Some days, no matter what you throw, the fish just won’t bite. The water is cold, the runs are slow, and you start to wonder if anything will bite. That’s when having a versatile, lifelike baitfish pattern can turn your day around. The Code Breaker is designed for those exact moments. It’s an imitation that looks natural in the water, carries just the right amount of flash, and holds up to hours of casting.
This pattern works for a variety of species and situations. It can mimic everything from spotfin shiners and chubs to steelhead fry in the spring. With a few small tweaks, it can be fished for smallmouth bass in summer or migratory fish when the temperatures drop. In this article, we’ll break down how to tie Kevin Feenstra’s Code Breaker Fly step-by-step, from the materials you’ll need to the exact method used to bring this productive fly to life.
Materials You Will Need
- Hook: #10 Daiichi 2461
- Shank: Short or long shank
- Tail: Grey olive craft fur, yellow ice dub, shrimp pink ice dub
- Shoulders: Mallard spey
- Wing: Kreelex, blue ripple ice fiber
- Flash: Wide flash
- Collar: Large mallard feather or other large spey hackle
- Head: Bead chain eyes
Code Breaker Fly Tying Instructions
1. Prepare the hook and eyes
Cover the hook or shank with thread to create a solid base. Position bead chain eyes about one-third of the way back from the hook eye. This placement helps form a triangular head shape, much like a natural baitfish.
2. Add the tail core
Tie in a braided loop about four inches long with a knot at the back. This knot may not be the prettiest feature, but it adds strength and keeps the fly from failing after a hard take. Secure it with thread wraps and a small drop of glue.
3. Add flash to the tail
Use Easter basket flash or lateral scale. Cut it at an angle, fold it over, and tie it in so it resembles a baitfish tail in the water.
4. Build the main tail
Tie in a section of grey olive craft fur. Leaving it slightly uneven adds movement in the water. In front of that, dub a small section of yellow ice dub to create contrast and bulk.
5. Add the shoulders
Tie in a mallard flank feather behind the eyes. This flares the flash outwards and adds a realistic shimmer when the fly moves.
6. Add the wing flash
In front of the first feather, tie in blue UV ripple ice fiber or UV crystal flash. These subtle reflective fibers make the fly stand out just enough to catch a fish’s attention.
7. Create the collar
Tie in a second, larger mallard flank feather and wrap it forward in open spirals toward the eyes. Keep the wraps evenly spaced for a balanced profile.
8. Form the head
Blend shrimp pink ice dub with the yellow already in place, starting with a thicker clump at the back and tapering forward toward the eyes. This pink-and-yellow combination is highly effective for both steelhead and smallmouth.
9. Finish with the top flash
Lay a strip of Kreelex or pearl flash over the top of the fly, folding it so it covers both the top and bottom. This completes the baitfish silhouette. Secure everything with thread, trim excess fibers, and add a drop of glue to lock it all in.
Learn More from Kevin Feenstra
If you want to take your baitfish fishing to the next level, you can learn directly from the source. Renowned guide and author Kevin Feenstra shares his expertise in a 54-chapter Anchored Outdoors course that covers how, when, where, and why to fish baitfish, as well as how to tie them. It’s packed with insight for anglers of all skill levels. Check it out today!
