Atlantic Menhaden (Marine)
Clupeiformes Clupeidae Brevoortia tyrannus

Maximum Size: 20”
Shape: Deep-bodied
Suggested Hook & Size: Mustad 33909 #1/0 - #14
Thread: Gray 8/0 Uni-thread

Tail: Pearl Green Hanked Lite-Brite
Tail Fin: Clear
Body: Silver Bodi-Braid
Eye & Insert: Silver Spirit River, Real Eye with Priz Silver 3-D Molded insert
Lower Side: Pearl Green Hanked Lite-Brite
Upper Side: Pearl Green Hanked Lite-Brite with Silver Hanked Lite-Brite over with 6 or 8 small Black Prismacolor Pen spots starting at the shoulder and continuing toward the Caudal fin

Snout Color or Change Thread: Silver
Belly or Stomach: Pearl Green Hanked Lite-Brite
Dorsum or Back: Silver Hanked Lite-Brite with Minnow Blue Hanked Lite-Brite sparsely over
Head Color: Parrot Green Prismacolor Pen lightly
Cheek & Chin Color: Pearl Green

Pectoral Fins: Clear
Anal Fin: Clear
Pelvic Fin: Clear
Dorsal Fin: Clear

Colored Markers: Black Prismacolor Pen for 6-8 spots starting at the shoulder, behind and slightly above the eye and continuing on toward the Caudal Fin, each spot becomes lighter as they progress toward the Caudal Fin: Parrot Green Prismacolor Pen for Head (lightly)
Tying Notes: None

Distribution: Found on the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Florida.
Habitat: Occurring in bays and estuaries, sometimes moving into brackish or freshwater.
Spawning Period: Spawn in saltwater in January and February.
Spawning Habitat: Open sea.
Important Notes: In the spring, summer and fall, young-of-the-year, sub adults, and adults regularly enter the freshwater rivers along the Atlantic Coast. How far the Atlantic Menhaden penetrates the rivers was not found in my research material.