The Mantis Candy

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“Malaysian fly tyer, Dron Lee, is one of my favorites when it comes to creativity and color. He is well known in Southeast Asia for his innovative work at the vise, but perhaps less so in the western hemisphere. His Mantis Candy is just another in a long line of flies that use creative combinations of color and movement. As juveniles many species of Mantis Shrimp exhibit bright, colorful patterns that flats fish key in on from a considerable distance. The Mantis Candy does a superb job of imitating these juveniles, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where Orange Spot and Peacock Mantis are abundant. For obvious reasons, I also find that it breaks up the monotony of tying shrimp to match the color of the flats you plan to fish. Triggers, Permit and Bones all respond to this fly under the right conditions. So, before you scoff at the beer-sign colorway, try a few of these on your next flats trip.” –Jack Reis

Materials:

Hook: Daicchi 2546 – sz. 4-1/0
Thread: UTC 140 – Chartreuse
Head: Midge Flash – Black, Senyo’s Laser Yarn – White, Fl. Hot Orange, Fl. Chartreuse
Underbody: Suede Chenile
Body: Senyo’s Laser Yarn – Fl. Chartreuse, Thin Skin Fly Specks – Clear/Black, Ultra Wire – Blue
Legs: Round Rubber Medium – Green
Tail: Goose Biots – White
Eyes: Dumbbell Eyes, Mono Eyes – Green