


August 17, 2010
Cermele: The Sexiest Fly in the Bahamas
By Joe Cermele
Quick story. The first time I ever went bonefishing was last November on my honeymoon in Turks & Caicos. At one point during that trip, I was surrounded by 300 bonefish that would eat a piece of hot dog if I threw it at them. Fast forward to today, where I just spent nine hours looking for a repeat performance on the flats surrounding Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas. Guess what? I got spoiled the first time around. Today's fish were spooky, snobby, finicky, and loved to tease. They tracked my flies all day, turning away at the last second. But all that changed when guide Rick Sawyer broke out the sexiest bonefish fly I've ever seen.

At first glance, the "Hot Tina" might not look like much, but even so, Sawyer asked me not to show the fly in a way that's too easy to copy. You see, he's the only man in possession of true Hot Tinas. More accurately, he's the only person in possession of the soft black hair used to tie them. It once belonged to a stunning Canadian model Sawyer met on the island. "Your hair would flow beautifully in a fly," he told her (good pick up line, by the way, fly guys). So the next time she got her locks cut, she mailed Sawyer the bag of trimmings and the Hot Tina was born.
Problem is, that was many years ago and the raw materials are running thin. Sawyer says he's been offered $100 for two Hot Tinas in the past and he refused to sell. I'll admit that the hair on these flies has a little bit different shimmy, and after tying one up, the next bone in my range suddenly decided not to track and turn away, or daintily peck the fly, but slurp it down like a vacuum cleaner and it was game on. I feel honored, because Sawyer only busts out one of these gems when the going gets really rough. Is that true? Who knows, but I dug the story. That's one of the coolest flies I've ever had a guide tie on for me. Seen anything that compares to the Hot Tina? - JC
Comments (27)
Did that hair come from Tina Turner? If it did, I can see why it is so hot. Lots of action on that fly.
I'm betting the hair on those things comes from his dog.
Great guide story though. It's all about fishing a fly with confidence and I'd say he got it to work for you...
Tina turner haha that's ajoke right? Elisha cuthbert is more like it
Tina turner haha that's a joke right? Elisha cuthbert is more like it
Elisha's a blonde, heretic...
Only if the collar and cuff's match duk ;D
Um, no I just can't suggest that thought. That would make it truly a triple X.
But human hair - what a brilliant and obvious idea. There's this really cute redhead ... just maybe.
I'd rather see a picture of the actual Tina than the fly anyway.
Your "hot tina" is a clouser tied with crystal flash and black calf hair. Sorry to break it to you JC but your super model fly came from a cow. Maybe you can rename it "Buttercup".
Maybe Tina was the cow's name?
buckhunter..It is a Clauser, but I don't think you can say the hair came from a cow. This has really got my commercial juices flowing. I use to tie commercially for a short period of time, and made about 50cents a fly. This business model may get me back into tying commercially again.
dukkillr,
Hair dye my friend.... Hair dye
those hairs taper awful quick....
Sorry guys. My previous post should read "calf tail" hair. Slightly curled, some stiffness and a good taper.
Maybe we should have a "name that hair contest". Separate the men from the boys. JC will post a fly and we guess the recipe. Winner gets a cameo appearance with JC in a future Hook-Shots.
Sayfy ~ Go for it, you tie...I'll buy.
Count, They won't come cheap! The hair I plan on using will come from an Italian lass of considerable note. I will have an enormous travel expense, and wining, and dining expense in order to secure the finest of material that will turn a huge, lazy buck fish into a raging mass of fury attacking the fly with reckless abandon. These would have to be Limited Addition flies as well. But I would also guarantee no "new and improved" versions.
Count,
And this may just get you to forget the cost, and place a generous order....those big bug eyes on the front of my fly won't be eyes.
Sayfu ~ I admire your instinctive business spirit, laced with the likelihood of an unlimited expense account.
When can I test drive? I think the appropriate test waters should be in Patagonia. But that's your call, of course! Still, those gi-normous sea going browns down there would be worthy of the "Sayfu Clouser."
Or, is the target species found only in the Bahamas?
JC ~ Your photo up top this page...reminds me of Dad's magazines. You know, the ones he never knew I looked at back in the 50's!
Or did he?
Homeless folks will sell their hair dirt-cheap. You can tell folks it came from someone famous, how the heck will they ever know? Just sayin'
Call em' the "hobo-cutter", I know, I know, I'm going to hades.
jbird..get serious. I am going to have the hottest of hot hair from a hair raising hottie. Flyfishing is all about having the edge, and my flies will have the ultimate edge. Think of those fly anglers out on the water having spent lots of time and effort to catch more fish than you, and now you have the edge over them if you have one of my flies on the end of your line.
sayfu...lighten up. You're gonna have to after your "celebrity hair flys" endeavor.
You know where this leads, right? The wholesale tasering of unsuspecting women on the street with the right hair color and the shaving their heads.
NYCflyangler, Interesting enough, I teach at our HS, and am known as the fly guy, and tell fly fishing stories in the classroom. I have often commented to girls that I could use a lock of their hair to tie a fly with.
That's just what I needed, a better pick up line while I'm in Afghanistan!
Best regards from Afghanistan!
Albert A Rasch™
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: Cleaning your Sleeping Bag!
I remember the day you created this fly, Rick.. Thanks again! Can't believe it's still around! Say 'hi' Leigh! Miss you guys.
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I'm betting the hair on those things comes from his dog.
Great guide story though. It's all about fishing a fly with confidence and I'd say he got it to work for you...
Your "hot tina" is a clouser tied with crystal flash and black calf hair. Sorry to break it to you JC but your super model fly came from a cow. Maybe you can rename it "Buttercup".
Did that hair come from Tina Turner? If it did, I can see why it is so hot. Lots of action on that fly.
Tina turner haha that's ajoke right? Elisha cuthbert is more like it
Elisha's a blonde, heretic...
Tina turner haha that's a joke right? Elisha cuthbert is more like it
Um, no I just can't suggest that thought. That would make it truly a triple X.
But human hair - what a brilliant and obvious idea. There's this really cute redhead ... just maybe.
buckhunter..It is a Clauser, but I don't think you can say the hair came from a cow. This has really got my commercial juices flowing. I use to tie commercially for a short period of time, and made about 50cents a fly. This business model may get me back into tying commercially again.
dukkillr,
Hair dye my friend.... Hair dye
Sorry guys. My previous post should read "calf tail" hair. Slightly curled, some stiffness and a good taper.
Maybe we should have a "name that hair contest". Separate the men from the boys. JC will post a fly and we guess the recipe. Winner gets a cameo appearance with JC in a future Hook-Shots.
Only if the collar and cuff's match duk ;D
I'd rather see a picture of the actual Tina than the fly anyway.
Maybe Tina was the cow's name?
those hairs taper awful quick....
Sayfy ~ Go for it, you tie...I'll buy.
Count, They won't come cheap! The hair I plan on using will come from an Italian lass of considerable note. I will have an enormous travel expense, and wining, and dining expense in order to secure the finest of material that will turn a huge, lazy buck fish into a raging mass of fury attacking the fly with reckless abandon. These would have to be Limited Addition flies as well. But I would also guarantee no "new and improved" versions.
Count,
And this may just get you to forget the cost, and place a generous order....those big bug eyes on the front of my fly won't be eyes.
Sayfu ~ I admire your instinctive business spirit, laced with the likelihood of an unlimited expense account.
When can I test drive? I think the appropriate test waters should be in Patagonia. But that's your call, of course! Still, those gi-normous sea going browns down there would be worthy of the "Sayfu Clouser."
Or, is the target species found only in the Bahamas?
JC ~ Your photo up top this page...reminds me of Dad's magazines. You know, the ones he never knew I looked at back in the 50's!
Or did he?
Homeless folks will sell their hair dirt-cheap. You can tell folks it came from someone famous, how the heck will they ever know? Just sayin'
Call em' the "hobo-cutter", I know, I know, I'm going to hades.
jbird..get serious. I am going to have the hottest of hot hair from a hair raising hottie. Flyfishing is all about having the edge, and my flies will have the ultimate edge. Think of those fly anglers out on the water having spent lots of time and effort to catch more fish than you, and now you have the edge over them if you have one of my flies on the end of your line.
sayfu...lighten up. You're gonna have to after your "celebrity hair flys" endeavor.
You know where this leads, right? The wholesale tasering of unsuspecting women on the street with the right hair color and the shaving their heads.
NYCflyangler, Interesting enough, I teach at our HS, and am known as the fly guy, and tell fly fishing stories in the classroom. I have often commented to girls that I could use a lock of their hair to tie a fly with.
That's just what I needed, a better pick up line while I'm in Afghanistan!
Best regards from Afghanistan!
Albert A Rasch™
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: Cleaning your Sleeping Bag!
I remember the day you created this fly, Rick.. Thanks again! Can't believe it's still around! Say 'hi' Leigh! Miss you guys.
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