I want to surprise my nephew with some flies but have no ideas about what patterns or sizes to tie. Since I’ve been tying for over 50 years there are no technical problems but I’ve been involved in fresh water stuff only. He fishes in the lower Hudson River for Stripers and Blues and this is where I’m seeking help. My concern is only about the tidewater area of the lower Hudson. Is anyone familiar with the area ? Thanks
Here’s a good list for you Ray
Some of my favorites are on this page
the Rhodie Flat Wing
Tabory Snake Fly
Buffy the Striper Slayer
Pamet Special
…all good choices
http://www.flyfishsaltwaters.com/flies.html
Hi Ray,
I don’t think that you can go wrong with an assortment of Deceivers and Clousers in different sizes and colors. Throw in a couple of surface poppers and you will have an assortment that will warm the heart of any bassman. Don’t forget to tie them on stainless steel hooks or the saltwater will make mincemeat of your tying efforts. If your still in doubt as what to tie, check the saltwater section of the Orvis web site for sizes, colors and recipes. Good luck! Given the price of saltwater flies, you should be putting a big smile on your nephew’s face. 8T 
Thanks for the reply Dudley. But would there be a difference between the patterns you might use in the surf and those used in a large slow moving tidal river ?
Ray,
In the surf, you’re looking for a fly that is large enough to be seen in the turbulent white water and also has enough mass (or weight) so that you can keep in contact with it.
“Matching the hatch” can be important too. Size, profile, action, and color in about that order.
In rivers, the fish still feed in the fastest water they can find. Places where the bait will be disoriented
They hold just out of the current much the same as a trout in a stream would. Seams, structure, drop offs…
My go-to flies are fairly large and have plenty of action, but you still need to be able to “match the hatch”. There’s a lot of shrimp in tidal rivers as well as sea worms along with the normal bait fish, both mature and immature.
Bait fish might include the different river herrings, silversides, mummichogs, sandeels, menhaden, mullet, anchovies,(locally known as rainbait) and a host of other fishes
I like bright colors and lots of flash for stained water and natural colors with a minimum amount of flash for clear.
Besides Clousers and Deceivers, I have done well with Enrico Puglisi baitfish flies in the Arkansas River for stripers.
Here’s a link to a tutorial for the fly http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/details.cfm?parentID=130
Steve