Fly Tying: Beginner Predator Flies, Build-A-Beast

This is the final installment of the Beginner Predator Flies tying series. The Build-A-Beast program is a simple variation from Bob Popovics Beast Fleye combined with inspiration from Blane Chocklett's Game Changer flies. The result is an extremely light, easy casting fly that is more accessible behind the vise with the ability to fine tune weight and silhouette after completion!
Materials:
Hook: Ahrex TP610 6/0
Wire: Senyo's Intruder Trailer Hook Wire, sz. 6 and Larger. Or 0.018" Nylon Coated Stainless Steel
Tubes: HMH Large Rigid Tube - cut to .5/.75" length. 6-8 sections
Beads: Tyers Large Glass Beads
Weight: Large Tungsten Beads
Body: Bucktial
Flash: Polar Flash
Head: Strung Fuzzy Fiber
Crimp - sz 2 - 0.033" inner Diameter.....optional
Wiggle Fin Slide Lock Stopper Bead!

[@lylebeckwith8095]

So I'm glad to see that this was only posted 2 days ago...because I would have been kicking myself for not watching it sooner. Great video with great technique that already has me scheming additional ideas. Thank you!!!

[@eduardo-flyfishing4113]

One of the best fly tying videos I´ve seen so far! Thanks for sharing with us.

[@justinmcquaide4862]

Your tying skills are off the chart and your technic in how you design your flies is amazing !!!! You are head and shoulders above the rest can't wait to see what you come up with next !!! Thanks for sharing.

[@joeduca8582]

I just watched the swimming Popovics's BEAST Fleye and an "unseen" force touched the link to this. Man oh man what concept. I had no idea you tied the sections on tubes instead of mono like BP did. You're an amazing builder of better mouse traps Gunnar. Thanks a million!

[@RaptorzFishing]

great combo of those two styles!!! makes a super nice profile!!! man thats awesome!!!!! thumps up!!

[@borsey]

Absolute superb tutorial. You are in the upper echelon of teaching videos for sure. Keep up the great work as always Gunnar!

[@mikevincent5260]

This is absolutely genius. Taking one absolutely perfect pattern and making even more perfect. Unreal concept.

[@primeflycompany1780]

This is without a doubt, one of the pillars of the finest streamer fly design/tutorials out today. Thinking back to the most influential flies and tutorials, it was Kelly Galloup's Zoo Cougar, Tommy Lynch's D&D, Russ' Circus Peanut and Flash Monkey, Blane's GC....and THIS. And I understand Bob Pop created the pattern, but this tying system is genius. It has me completely rethinking Giant Trevally Flies, Golden Dorado flies, large Double Deceivers, etc.

[@timothywaller4806]

Gunnar, I stopped by and said hello at the NJ flyshow (I’m the blonde hair scientist) and I had said I was about to go say hello to Pops...to which you said he was one of your all time favorites...(and mine). This just blew my mind, I’ve been abstractly thinking of a way to change out components while in the surf using a platform and man-o-man this is it! THANK YOU! So exciting and thank you for constantly helping me and so many others. Really great work man!

[@tonyd.4457]

Grunner - Dude that was absolutely mind blowing. Thanks so much for sharing another Great tying video.

[@PowellGuide]

Gunnar, revolutionary variation. You're the best streamer tier out there. I'm excited to tie these for a Golden Dorado trip in February. Tarpon and other SW species are going to love this as well! The ability to customize tail length and color combo is a true game changer. Thank you for your design and talent.

[@richardherrington2852]

Another great tie! Different-- Unique... Opens up the door to numerous possibilities in design. Thank you for sharing.

[@joeschatz6617]

Not too shabby. You should consider taking up fly tyin as a hobby

[@pawelfiedorczuk]

Man my 🤯 blown - best video of 2018 in fly tying. Congratulations.

[@johnnylightning1491]

Gunnar, Gunnar, Gunnar, Ya did it again. AWESOME fly. I knew I got that tube fly stuff for Christmas last year for a reason. Keep up the good work!

[@eduardodosreis5589]

Wow. This is unique and very attractive in the water. Big companies might steal the concept 😲

[@JohanLindqvistPiketeaser]

Wow,You really took this pattern to the next level.Awesome.Thanks for sharing

[@josephkain8372]

This is an excellent video. Used a lot of hollows in Colombia last month. Couldn't find a fish that would not eat the beast.

[@RGRIMOWEN]

Great design expansion...keep on pushing

[@Stratollac]

That was terrifically done! Super informative tutorial, with clear techniques and a really brilliant idea for a versatile platform. Thanks for one of the best videos on the internet.

[@jayv7933]

Bro, this is incredible...

[@devlincatcher]

Superb, and great thinking throughout! I really learned a lot. The dubbing loop with Fuzzy Fiber at the end is something I enjoyed too. Great tips.

[@DONBGWEST]

The joy on your face when you heard your son was priceless! I can’t wait to try tying this.....it will test me for sure! At least if I fail, I only have to restart a section and not the whole fly! I’m wondering if biro tube would possibly work (the bit the ink goes in, not the tube housing lol)? Anyways, thanks for another amazing tutorial Gunnar! Tight lines buddy!

[@SolarfallBaits]

this is very cool, recently i had this very exact idea and to my disapointment i found that i was not the first to come up with this tube fly beast idea when a buddy of mine linked me to this video haha. Anyways great video i learned a ton of neat little things that i did not think of or considered innitially when i tied my tube beast.

[@gjsteinke]

Really enjoy your thought process.

[@StillwatersEdge]

This is the true game changer... Bravo! So impressive!!!!

[@lostfedexman]

Awesome man, love your thought process. Keep it up

[@Noname-dd6ly]

Very interesting flie! Have you an idea for add a little stringer in the middle of tubes for optimise pike's bites ? Thank you

[@SmallBoreOutdoors]

Stellar advice and such a helpful tutorial on a fly I struggle with. Thank you!

[@pikefly6173]

Hi Gunnar very cool idea Super Pikefly

[@fishingreporter2784]

Nice fly. I tried last night, It is difficult to do than what it looks like:)

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

The Infinite Fly Principal that you talked about in your previous streamer tying series is really incorporated in all your flies and even more so in this Build a Beast fly program. I have always enjoyed your thorough philosophical teaching style, even though I do enjoy Brian Wise's Flyfishing the Ozark speed ties, I enjoy both styles. I bet you could put a loop, a snap (for interchanging tails and following along the custom on the fly fly design) and a Wiggle Tail/Dragon Tail on the end of that BEAST or would that be too much water drag? Those Esox predators would scarf that down for sure.

[@Gunnar_Brammer]

For sure Forrest! When you go to Crimp the fly closed at the end of testing, you can simply double the wire back and run it back up the sleeve to create a loop which you could thread a Fastach snap or split ring to for additional rigging! Really appreciate it man!

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

@@Gunnar_Brammer yes that is exactly what I was thinking, just an added variant for you and others to try. You are quite welcome Gunnar, tight lines out there. I hope to see a vid of you hooking and landing a mondo pike or ski with that Beast. :)

[@fsilva52]

Great Gunnar, love it!

[@dwightfletcher8603]

Truly amazing video/fly.... 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣

[@RyanWaxman]

It’s awesome. Keep it coming man.

[@kentyler966]

From a guy who ties Stone Age lead head bass jigs. Wowzers....how long you been tying? What kind of high intensity small spot light do you use over your vise? Been looking for one but can’t find something that works.

[@markeisenhauer2927]

Love your videos! For a bunker beast fly, it needs to be thin bodied with wide profile. What prevents tube sections from rotating. Is the bottom tied more sparsely than the top for a "V" profile when looking straight on at the fly?

[@Tajapi]

Those beads in between the tubes are also a good idea. I did some tube Beasts a few years back with multiple pieces of tube on my the mono/wire but did not use beads in between. Did not like the end result of the tubes "spinning" freely on the mono/wire so cut that experiment short. Will have to give it another go with some beads in there.

[@Tajapi]

Good video. That stopper product would be a good solution to my tube Beasts also if I want them to have a changeable tail. Good stuff.

[@calem_watson_adventurer]

Whats a quality vise for someone looking to getting into fly tying? Will only be tying predator flies, no nymphs or dries. Willing to spend some money in order to get a quality product that will last. Thank you

[@crackerbat]

I really want to thank you, your videos have single-handedly got me hooked back into an art I abandoned over 20 years ago. Your "building the beast" video got me thinking.. What are your thoughts on using fly clips to make interchangeable tail sections on articulated flys?

[@hankvana2149]

WOW! Thanks Gunnar - this is awesome! Just in time for the winter fly tying season :-) Two questions... do you think that the .010 (12 pound) Knot2Kinky would work well for the body wire? and what weight rod would be needed for casting this fly? Cheers! Hank ... off to watch this again!

[@23powderhound]

Awesome. Where are you getting your tiny crimping sleeves?

[@MNSkeetFamily]

Holy smokes! Very cool idea.

[@crappygamertag6128]

Gunnar do you think this technique will also work for the BTD fleye?

[@gnarlsduceington]

Wow what a platform.

[@johnconnolly3635]

Great information,

[@mosshorn1966]

Amazing!!

[@huntingicon]

AWESOME! The possibilities are ENDLESS! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and understanding of fly design and development. I see a 3 tube, 6/0 bulkhead bluegill being ready for largemouth bass spawn in my future. Would you recommend changing colors via different colors of bucktail or would you color white bucktail after the tie?

[@thomasillenseer8881]

Greetings from Germany ! That is one of the best and innovative ideas i have ever seen. Thank you very much for sharing. What do you think about the possibility to add a wiggletail on the and of the last section?

[@militarist7777]

Крутой стримерок однозначно.

[@troyclifford4854]

Hey Gunnar. Amazing!!! How do you keep the sections from spinning on the wire?

[@mglennon5535]

Crazy good!

[@bugbiteflytying]

Super cool fly. Just ordered the Wigglefin stops. I have one question. Is that a special adapter on your vise to hold a tube? I have a tube tool but will that work for the short sections?

[@bugbiteflytying]

Yes, no,....maybe?

[@markBUMP]

How are those HMH vises? I'm in need of a good vice. But I think HMH is out of my price range

[@freddewfishing7611]

Mind is blown

[@seawolffishingadventures1284]

Very cool man!

[@Unkownsector]

What size diameter are the tungsten and glass beads that your using

[@valeartur]

👍Very nice. Thank you!👏

[@michaelglennon6056]

Respect!

[@mikeschaafsma7199]

qurious. what would be the cost for one fly? roughly.

[@paladin7284]

As a saltwater fly guy, this has me very excited. My first thought when I saw that fly was a 10 weight and blackfin tuna.

[@stewoutdoors3020]

Yep, from the salt side.

[@stewoutdoors3020]

Nice, very nice.

[@Zjudoransj]

Paladin728 I thought of a 7 weight and a nice Pike from around 120 cm

[@renepirrini9891]

Legend !!!

[@23KCOutdoors]

That’s a bute new sub here bro

[@r.taylor7293]

ill take five right away...please...thank you...lol

[@robertcornelius3514]

I so wish you guys would use a white backdrop rather than your plaid shirt. It would make seeing the fly so much easier.

[@Мухи-т2ш]

Мастер👍👍👍👍👍.

[@maikolpolloni8466]

È in vendita?

[@glennplatvoet7111]

We're do I get that

[@motorob94]

Legit!

[@henningradasewski6172]

You have a freaking water channel at home???