Tom L

One of my favorite spots on the Fox River has a long beautiful deep run. The main current tongue extends about 150 yards downstream. The head of run consists of several large boulders 2’-3’ in diameter and mixed of bowling ball size rocks. The current here is always swift. Those boulders are still slightly submerged now, with the drought that we are experiencing. Current boils, eddies and deep pockets formed below those large boulders.

I have had good success fishing the current tongues and the seams of this run. But it had been a big dilemma fishing the head, where those boulders are. I had tried reaching the pockets from upstream, but the current was always too fast. My fly sank only a few inches. I couldn’t get it down deep enough to the fish. I had tried from the sides, but the conflicting currents prevented my fly from getting good drifts. Also, I had tried from downstream casting into those pockets, but my fly snagged the bottom every single time. Frustrated, I waded into the spot to knick my fly off the bottom. One or two fish would usually leap out of the water. That was how I discovered that there were always a few fish holding in those pockets.

About 3 weeks ago, after fishing the current tongues and seams I was determine to catch those fish in the pockets. All my previous fail attempts had been casting into the pockets from distances away. The closest had been about 20 feet. I had to do something different this time. So, I approached the area from a side and slowly waded into a casting position that was about the rod length, about 9 feet. With only 11’ of leader out of my rod tip and a heavy weighted streamer (a Clouser minnow), I made a short 45 degrees upstream cast into the boil behind the first big boulder. I allowed the fly 2 seconds to sink and slowly guided it (dragged it) downstream with a tightline. Right away, a 14” smallmouth took the fly. I worked the spot a few more casts with the same presentation and got another 13” smallmouth. I repeated the same presentation at other pockets in the area and was able to pick up a few more fish. Since then, I had repeated the same technique at the spot with pretty good results. Those fish that held in the pockets were not very big around 12”-14”, but they were very hard fighters.

I think a trout guy would call this “Pick Pockets with European Nymphing technique”. But since I was doing it with a streamer, so I called it “Pick Pockets with ISA Streamering technique”.

What would you call this or these Clousers?

I once used raccoon tail and it was called Crockett Clouser.

Has anyone ever used Marabou Clousers for smallies?

A few weeks ago, I started organizing my steelhead flyboxes for the up coming Fall run and found some Marabou Clousers in there. With good success fishing the Marabou Muddler this year, so I threw some of M-Clousers in my smallie flybox. The last few outings, this fly had produced wonderful smallies for me.

Give it a try, if you have not done so. Good luck.....

Lately, the Elwha River has been mentioned often in magazines and news. This is a wonderful documentary film about undaming the Elwha. Make me wondering what the Fox River would be liked if all the dams are gone.

Great write up Jonn. Where can we get a copy?

Oh! Almost forgot to mention this. Debarb the hook on this fly. Fish tend to swallow it deep.

I like that flashy midsection though.

The original Muddler has the flashy midsection or the mylar body. I wanted to keep the fly close to the original. I also think the added body flash make the fly more visible from below looking up. That is where most of the fish see it first, since the fly tend to swim high in the water column.

Tom and Tim,

what does the sparse bucktail add to the fly? Just curious.

The purpose of the bucktail is to minimize fouling of the Flashabou and Marabou tail on the hook. A lot of salt water flies used this technique.

WHITE MARABOU MUDDLER

Hook: Daiichi 2546, Size# 2

Thread: White Ultra GSP 100 Denier

Tail: White Bucktail, Silver Flashabou (approx. 10 strands), White Marabou

Body: Silver Mylar Tinsel

Wing: Gold Flashabou (approx. 10 strands), White Marabou

Head: White Deer Hair (spun & clipped)

TAN MARABOU MUDDLER

Hook: Daiichi 2546, Size# 2

Thread: Tan Ultra GSP 100 Denier

Tail: Tan Bucktail, Gold Flashabou (approx. 10 strands), Tan Marabou

Body: Gold Mylar Tinsel

Wing: Silver Flashabou (approx. 10 strands), Tan Marabou

Head: Tan Deer Hair (spun & clipped)

There are many variations of the Marabou Muddler out there. This is my version of this famous fly and it has been working very well on the Fox River for me.

I’ve found that the best way to fish this fly is to swing it, greased-line swing. Basically, you just cast across or down-and-across and let the currents swing the fly downstream and follow the fly with your rod tip. This will present the fly broadside to the fish. Once the fly has straightened directly downstream pause a few seconds (let the fly hangs in the current) before stripping the fly upstream. Be ready to set the hook. The hit can come at any moment in the swing and usually with only a little tap on the line. Often times, the hit also occur during the hang downstream.

You can fish it with a floating line or sinking tip line. If fish with a floating line, the fly will swim just under the water surface. To get it further down in the water columns, add split shots about 24” above the fly. Or in my case, I preferred a tandem flies rig. I use a weighted fly such as a Clouser Minnow or a Foxy Crawdad instead of split shots as the lead fly and attach the Marabou Muddler about 24” behind.

White and Tan are my favorite colors for this fly. You can also attach eyes to the fly. It will make the fly looks more attractive and will catch more fishermen, but it makes no deference to the fish.

Good luck.

Thanks everyone. Like I said, I'm no poet. The baffles were just random thoughts in middle of the night when one had too much coffee. I'm happy to be just a fisherman. I'm a fisherman. No Doubt......

I started re-reading Norman MacLean's "A River Runs Through It" a few days ago. One of the passage in the book has always been my favorite. Where it said "It is an art that performed in a four-count rythm between ten and two o'clock". Some how after reading that this time, it really stucked in my head.

Last night in the middle of the night, these just popped into my head. I'm not a poet, but I thought they sounded pretty good. So I thought I'd share them with you all.

If Flyfishing is an Art,

Am I an artist? or

Am I a fisherman?

Maybe I'm both.

I am an artist fisherman.

I brush the sky with my rod.

I carve the river with my line.

I fool the fish with my fly.

I am an artist.

I am a fisherman.

I am an artist fisherman.

Maybe I had read these somewhere. Somehow they just popped in my head.

Let me know what you all think. Thanks....

It was great to get out and meet some of members. Liked Ron, I was really impressed by Orvis Hydros and how light that rod was. The BVK was another powereful rod that could really throw line. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to try out some of the switch rods. Had to leave early to get to work. Thank John and those that organized the C&C.

Ron, tried some stripping guards on the fingers. Since I started to use them, I lost less fish. You'll lose some sensitivities, but that is the trade off.

That must have felt really good to catch fish on your own hand tied flies. My first was a Wooly Bugger. Add that to your fly box in black, white, olive, and brown. They'll serve you well.

Saw this video on the MidCurrent site. I thought some of you may enjoy this.

OK. Finally, I had decided. We will call this fly: FOXY CRAWDAD

Here are the thoughts went into it:

Foxy - I like this word, a suggestion from Tim A. It is a tribune to the Fox River, where this fly was born and tested. The fly also looks kind of foxy, because of its' long pointy noise, the dumbbell eye, and the hackle collar.

Whistle - I wanted to include this word in the name, but after a long hard thought I decided not to. The reason is that although I started out tying John Barr's Meat Whistle at first, but I slowly modified and changed the materials on the fly so much that the only original materials from the Meat Whistle left on the new fly was the rabbit strip.

Crawdad - This fly imitates a crawdad, a crawfish, or a crayfish.

So, Foxy Crawdad is the name. Again, thanks everyone. That was fun......

Nice tyes John.

I have been experimenting with artic flies, but due to the low water conditions this year I have not been able to use them much.

My past experience was that when I put materials (e.i. bucktails, craft furs) on top and bottom of the hook, the fly tended to lay on the side. I ended up clipping the bottom materials off, so the fly rode upright (hook point down). I hope you don't have to do that with this fly. Good looking flies though.

What are some of the better crawfish flies for our local rivers?

Bart - Try some John Barr's Meat Whistle in Olive and Autumn Splender 04.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Fishing-Flies/Warm-Water|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104333580/i/103931280/Barrs-Meat-Whistle/743030.uts?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat104333580%3Bcat103931280

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Fishing-Flies/Streamers-Woolly-Buggers|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104333580/i/103929480/Autumn-Splendor-150-Per-2/1160471.uts?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat104333580%3Bcat103929480

Wow! Thanks everyone for all the responses. You all sure can come up with lots of great suggestions.

So, let me recap what we got so far:

Deep Whistler

Cray Fish Hackler

Barbed Whistle

Foxy Craw

Foxy Whistle

Foxy Whistler

Red Headed Stepchild

Opie's Whistler

Brass Whistler

Bad Ass Brass Whistler

Tom Tom

GPS

Meat Marinade Whistle

Meat Whistle Marinade

Looter

Hare-y Whistler

Loo's Whistle

Loo's Whistler

Some of the criteria that I forgot to mention in naming this fly:

1. Keep It Short Simple (KISS)

2. Don't want to use my name in it

Base on these, I can eliminate some of the suggestions. I will make my decision soon, and let everyone know.

Again, thanks for all your suggestions.

Please help naming this fly........

So far, Jim S had suggested "Meat Spice" and Mike G had called it "Meat Thing". Any additional suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


This fly started out as a John Barr’s Meat Whistle, but overtime I had substituted several materials and slowly modified it to better suite my home river, the Fox River. It is a good crayfish imitation and quite effective. It has been one of the top big fish producer for me, including one of my winning fish in the River Bassin’ Tournament. I hope you will give it a try and hope it will bring you many big smallmouth as well. Good luck.

Hook: Eagle Claw 413-2 size# 2 (45 degrees jig hook)
Thread: Ultra Thread 140 Fl. Fire Orange
Weight: Brass Dumbbell Eye (3/16" or 4.5mm)
Under Tail & Under Body: 10 strains of Red Krystal Flash
Tail & Body: Hairline’s Magnum Rabbit Strip (Barred Olive/Black/Olive)
Collar: 4 Medium Centipede Legs (Hot Orange), Brown and Orange Hackles

Step 1:- Attached the dumbbell eye.

Step 2: Attach the red Krystal Flash to form the under tail. The Krystal Flash should extend about one hook shank length beyond the hook bend.

Step 3: Wrap the red Flashabou up the hook shank to form the under body.

Step 4: Measure the rabbit strip, the length should be from the dumbbell eye and extended half a hook shank beyond the Flashabou under tail; mark the end of the hook bend on the rabbit strip; then use the sharp point of your scissors pierces the rabbit strip at the hook bend mark.

Step 5: Insert the hook point into the pierced hole on the rabbit strip and place the hook (hook point up) on the vise.

Step 6: Apply some Hard as Hull glue or Crazy glue on the red Flashabou that wrapped around the hook shank; and then tie down the rabbit strip just behind the dumbbell eye.

Step 7: Attach rubber legs (2 on each side) approx. ¼ inch behind the dumbbell eye; and then attach the brown and orange hackles.

Step 8: Palmer the hackles (both brown and orange) simultaneously (approx. 6-7 turns) forward, tie off the hackles, clip off the excess hackles, whip finish, and apply a few drops of thin Zap a Gap on and under the dumbbell eye.

 

Nick - Glad to hear that you got the fly fishing bug. It has been 24 years since I got the bug; and the fewer is still strong.

Ron K mentioned the Chicago Flycasters in another forum. That reminded me that I'd came across this wonderful video on the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with this iconic name.

http://vimeo.com/45674665

I also put 25' of it between my backing and my fly line...for those times when I want to practice my distance casting.

Gavin - Thanks for sharing that. I had always been wondering how the distance casters able to shoot line beyond the normal fly line length. Because everytime I tried casting beyond that, my backing got all tangled up into a big mess.

What knot you normally used to splice the lines together?

Did you all notice how weepy those rods that they were using, compared to today's graphite rods? They were able to shoot line 80'-90' out without a haul. The guide was standing on the canoe and poling in rapids without a lifejacket. And how about that vise Ted was using?

For better or worst, how things had changed in the last 40-50 years.

I'm sure at some points, Lee Wulff and Ted Williams the two legends fished together. I found these two older clips of Wulff fished the same river as Williams.

This old documentary film is 28 minutes long, but worth every minute of it. I think you all will enjoy watching it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MiPagrXzA&feature=related