Tight Lines Fly Fishing: Paul's December 2022 Bonus Fly of the Month

Chewy's Minnr

Hook: Mustad 34007 Size #1/0 hook.

Thread: UTC Ultra Thread 1400 Chartreuse.

Eyes: Chrome or Nickel Dumbbell eyes.

Tail: Medium Pearl Mylar Tubing.

Body: Bill’s Body Braid Pearl.

Wing 1: Arctic Fox Fur White, Off White, or Tan.

Flash: Pearl Krystal Flash

Wing 2: Extra Select Craft Fur Chartreuse.

Head: Deer Hair in Chartreus.

This is a clouser variation that really catches fish. It was not developed for stripers but it’s a killer fly for them. I think the reason why it works so well is because of the bouncy of the deer hair in the front of the fly, and the motion of the Arctic fox at the rear. The originator didn’t use dumbbell eyes and instead uses a tungsten bead. He did this to minimize the splashing of the fly when it hits the water, especially in shallow locations for warm water species. This is not a concern when fishing for stripers here in New England. Therefore, dumbbell eyes are the best was to go with this fly. I tie this fly in Chartreuse as shown here, and in a Pink variation.

Start your thread behind the eye. Take touching wraps to the bend and back up to the dumbbell ‘tie in point’ behind the eye. You are going to tie in your eyes ‘1 dumbbell eye length’ away from the hook eye. I usually make two thread bumps and ‘cradle’ the eyes between them. Like a traditional clouser you are going to mount them on the ‘top’ of the hook shank. X wrap & figure 8 wrap your eyes. A drop of head cement or UV resin goes a long way to keeping the eyes locked on top of the hook shank. Now cut a ¾” piece of Medium Pearl Mylar Tubing. Remove the paracord from the center. Tie it in off the bend of the hook. Next, take scissors or a bodkin and ‘tease’ out the tubing fibers. Now tie in 3-4” of Bill’s Body Braid. Advance your thread up to the dumbbell eyes. Wrap the Body Braid forward take an ‘X’ wrap around the eyes. Tie it off in front of the eyes and cut off the butt end.

In front of the eyes tie in a clump of Artic Fox Fur for your wing. Hopefully it will extend between a half & full hook shank length beyond the bend of the hook. Make sure you split the clump to leave equal portions on each side of the hook shank. Next, tie in two pieces of Pearl Krystal Flash on each side of the hook shank. They should extend to the end of your Fox Wing. You are now going to top the wing with Extra Select Chartreuse Craft Fur. Tie and bind it on top of your wing. Next, take a clump of Chartreuse deer hair. The size of the clump will vary depending upon the size of the hook you use. You are going to bind it down on top of your Craft Fur. While holding it in place, take tightening wraps so that the butt ends flair. If additional Deer Hair is needed you can repeat this process. Now ‘sweep’ all the Deer Hair fibers rearward and take a few securing wraps in front of them. Whip finish and tie off the thread. Finally, trim the Deer Hair to create a tapered head. Apply some head cement to your thread wraps in front and you’re done.