Brush fly
Also called saltwater brush fly, baitfish brush fly, synthetic brush fly
A brush fly is a saltwater streamer tied with a pre-made “brush” of fibers wrapped around the hook to form a full baitfish profile fast.
- Group
- Streamer patterns
- Category
- Flies & fly types
- Level
- Advanced
- Water
- Saltwater
Last updated
What Brush fly means
Instead of stacking clumps of bucktail or synthetic by hand, the body and head come from a brush: fibers trapped between twisted wire. The tier wraps that brush forward like chenille, then trims it into shape.
Most brush flies are baitfish patterns. They are commonly tied with synthetic fibers for bulk and translucency, and they often finish with large eyes and a tapered head. Weight varies by fishery: unweighted for shallow flats, bead-chain or lead eyes for more depth or current.
Why it matters on the water
A brush builds volume without adding much water weight. That changes how the fly casts and swims. It stays “big” in the water but tends to shed water on the back cast better than many dense hair patterns.
On the tying side, brushes make repeatable flies. Consistent density and taper matter in saltwater because small changes in bulk can change sink rate, how the fly tracks on a fast strip, and how it lands in skinny water.
Read next
- Clouser MinnowA weighted baitfish streamer with lead or brass eyes that make it ride hook-point-up. It’s used in fresh or salt water to imitate small fish and move quickly through current.
- EP flyA synthetic-fiber baitfish or shrimp-style streamer tied with EP-style fibers for a translucent profile that sheds water and holds its shape.
- Lefty's DeceiverA classic baitfish streamer tied with a bucktail tail and a long, tapered wing. It’s a standard saltwater pattern for imitating mullet, anchovies, and other small forage fish.
- Tube flyA streamer tied on a hollow tube instead of a hook. The hook is added separately on the leader, so the dressing can slide off the hook after the grab.