The Muddler Minnow (Diver)
We really like this fly and use it quite often because it includes both the great looks of a Muddler Minnow and the great thrill of fishing a diver. This pattern does not reflect entirely how we tie this fly. We took this fly and modified it until it fit our bass fishing needs. To make this fly a diver, make a larger deer hair head with a flat bottom. Some of our instructions will be different than what the diagram shows.
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Hook |
Mustad size 4-8 Singer or Streamer |
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Thread |
6/0 or occasionally Big Fly |
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Tail |
Mottled Turkey Quill (or any other brownish feather) |
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Body |
Flat silver or gold wire |
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Underwing |
Grey, black, or brown squirrel tail |
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Overwing |
Mottled Turkey Quill (or any other brownish feather) |
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Beard |
Natural deer hair tips |
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Head |
Spun deer hair (natural) leave some shoots extending over the overwing |
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Step 1. Start thread 3/5 of the way towards the eye. Wrap to back of hook. Cut piece of turkey quill to just over half of the hook length. Tie it in as shown in Step 1. Leave tail 1/2 of hook in length. Cut off excess feather. |
Step 2. Lay long piece of wire along hook shank. Tie in wire and wrap thread to its original starting place. Wind wire to where thread is and tie into place. Cut off excess. |
Step 3. Cut squirrel tail to a bit longer than the length of the hook. Tie in squirrel tail leaving 2/5 of forward hook bare. This forms your underwing. |
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Step 4. Cut turkey quill to same length as squirrel tail. Tie in as you did the squirrel tail. Be sure to still leave 2/5 of the forward hook bare. This forms the overwing. |
Step 5. Turn hook upside down. Tie in some deer using tips as a beard. |
Step 6. Turn hook right-side-up. Spin deer hare and pack it quite tightly. |
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Step 7. Once you reach the eye of the hook, whip finish and cut off thread. |
Step 8. Trim deer hair to look like above picture. Leave head a bit larger and cut underside flat. Remove extending hair on bottom. Be sure to not remove the beard which runs flat along hook shank. |
All pictures are from The Orvis Fly Pattern Index, Complete and Unabridged by John R. Harder.
This is one of one of the best collection of fly patterns we have yet to come by. It is a must for fly fisherman of all levels. This book costs $29.95 US and $42.00 CAN. and is available at most large book stores such as Chapters.
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