Muddler Minnows

Phil K · Jul 6, 2022

Buzzy said:
Fantastic! I look at these muddlers and flashback to Ferguson's Green and Silver*, these I have to try and tie (no chartreuse deer hair).

* In my early SRC fishing days, Ferguson's Green and Silver was my go to fly. Over the years that pattern has morphed many times to where I have a few dozen variations on the original recipe from Bruce.

No accident. the Green and Silver caught my first Rezzies decades ago, and it still works.

Scottp · Jul 6, 2022

Montana cutthroats seem to like Irish lough muddlers.

Regards,
Scott

SpeyrodGB · Jul 9, 2022

Scottp said:
Montana cutthroats seem to like Irish lough muddlers.

Regards,
Scott

That is a pretty piece of water. Not a bad looking fish and fly also.

iveofione · Jul 9, 2022

Forty years ago I learned how to tie muddlers from Bill McMillan and how to fish them from Mark Noble. During my steelhead years they were practically the only steelhead fly I trusted and caught 90% of my fish using the greased line technique. They were particularly good for fall steelhead.

I haven't tied or fished one in over 20 years but they were damned good when there was still steelhead around. My favorite memory of a muddler was fishing the Umpqua one summer and standing on a big rock to hit a slot on the far side of the river. After a few futile cast I finally got the hero cast I was looking for and put the muddler right in the heart of the slot. The reaction was instant and a massive steelhead hammered the fly after just a short drift. I felt the weight and power of the fish as it rolled on the fly and then felt the line go slack. I was sure the fish had broken the tippet but when I reeled in the hook was still there but the fish had somehow stripped all of the dressing off of the fly with nothing left but some gold tinsel and a tiny patch of tail.

O' Clarkii Stomias · Jul 9, 2022

iveofione said:
Forty years ago I learned how to tie muddlers from Bill McMillan and how to fish them from Mark Noble. During my steelhead years they were practically the only steelhead fly I trusted and caught 90% of my fish using the greased line technique. They were particularly good for fall steelhead.

I haven't tied or fished one in over 20 years but they were damned good when there was still steelhead around. My favorite memory of a muddler was fishing the Umpqua one summer and standing on a big rock to hit a slot on the far side of the river. After a few futile cast I finally got the hero cast I was looking for and put the muddler right in the heart of the slot. The reaction was instant and a massive steelhead hammered the fly after just a short drift. I felt the weight and power of the fish as it rolled on the fly and then felt the line go slack. I was sure the fish had broken the tippet but when I reeled in the hook was still there but the fish had somehow stripped all of the dressing off of the fly with nothing left but some gold tinsel and a tiny patch of tail.

I still fish the After Dinner Mint........a lot!

Dillon · Jul 11, 2022

The muddler was once my go to dry line summer steelhead fly, probably because my first fly hooked steelhead was on one.

DarrellP · Jul 14, 2022

iveofione said:
Forty years ago I learned how to tie muddlers from Bill McMillan and how to fish them from Mark Noble. During my steelhead years they were practically the only steelhead fly I trusted and caught 90% of my fish using the greased line technique. They were particularly good for fall steelhead.

I haven't tied or fished one in over 20 years but they were damned good when there was still steelhead around. My favorite memory of a muddler was fishing the Umpqua one summer and standing on a big rock to hit a slot on the far side of the river. After a few futile cast I finally got the hero cast I was looking for and put the muddler right in the heart of the slot. The reaction was instant and a massive steelhead hammered the fly after just a short drift. I felt the weight and power of the fish as it rolled on the fly and then felt the line go slack. I was sure the fish had broken the tippet but when I reeled in the hook was still there but the fish had somehow stripped all of the dressing off of the fly with nothing left but some gold tinsel and a tiny patch of tail.

Thanks for bringing up Mark Noble. I just found a photo of him with my daughter from a fishing trip. I learned a lot from Mark.

Tom Butler · Aug 28, 2022

Dave Hughes says a muddler daddy is a good August, September fly. I really trust his guidance. It's been great for me.

Zak · Aug 28, 2022

Tom Butler said:
Dave Hughes says a muddler daddy is a good August, September fly. I really trust his guidance. It's been great for me.
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View attachment 29532

If you tie on 6-8 of the PT legs, 3-5 of them will still remain after getting chewed on by multiple trout.

Tom Butler · Aug 28, 2022

Zak said:
If you tie on 6-8 of the PT legs, 3-5 of them will still remain after getting chewed on by multiple trout.

I have noted they go quick. I saw fly fish food has them pre knotted so i won't be so scotch adding them.

Mr Trout · Aug 28, 2022

wanderingrichard said:
So, could we call your variation a Blunt Faced Muddler ?

Call it Pugsley Minnow? lol

Zak · Sep 16, 2022

This "fly of the month" muddler variation looks good (if not quite as versatile because you can't squeeze water into it and fish it wet). I'd probably swap out the CDC for snowshoe foot, so I can use Gink.