Avalon Permit Fly

The Avalon Permit Fly was developed by Mauro Gin- evri for enticing Cuban permit. In Cuba, the fish feed heavily on shrimps so Ginevri set about developing a fly that would imitate the local bait, sink quickly with the hook point up, yet remain in the strike zone during the retrieve. Perhaps the most critical element was that the fly had to track straight, no matter how fast the retrieve became. After all, we tend to get a little excited when confronted with a permit chasing down our flies!

A keel with four small beads keeps the fly on track and at the right depth. They also emit a clicking sound, similar to a snapping shrimp, which may act as a trigger. Another key feature is the ability to pass for a number of prey items. Stripped fast, it will slim down and could be taken for a fleeing baitfish. Allow it to sit on a sandy bottom with a slow draw and it could pass for a small crab.

Tie it small (size #6) and fish it for bream, or tie it big (#2/0) and fish it for golden trevally. Or tie it from #2 to #1/0 and fish it for permit… This is a versatile fly and part of its success is the way it moves in the water. Mobile, natural materials such as marabou and rabbit fur are among the best fly tying materials known to mankind, and often overlooked amongst a sea of synthetics.

This fly was intended for fishing and retrieving mid-water, so you need to be careful letting it hit bottom. Clean sand or mud is okay, but rock and coral heads can snag the keel, ending in the loss of your fly. Ginevri prefers only one size for Cuba, size #2, and ties his flies to be approx 7 cm long on Tiemco 811S hooks. Things are a little different in Australia and if you want to hang on to big Aussie fish, consider the Gamakatsu SL12S.

Hook: #2 Tiemco 811S or #2–2/0 Gamakatsu SL12S

THREAD: Tan 3/0 Monocord or Flat Waxed Nylon

EYES: Silver or gold I-Balz or dumbbell eyes

KEEL: Hard 20-lb nylon monofilament with four silver or stainless steel beads

MOUTH: Orange Craft Fur

ANTENNAE: Black or Wine Krystal Flash

LEGS: Two strands of medium orange Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs

SHELLBACK: Two strands of Pearl Diamond Braid

BODY: Tan marabou

CLAWS: Two straight-cut light tan or grey Zonker strips tied delta wing (skin 2 cm, hair 4 cm)

HEAD: Fluorescent orange Monocord or Flat Waxed Nylon

TYING NOTES

AVALON PERMIT FLY

1. Tie dumbbell eyes just behind the hook eye, and secure antennae.

2. Add a short bunch of orange Craft Fur (mouthparts) and rubber legs at the rear of the hook shank.

3. Tie in a length of mono for your keel. Select two pieces of pearl braid and tie on the underside of the hook.

4. Take a bunch of tan marabou and tie in tips-first before wrapping up the hook shank to just behind the eyes.

5. Cut two lengths of Zonker strip and tie one each side, skin side in, just behind the eyes.

6. Invert the hook and bring the pearl braid over like a shellback. Tie off in front of the eyes and change to orange thread.

7. Thread four small beads onto the mono and tie off in front of the eyes.

8. Apply head cement and go fishing!

Start by tying in your dumbbell eyes and two long strands of black Krystal Flash as antennae. Then add a bunch of orange Craft Fur tied short at the bend of the hook. Outside of the Craft Fur, tie in one long barred rubber leg each side. The original pattern calls for orange barred legs but you can alter this to match your local shrimps. Tie in a length of 20 lb Mason hard mono. I like to add a drop of super glue on the shank to lock the mono in place.

Secure two strands of pearl Diamond Braid or Sparkle Braid on the rear underside of the hook, which will act as a shellback. Then prepare a bunch of tan marabou and tie in tips-first before winding up to the eyes. Select two short sections of nice dense rabbit (Zonker) strip and tie in one piece on each side, skin-side facing the hook shank, delta wing style. Turn the fly over in the vice and bring the two lengths of pearl braid forward over the eyes and tie off. Whip finish and change the thread to hot orange.

The final step involves threading four small beads onto the hard mono and tying off in front of the eyes. Ginevri likes to use 2.8 mm diameter beads for a #2 Tiemco 811S hook. Make sure the keel is free to move — don’t leave it too short or too long. Whip finish and apply cement. You should have a buggy looking fly that, for us, suits not only permit but bream, golden trevally, flathead and a whole host of flats species.

Stick with standard Brite Beads or even Tungsten if you have deep pockets and even deeper water to fish. You can experiment with a hot spot (like an orange bead) to imitate roe, but I feel this is done nicely with the tuft of orange Craft Fur.

In permit sizes (#1/0+), the Avalon Fly demands at least a good 9-weight fly rod. Smaller flies (#2–4) can be fished on #8 outfits at a pinch, but are best saved for bream and flathead rather than permit and golden trevally.

Fished on a floating, sink-tip or full intermediate line, this fly has abundant uses. Fish them with short bumps, fish them with long strips or roll the dice and let them hit ground and draw slowly — this is one fly that belongs in your flats kit.