Thursday, January 06, 2000

Coma Spoon


Originator: Catch Cormier

Version by Catch Cormier

Species: bass, white bass, inshore brackish

Remarks by Catch Cormier:


Most spoon flies, such as Cave's Wobbler or Kirk's Spoon, are "wobblers". That is, the fly wobbles side-to-side when stripping. The Coma Spoon and the Kirshner Spinner are "spinners". That is, the fly rotates.

The Coma Spoon has a longer, narrower body than Kirk's Spoon, so it sinks faster. On a strip, the fly rotates one direction. During the pause between strips, the fly rotates back the other direction. To insure enough tension to make this happen, tippets used for the Coma Spoon should be no less than 12 pounds.

Spinner spoons are not as weedless as wobbler spoons, but as mentioned, they do sink faster. This makes them better suited for fishing canal banks and lake shorelines.

Materials:
- Mustad 34011 stainless hook, size 1.
- 1/4" mylar tubing (Wapsi Large).
- red thread
- 5 minute epoxy
- 30 minute (2 ton) transparent epoxy
- Best colors for mylar: gold, pearl, flashabou (gold/pearl), green.

Instructions:

Using a pair of pliers, make a series of slight bends in the hook until it assumes a somewhat "caddis" shape. Wrap thread base from eye back to halfway down bend of hook. Cut 1 3/4" section of mylar and slide down shank from front until any unraveled endings are past thread. Secure mylar at bend with thread and knot off with a whip finish. Mix together a tiny amount of 5 minute epoxy. Using a toothpick, dab some epoxy into the mylar. Make sure to cover as much surface as possible, and especially towards the back. You now have about 3 minutes to work with. Place thread over mylar about 1/8" down from the hook eye, and make 3 to 4 tight wraps. With rough pair of scissors, trim off excess mylar covering the hook eye, then wrap thread over end of mylar to form head. By now, the 5 minute epoxy should be ready. Don on pair of rubber gloves, then press mylar flat. Keep working the mylar as the epoxy begins to set. After the mylar is nice and flat, take the hook out. Make a twist in the mylar (about 30-45 degrees). Allow to set further. Later, using a brush, apply 30 minute epoxy to the outside of the fly to make it waterproof, durable, and shiny.