The Pink Thing.

The Pink Thing is a very popular fly for theconditions and fish species up here in North Queensland,especially the barramundi. It is very similar to a Whistler flyfrom the states, but has it’s own characteristics that stillset it apart. The Pink Thing was originally developed by GrahamWhite, from Darwin about seven years ago, and immediately became‘the’ fly for estuary species like barramundi, which itwas originally designed for.

It can be tied in a number of hook sizes, butthe most common sizes range from 1/0 to 3/0 hooks. Bead chaineyes are a trademark of the Pink Thing, although you can uselead/nickel eyes to add more weight to the fly for deeperpresentations. On the pattern tied for this edition, I have usedZonker strip (rabbit fur) for the head of the fly as this givesthe fly an enticing movement through the water. For dirty waterpresentations, it is better to use a pink hackle (spun) in itsplace as this will push the water and send a strongersignal/vibration.

When fishing the Pink Thing in estuarysituations, cast it up as close to the snags as possible and letit sink slowly for a few seconds (strikes here are very common),then move the fly in short slow strips, pausing between strips.It is important to fish it as close to the snags as possible asthis is where the fish usually sit, and by letting it sinkslowly, it then stays in the strike zone for a longer period oftime.

I have used this fly in both the fresh and saltwater with success in both situations, and now fish it in bluewater environments as well. So let’s have a look at thetying procedure.

Pink Thing recipe.

Hook: 1/0-3/0 Mustad 34007 or equivalent

Thread: Danvilles flat waxed nylon-pink.

Tail: White saddle hackles (6)

Flash: Pearl Flashabou, and rainbowCrystal Flash.

Body: White bucktail

Side hackles: Grizzly saddle hackles (4)

Collar: Pink zonker strip or pink saddlehackle

Eyes: Medium bead chain.

Tying procedure

		Firmly place the hook in the vice and crimp the barb. Fix the thread onto the hook shank and wind down to the bend. Tie in the hackles at a point just above the barb (see photo). If you are really particular, tie in 3 hackles on each side and slightly cross them, as this will give the fly an even more enticing swimming action. Otherwise, tie in the whole six hackles on top of the shank.

		Tie in the first small clump of bucktail just in front of the hackles and spin it around the shank. Tie in 3-4 strands of Pearl Flashabou on either side and trim these so that they are no longer than the hackles. This should bring the thread in line with the hook point. Be careful not to spin the bucktail all the way around the shank- it should cover 3/4 of the shank only, leaving the underside of the hook bare.

		Advance the thread further up the shank to a point half way from the eye to the bend of the hook and tie in a second small clump of white bucktail, and spin this 3/4 around the hook. On top of this, tie in 2 grizzly saddle hackles on each side of the fly, and then tie in 3-4 strands of rainbow Crystal Flash on each side, and trim to a length no longer than the bend in the hook.
		Fix the Zonker strip in place. Advance the thread up to the hook eye, and then wind the Zonker strip towards the eye. Tie down the Zonker strip when it is advanced up to a point just before the eye. Be sure to remember to wrap the zonker in the opposite direction to the thread.
		Fix the bead chain eyes on top of the hook with a few figure eight wraps and finish the fly with a whip finish.