Mystery Fly Challenge: Two Tyers, One Box, No Rules

At The Saltwater Edge, we love a good challenge—and this one had us reaching deep into the fly-tying bench and our creativity. Introducing the Mystery Fly Challenge, where two skilled fly tyers are given a box of random materials, a target species, and a fishing date—with no time to plan. The mission: build an effective saltwater fly on the fly.

The Setup

For this inaugural Mystery Fly showdown, the rules were simple:

• The tyers (Coby Goodrich and Devin Donahue) couldn’t see the materials ahead of time.

• They were given a prompt: “Target species: Striped Bass. Date: May 14th.”

• Using only what’s in the mystery box, they had to craft a fishable fly, explaining their thought process along the way.

Why May 14th Matters

In Southern New England, mid-May is a transitional period. Stripers are moving through estuaries and rivers, chasing baitfish like juvenile herring, squid, and worms. Fish can be finicky—sometimes full from feeding, sometimes aggressive. The fly needs to do it all: attract attention, trigger a bite, and hold up to multiple fish.

Coby’s Fly: Squid-Minnow Hybrid

Coby dove right in, choosing a size 1/0 Umpqua Tarpon 415H hook and building a slim-profile fly with:

• White bucktail (reverse/hollow tied)

• A touch of pink feather for contrast

• Flash brush for subtle shimmer

• Laser dub to finish the head and add bulk

His design leaned into movement and silhouette—something reactive a striper could slurp down without thinking. “Small minnow, big fish,” he explained. “They’re full in May and picky. You need something they’ll just react to.”

Devin’s Fly: Durable Early-Season Bunker Imitation

Devin took a structured approach, building the fly from tail to head. Key materials:

• Bucktail and flash for the tail

• Ripple ice and translucent brush for body and bulk

• Stacked laser dub for the head

• A subtle veil of natural fiber for contrast

The result? A fly that mimics a juvenile herring or peanut bunker with a high-durability profile, perfect for early season. “I wanted a fly that would push water, stand up to a dozen fish, and still fish well,” Devin said.

Key Takeaways

Despite having no prep time, both tyers produced fishable patterns by relying on core tying principles:

• Proportion and silhouette matter more than perfection

• Use flash and color sparingly, especially in cold or clear water

• Early-season flies don’t have to be big, just believable

They also proved that you don’t need fancy materials to tie effective flies. Ingenuity and understanding your quarry go a long way.

Watch the Full Video

👉 Click here to watch the Mystery Fly Challenge on YouTube

If you enjoyed this concept and want to see more episodes—or want to be part of a future Mystery Fly showdown—let us know in the comments or shoot us a message.