The Bendback is a versatile fly pattern popularized in the 1970s by my old friend, veteran Florida angler Chico Fernandez. It is still one of my favorite go-to fly patterns and always has a place in my fly box anywhere I travel. It originated as a simple, effective fly that has many positive attributes when tied correctly. The original pattern was tied on an already bent Bendback hook with a chenille body, bucktail wing, side hackles, and painted eyes. It was a fairly sparse fly, fished primarily in shallow water for bonefish and other flats species such as snook, redfish, sea trout, and baby tarpon. The early versions of the original Bendback represented a small shrimp or baitfish and was created to be fished weedless when stripped over eelgrass or through mangrove roots.
A Bendback style fly should always swim true, with the hook riding facing up. This is accomplished by using natural wing materials such as bucktail or calf tail, which have hollow fibers that trap air and are buoyant. This hollow wing keeps the hook in the upright position. The bushy wing, tied past the hook point, also covers and protects the hook, helping make the fly weedless.
These natural materials shed water, which makes the pattern easy to cast and allows the fly to land softly and not spook fish, another positive attribute when fishing in shallow water. Tying Bendbacks on long-shank hooks gives enough room on the added bend to secure the materials while also providing adequate distance between the hook point and the bent-up section to let the hook penetrate when the fish takes and the angler strikes. Never tie these flies on short-shank hooks, or you will have a difficult time getting a positive upper-lip hook set.
I love the history of fly fishing, and I enjoy paying tribute to early fly patterns that still get the job done. The Betta Bendback is a celebration of the Bendback style fly. I tried to take the natural baitfish profile of a Lefty’s Deceiver’s and turn it upside down, achieving a more realistic, weedless fly. The only real change in the Betta Bendback is that I bend the hook toward the point, similar to a jig hook, but only at a slight, 40-degree angle, instead of the traditional bend in the other direction. I also add some folded lead directly under the shank. I use solid synthetic materials below and around
the sides of the shank to fill in the baitfish belly of the fly and to help hide the wrapped lead. Retaining all the hollow materials on top of the shank still allows the fly to ride hook up
The Betta Bendback recreates the proportions of a full baitfish — you can decide how wide or slim a profile you want. Every fly you tie is a snowflake, and each will swim slightly differently. That is why I always try out my flies prior to fishing them. Only if they swim true and perform correctly do they go in the fly box. Have fun tying a few in your favorite colors and catch that trophy you were looking for.
Materials
Hook: Daiichi X472 long shank, size 2
Thread: Red Danville 210, and clear mono thread.
Underweight: 1/4-inch length of folded lead, flattened at both ends and shaped to flow smoothly into the hook shape
Belly: Any light synthetic material to veil the lead
Main wing: Dark bucktail over light bucktail
Flash: Rainbow Krystal Flash or Flashabou to match color of baitfish
Wing hackle: One long grizzly hackle tied flatwing style on top
Wing topping: Rainbow Krystal Flash, then dark bucktail
Side hackles: Two small hackles, one on each side
Eyes (optional): 1/4-inch Tab Eyes
Head cement: Zap CA Thin
Tying Steps for Q’s Betta Bendback
1. Place the hook in the vise and bend it up about one-quarter of an inch from the eye at a 40-degree angle.
2. Place folded lead directly under the shank and bind down with Danville 210 thread. Secure the wraps with Zap CA Thin cement.
3. Switch the tying thread to clear mono. Form the underbelly of the fly by tapering a section of EP Fibers, SF Blend, or any solid synthetic material. Manipulate it with your fingers and thread tension so it wraps from side to side and under the fly, leaving the reverse side of the shank bare for bucktail.
4. Tie in the first wing section, a sparse amount of bucktail slightly longer than the underbelly, on top of the hook shank and secure it with Zap CA Thin cement.
5. The second section of bucktail fibers should be longer and determines the length of the fly. Again, tie it directly on top of the hook.
6. Tie in one long grizzly hackle flatwing style and top with rainbow Krystal Flash.
7. Tie in a section of darker bucktail the same length as the first wing section in Step 4.
8. Add the side hackles, one on each side. Tab Eyes are optional. Coat all wraps with Zap CA Thin cement and go fishing.
Q Tip
If you want your Bendbacks to sink a little deeper and make some noise, prior to using a Nonslip Mono Loop to tie your fly to the leader, slide a few tungsten beads onto the tippet. They will clatter and help sink the fly on the strip. I use this technique at night when fishing for calico bass.
— Al Quattrocchi