Kate Smith with large brown trout. – photo by Ray Schmidt
This is Kate Smith with a big ol’ brown caught on my articulated streamer, the Death Ray. The fish was caught in the Rio Mañihuales River, Patagonia, Chile. Kate and Ray Schmidt are friends of mine from Michigan. They are the owners of Double SS Outdoors and are consultants to the Fly Fishing Industry. They are also Temple Fork Outfitters representatives.
Close up of fish with fly. – photo by Ray Schmidt
How this started was that I had just made an order for new FrankenFly hats at the end of the year and Kate and Ray ordered a couple, so I also threw in a couple of my Death Rays for them to use on their trip to Patagonia. Kate sent me these photos yesterday. It was awesome to see her smiling with a big brown trout she had just caught on one. Really AWESOME!!
wet Death Ray with FrankenFly hat – photo by Ray Schmidt
The rods Kate and Ray are using are a 7wt TFO BVK and an 8wt TFO Impact. The Impact is the new rod out from TFO and you can see a banner ad for it on the side here at FrankenFly. Just click the banner to find out more about that rod. I have a BVK and it is a great rod that has a good feel to it.
a wet Death Ray – photo by Ray Schmidt
Another thing I want to make note of is the split tail on the Death Ray streamer. These Split Tails are made by Pat Cohen and part of his Cohen’s Creatures line of products. They are available on his website Super Fly. Back in the beginning of 2016 Pat had asked me to test some of these tails and one of the flies I designed used this Split Tail. I did a review on them in the April 2016 issue of North 40 Fly Shop Emag. I did not plan to use any of the streamers I played with when testing the tails, but after fishing the split tail fly through the summer I fell in love with it. It became known as the Death Ray.
By the way, the head on the Death Ray is made from FrankenDUB Monster dubbing and then I trim it.
Congratulations to Kate Smith on a beautiful fish and I hope she and Ray continue to have a wonderful time in Patagonia!
-Paul
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- Black and Olive and Black and Brown Death Rays
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- chartreuse Death Ray
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- Cohen’s Split Tail sizes.
Paul,
Do you tie the tails in on top of the hook shank or on the side, do you have the recipe for the death ray? Love the article!
John Zydallas
Hi John,
I tie it on top of the hook shank.
I’m not ready to give away the recipe yet, but I will one day. Keep an eye out.
Thanks,
Paul
Lol, thanks for the info, I messaged Pat to get some split tails to try.
Awesome, sounds good! They are way cool!
Thanks,
Paul