly glimmers of fingerling baitfish by trimming the flash unevenly about ½ inch beyond the bucktail.

          Like books moving through history, the story of the Whistler is interesting because of its chronology. After reading about my adaptation, read Dan Blanton’s explanation of his invention here. Then listen to Capt. Debbie Hanson tell about her experience with the inventor, the fly, and the biggest bass here.

          Thanks to Dan for giving us the fly and Debbie for letting us know bass love it. OB’s Grassy Whistler will do a lot of fish attracting for you. Tie some up and cast them in those spots where you think the fish won’t see other flies.

Suggested Recipe for OB’s Grassy Whistler

Hook:

Mustad C52S

Eyes:

Heavy dumbbell tied on top

Wire:

.035 lead free

Tail:

UV flash, trimmed ½” to 1” beyond bucktail

Flash to match the body, trimmed ½” to 1” beyond bucktail

Bucktail

Bared grizzly Hackle to match

Body:

Medium Chenille, red or matching

Hackle:

2 feathers, 1 bared, 1 to match