The AF (Arctic Fox) Baitfish is a super simple, quick pattern to tie and this style of pattern, mainly tied with bucktail, has been around for decades. Highly effective!
Prior to the synthetic tying material boom of the early 1980's saltwater patterns for the Puget Sound salmon and searun cutthroat involved bucktail and long shank, stainless steel hooks to imitate small herring, smelt and sandlance (commonly called candlefish). Although polar bear was still somewhat available bucktail was the staple and could be found at any of the local chain stores.
I don't remember if I saw a few local patterns tied with arctic fox or read about it, but I do recall one year our state fair having arctic fox key chains for arcade prizes! I must have spent a hard earned $50 in paper route money trying to collect various colors!
For smaller baitfish patterns up to 2 3/4-inches arctic fox is an ideal hair. It doesn't flair, compresses well, possesses excellent movement in the water and comes in numerous colors. I feel it is a little stronger that bucktail, too. Arctic fox (tail) can be purchase in a ring, 1/4 tail, 1/2 tail or whole tail. Small patches of body hair is available, but the guard hair is much softer than the tail and is better suited for wings on trout and steelhead pattern. The best and longest hair comes from the nape (back of the neck), but you'll need to buy a whole pelt to obtain this area.
Color combinations are numerous, but standard Pacific salmon colors such blue over white, green over white, olive over white, chartreuse over white and pink over white have been staples for decades in the Puget Sound. Some of my favorite color combinations are purple over fl blue over white, Purple over pink over white, green over pink over white and a thin amount of green over a thick amount of olive over white. A topping of peacock herl finishes every AF Baitfish.
Materials:
Hook: Saltwater, short shank, sizes 1-4 (Gamakatsu SC15, size 4 pictured)
Thread: 6/0 Black
Belly: White arctic fox
Wing: White arctic fox tied slightly longer than belly. Followed by a slightly longer wing of chartreuse arctic fox.
Topping: 5 to 10 peacock herls taken from the eye
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