February 2022 Fly of the Month

 Fish Mask Murdich Minnow

Hook:  Kona USS Size #1/0. 

Thread:  12/0 White Waxed.

Tail:  Faux Bucktail White approximately 2 hook shank lengths.  Topped with  – Mirage Opal Polar Flash, slightly longer than the Faux Bucktail. Topped with Silver Flash-a-bou.  When you tie in the Flash-a-bou, tie it in at the mid-point of the fibers.  Do not cut off the tag end

Back Body:  2 Clumps of White EP fibers tied on each side of the hook.  The tag end of the Flash-a-boo is then folded over the body rear word and trimmed to the same length as the EP Fibers.

Front Body:  Medium White Palmer Chenille, 10-14 Wraps.  

Head:  Wing consisting of a clumps of Grey Frankendub. (I use Senyo lazer Dub). A clump of White Frankendub for the Belly.  Stroke and comb all fibers rearward.

Fish Mask/Head:  Fish Mask #6.

Eyes:  6 mm eyes.

 

Originally developed as a streamer for small mouth bass, this is a killer pattern for stripers.  To tie this fly begin by ‘crushing’ your barb and placing the hook in your vice.  Cover the hook shank with your thread and cut off the tag end.  Leave the thread near the bend of the hook.  Next, tie in your Faux Bucktail for the tail.  When you do this do not trim off the butt end.  Lay the material on the hook shank so that the tail is approximately 2 times the hook shank.  Wrap your thread forward on top of the hook shank to create a uniform body.  Trim off the butt end behind the eye.  Return your thread to the bend of the hook.  Tie in a good sized clump of Mirage Opal Polar Flash.  Tie it in at the mid-point of the fibers, then bend back the butt ends to create a denser tail.  It should extend slightly longer than your bucktail.  Now tie in a clump of Silver Flash-a-bou.  When you do leave the butt ends forward and do not trim them. 

 

To begin the body, tie in 2 Clumps of White EP fibers tied on each side of the hook.  They should extend approximately a hook gap length behind the bend of the hook.  Once the EP fibers are bound down, trim the butt ends.  Now, fold back the Silver Flash-a-bou and trim it even with the EP Fibers.  Tie in your White Palmer Chenille in front of the EP Fibers. Make touching wraps forward with the Chenille and tie it off an eye length behind the eye of the hook.  Take a clump of the Grey Frankendub (for the wing/head), affixing it to the top of the hook shank at the mid-way point (do not trim the butt end).  Now do the same to create the belly with your White Frankendub.  You can substitute Senyo Lazer Dub for the Frankendub.

Sweep rearward the butt ends and ‘dam’ them back with your thread.  ‘Comb’ all the fibers back.  Whip finish the fly. 

 

After dabbing the front of the fly with some super glue, affix your Fish Mask to the front of the hook shank.  Place it deep enough for additional thread wraps in front of it.  Reattach your thread in front of the Mask.  Whip finish and apply your favorite adhesive to the wraps.  Glue your Eyes onto the Fish mask.  Cover the eyes with your favorite UV Resin for durability.

 

The Flymen Fishing Company has a great video on how to tie this fly below:  

 

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .