Top 8 New Saltwater Flies for 2025 from Fulling Mill USA

We’ve covered freshwater nymphs, streamers and dry flies in our 2025 fly announcements so far. Now, we’re diving into saltwater fisheries as we discuss the top 8 new saltwater flies for 2025. These new flies all come from New Signature Tyers for 2025: Ben Whalley, Mike Mitchell and Martyn White. Each are designers who have honed their saltwater fly patterns to fit specific fisheries, and specific species, whether that be permit or striped bass.

Mitchell’s Itchy and Scratchy

When we talked to Signature Tyer Mike Mitchell about this pattern, he had some great information to share about its history. He said: “the development of Itchy and Scratchy started as a carp fly around 2010. Having an addiction to saltwater flats fishing, something not available in Idaho, the closest parallel I could find was carp fishing. Here we have several reservoirs on and around the Snake River that hold carp. You will find flats at these locations where you can sight fish for tailing carp. The pattern was working well for carp. ‘If Itchy is working well for carp, why not bonefish?’ I asked myself.”

“2012 was the first year that I had taken Itchy and Scratchy to Belize and the results were fantastic. The bonefish loved it. In 2014 the Tan Itchy and Scratchy had hooked its first Permit. Testing was going really well! My guide, Abbie Marin, asked for all my leftover flies before leaving Belize. That was the moment when I realized Itchy and Scratchy was a great pattern. When a renowned guide like Abbie Marin wants your fly box that means something. He has seen and used so many patterns and he wants my flies. WHAT?!”

Needless to say, this pattern has become a staple for many bonefish and permit anglers. It’s a crittery/shrimp pattern that one can “swim” or “crawl”. It comes in two different weight options per color option, and 3 color options. Permit, bonefish, triggers, and many other species have fell victim to this fantastic pattern around the globe. This is a “must have” in your fly box!

Whalley’s Money Minnow

The Money Minnow from Signature Tyer Ben Whalley is an excellent unweighted minnow pattern. Due to it’s epoxy head and synthetic construction it’s extremely light to cast, yet holds perfect profile in the water. Also, because its so buoyant it hovers really effectively in the water and can be fished with a wide range of retrieve speeds, depending on what the fish want. While originally tied to fish for striped bass, you’ll be limiting yourself if you stop there. Ben says “Whether targeting blitzing striped bass in June, fishing albies in the fall or snook in the dock lights, this durable and flexible baitfish pattern grabs the attention of predators nearby.” We have fished it for smallmouth and largemouth bass with great success as well, and have had anglers use it for species such as rooster fish.

Kutzer’s Juvenile Delinquent

Signature Tyer Pete Kutzer’s Juvenile Delinquent is a fully synthetic, floating baitfish pattern. It can be stripped slowly on the surface, or popped to create a larger disturbance to attract fish. Pete originally tied this pattern for tarpon in the mangroves, but its success didn’t stop there. Pete says: “this fly has worked well for snook, striped bass, largemouth bass or anything that will take a topwater fly. And who doesn’t want to fish topwater?”

White’s The Other

Signature Tyer Martyn White tied this pattern to target picky bonefish, and other flats fish. Tied as a generalist pattern, White says it “imitates anything and nothing. It’s small, buggy and very edible. This suggestive bug is an absolute killer in skinny water for fussy bonefish, sweet lips and others.” While there are situations in which an extremely accurate, imitative pattern will work well, there are many situations where a fly that can be interpreted as a little bit of everything will be your best bet. When you don’t know what mood the fish are in, or what they’re eating, this is simple, non-intrusive, and looks like any manner of things they may be interested in. It’s one of those patterns that’s a go-to confidence fly when targeting fish in new water especially.

Whalley’s Champagne Shrimp

When we discussed this pattern with Signature Tyer Ben Whalley, he had some great info to share about the creation of this fly. Ben says: “the Champagne Shrimp came to be through many iterations in collaboration with my good friend Brendan Champagne. Stripers migrate up the coast each year to summer in the Gulf of Maine’s cool water (May-October), and during their seasons I keyed in on several expansive tidal flats where I observed stripers behaving more like redfish.”

“These fish would root around for shrimp and tail like redfish in under a foot of water. This unique situation can be really technical for anglers, requiring both accurate fly placement so the fish can see the fly, while landing soft to not spook the weary fish. And, it needs to remain snag proof throughout the retrieve. To accomplish these goals this pattern incorporates foam carapace and tungsten Avalon style keel weight tied on a 60deg jig hook.”

While the pattern has become one of his go-toes for striped bass, it has also proven itself for fish such as bonefish and redfish as well. Anywhere you find shrimp in these colorations this fly will perform well for you.

Mitchell’s Nipple

If the Itchy and Scratchy is Mike’s #1 confidence fly, the Nipple is a very close second. He says that “if Itchy and Scratchy is getting refused, it’s the next pattern I tie on for ‘shrimpy’ situations with permit. Bonefish are usually a given as well when it’s presented properly. If I see cruising permit, permit hanging with rays, and schooled up permit I will definitely throw an Itchy and Scratchy or a Nipple at them with no regrets. It’s a fly I have the utmost confidence in.”

Instead of the dubbed body, which is on the Itchy and Scratchy, the Nipple features a hard, epoxy coated body. This gives it a different sink rate, and a different profile in the water. This pattern comes in a range of sizes and colors, and is offered in weighted and unweighted versions.

White’s Trigger Warning

Signature Tyer Martyn White says that “despite the name, this one’s not just for triggerfish. It’s a buggy looking shrimp that’s packed with movement, even at rest. It can be bumped then allowed to sit for spooky species. Or, it can be stripped at speed to switch on aggressive trevally. This fly will catch just about anything on the flats.” It’s one of those patterns that just looks incredibly buggy, and again can cover a range of food items, which makes it a great generalist option.

Whalley’s Ben-Back

Another new pattern from Signature Tyer Ben Whalley, the Ben Back is a great baitfish pattern. It was originally designed to imitate the small bait that’s found on flats and in estuaries in Maine. However, Ben has fished it in other fisheries around the US and abroad and found that it works well as a baitfish just about anywhere. The body is wrapped with wire and it has a slim profile, so rest assured it sinks fast.

If you’d like to read about more of our new patterns for 2025, you can below:

• Nymphs
• Streamers
• Dry Flies

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