Category Archives: Streamers

October 7, 2013

Mickey Finn

The Mickey Finn was originally tied by Quebec fly tier Charles Langevin sometime in the 19th century. But it did not go by that name until John Alden Knight popularized the pattern. Knight and his fishing partner originally named the pattern The Assassin after hauling in a large number of fish one day. But a newspaper columnist named the pattern Mickey Finn and then Knight went on to give it even more publicity.

Way back in 1903 a bartender in Chicago named Mickey Finn was using knockout drops in customer’s drinks to incapacitate them and rob them. This became a general name of lacing drinks with drugs. This is where the name comes from. Anyway, the name stuck and it is still a very popular classic streamer pattern.

Hammer Creek Fishing recently produced a video on how to tie this classic streamer.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Classic, Step by Step, Streamers

September 30, 2013

Brian Wise fly tying video – Nick Granato’s Chubby Muffin

Brian Wise of Fly Fishing the Ozarks has released a new fly tying video. This time he covers an articulated version of Nick Granato’s Chubby Muffin. Brian mentions that it’s a GREAT Sculpin pattern!

Recipe:

Rear Hook – TMC 9394 #4
Flash – Flashabou (Multi-Colored)
Body – Ice Wing Fiber
Wing – Rabbit Strip

Front Hook:
Hook – Gamakatsu B10s
Eye – Real Eyes
Body – Ice Wing Fiber
Gills – Red Schlappen
Pectoral Fins – Partridge
Wing – Rabbit Strip
Head – Craft Fur Brush (marked with PrismaColor Markers)

Leave a Comment

Filed under Step by Step, Streamers

September 10, 2013

Flies Around The Net – 9-10-2013

The Articumite #6 Black – John Collins

Rubber Leg D Rib Golden Stone Nymph – Carl Pennington

Red Flux Capacitor – Hopper Juan Ramirez

Rainbow – John Collins

Copper St. Francis – Steve Silverio

Chad’s Tarpon Shrimp – Chad Miller

Brown Ghost – Stephen Cullen

Anchovy – Michael McAuliffe

#20 Footprint Dun – Andy Baird

Leave a Comment

Filed under Classic, nymphs, Saltwater, Streamers, Trout flies

September 3, 2013

Bullhead – Dave Lindsay (McFluffchucker)

Dave is a fly tyer from Scotland and his tying caught my eye a few years ago. His baitfish patterns are some of the best I’ve seen. He does a lot of pike fishing. You can read all about McFluffchucker’s adventures on his blog. Now I’ll let Dave tell you more about the Bullhead fly pattern.

Bullheads are an amazing fly. They work just like glidebaits, when stripped, deadly. The trick with tying these is all about getting the head shape and weight right. I used to make these exclusively with EP Fiber but now I make them with Deer Creek’s Gliss and Glint. Plus this is due to the fact I can get a far better body shape and the flash is built in, saving a fair amount of time making them. Here’s the recipe:

Hook- 6/0 wide gaped hook
http://www.spanglefish.com/hookeyeandfly/index.asp?pageid=391193
Thread – phantom thread or clear mono
http://www.spanglefish.com/hookeyeandfly/index.asp?pageid=439524
Body – gliss and glint plus perch (or colour your choice)
http://www.deercreek.co.uk/DEER-CREEK-MATERIALS.html
Varnish – a touch clear varnish
http://www.deercreek.co.uk/RESIN-S-AND-GLUE-S.html
Glue – croc glue (the toughest glue on the plane)
http://www.deercreek.co.uk/RESIN-S-AND-GLUE-S.html
Eyes – 8mm hard eyez
http://www.spanglefish.com/hookeyeandfly/index.asp?pageid=403155

Go here for a full step-by-step of the Bullhead pattern.
http://mcfluffchucker.blogspot.com/p/latest-step-by-step.html

Leave a Comment

Filed under Pike, Streamers

August 29, 2013

Hunkering’ down in the bunker…

far from the tourist gridlock…

Pete Gray sent me a few more photos of some flies he’s been working on. If you missed the last post about Pete, you can find it here. Here is the latest…

they all seem to start off like this…

and then…

Leave a Comment

Filed under Streamers

August 28, 2013

Jawbreaker streamer – Theo Anest

I’m a fan of bass streamers, because I love bass, period. This streamer caught my eye and it’s called the Jawbreaker. Theo Anest of Colorado created this one. The reason bass will love it is because of its jigging action with a lot of movement added by rubber legs and a curly tail. Here is Theo showing how to tie it. The fly is sold by Solitude Fly Company.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Largemouth, Smallmouth, Step by Step, Streamers

August 21, 2013

Slinky Pike Fly – Ari Tonteri

Ari Tonteri demonstrates how to use Slinky Fibre to tie a nice pike fly. This same method can be used to tie a smaller baitfish style pattern for bass and trout as well. Slinky Fibre is made by Just Add H20 Products. Some other products that would be similar to use are Enrico Puglisi Fibers Se and Spirit River Sea Hair.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Pike, Streamers

August 19, 2013

Brian Wise video – Nick Granato’s Ghetto Tramp

The second fly in the Nick Granato Series…..The Ghetto Tramp. Built on a 3-5/0 platform, this large streamer is the real deal. Obviously a musky based fly, this thing can also be stepped down in size to chase anything that eats.

Brian Wise’s website:
http://flyfishingtheozarks.com/

Nick Granato’s website:
http://flyobsession.com/

Recipe:
Hook – Gama Rubber Worm Hook
Tail – Farrar’s Flash Blend
Flash – Flashabou
Over Tail – Farrar’s Flash Blend
Flash – Flashabou
Body – Polar Chenille
Wing – Peacock Herl
Rubber Legs – Bass Skirt
Head – Ostrich Herl (palmered)
Eyes – Clear Cure Goo Eyes
Topped off with CCG Thick and CCG Hydro.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Streamers

August 19, 2013

Griz’s “Thumper” Minnows

Hooks: Mustad 3366 – Sizes 8, 6, 4, 2, & 1/0
Tail: Blood Marabou – (See Below for Colors)
Flash: Krystal Flash – (See Below for Colors)
Rib: 26 Gauge Red Wire
Body: Rabbit fur cut off of rabbit hides – (See Below for Colors)
Eyes: Red Eyes – Bead Chain or Lead Eyes (on top of the hook shank, Clouser style)

Tail	Krystal Flash	Body
White	Yellow or Pearl	White
Pink	Pink or Red	Pink
Purple	Pearl	Purple
Peach	Copper	Peach

I designed this fly after the Twister Tail Grubs they use in Spin casting. A tying tip for the eyes on this fly; I use only red eyes. So when I get the bead chain eyes I paint them with Sally Hanson’s Cherry Red Nail Polish. And either I buy the lead eyes painted red, or I will paint those also. If you’re using bead chain eyes, you may want to put a piece of weight (.015) on top of the hook shank, to help aid in keeling the hook over. I have tried this fly with different color eyes and wire, but the best luck I have had is with both of them being red.

schottsielogo

Leave a Comment

Filed under Streamers

August 17, 2013

New flies by Rich Strolis

Rich is on his way to ending the year with a bang! Rich explains some of his new offerings.

These flies are just a spin off of Brad Bohen’s Hangtime minnow, articulated of course. They come in at roughly a foot long and utilize reverse tied buck tail, a technique popularized by the Bob Popovics. Very durable, and swim like you’ve never seen. Colors are endless as you can tell. I’ve gotten the pike bug lately, and I have been playing with some 1/2 and 1/2 patterns using icelandic sheep in the rear of the flies as it swims and breaths like crazy (more on those in the weeks to come).

Expect to see some similar patterns that will fit into the trout category utilizing these materials and techniques shortly. I also have a new spin off of the crayfish, called the head case crab mostly due in part to a long conversation with Tim Flagler at Tightline Productions. And lastly, the Juggernaut is officially released as well. All of these are available in the newly updated fly store

http://catching-shadows.goodsie.com/

If anyone has some customizations in regards to colors or what have you, there is a new contact section on the store where they can do so.

http://catching-shadows.goodsie.com/contact