1st Muskie Fly (& some clousers)

[John Jarosz]

While the snow & wind were howling outside, it seemed like a good time to try a hand at a musky fly.  This was my first try at a 'skie fly and it was different than anything else I've tied.  It's a top-water popper called a Sponge Bob Square Head.  It didn't come out exactly like I wanted, but the next one will be tied differently.  Hopefully, I'll get my first muskie on a fly this year.

After struggling with Sponge Bob, it was time to tie something easier.  The chartreuse/yellow pattern is my  go-to color, so I decided to tie some clousers patterned after my lucky lures.

[Scott McKee]

I dig your flies, John.  What weight rod are you planning on using?  I tried chucking my Dahlberg mega-divers in the harbor during opening week some years ago with my 11-weight (now Jojo's 11-weight).  After an hour or so, I was a beaten man and switched back to burning buck tails.  Fly fishing for muskies is a lot of work, but I bet the reward is huge.  I've thought about throwing smaller surface poppers with my 8 for largemouth in the River while keeping my fingers crossed for a musky.  Can you recommend a lightweight tie-able steel tippet?    We may have to pick a breeze-free morning to use the long rods for teeth this year.  How about a feature article on fly-guying for esox for the rag?  Either way, best of luck.  If you catch a musky on the fly - regardless of its size - the cover of the next newsletter is yours.

[John Jarosz]

Scott...I ordered a 2-pc., St. Croix Imperial 9' 10 wt.  I've been reading Robert Tomes' "MUSKIE on the Fly" book &, all considered, his ideal muskie fishing fly rod is a nine ft, 9 or 10 wt fast action graphite rod.  The St. Croix is all those things & weighs in at 4.6 oz.  My 9'8 wt saltwater Redington is heavier that the St.  The tackle shop also showed me a Ross reel with an aluminum frame & composite spool, lighter than any other reel I looked at.  So I ordered the outfit along with RIO's Pike & Muskie fly line.

I haven't figured out the leader yet.  haven't gotten to that chapter.  Jim K. & I have already made plans to warm up on northerns, just so I know I can catch the Esox plus it'll loosen up my arthritic shoulder.

...and you're "ON" for a rag article (or two or three)

BTW...HOW MANY OTHER MEMBERS OUT THERE ARE FLY-FISHERS?  ANY INTEREST OUT THERE IN FLY FISHING FOR THE MIGHTY ESOX?  Has anyone else out there fly fished specifically for muskies?  Thanks, I need the help.

[3q5f92vovr8mo]

I fly fish just for the bows.  3 minutes from my house is a good pike hole.  That'd be my extent

[Scott McKee]

I've caught a bunch of northern pike with flies; more in our little Wyoming County jewel (Faun Lake) than the River.  Pike on the fly is a blast.  I always used my Sage 9-foot for 8 weight to throw small surface poppers, Deceivers, and Turk flies.  Turk is Dave Reed, the surly SOB who cooks for us at our picnics.  He is one hell of a fly angler, although he'd never tell you that (his family owned the Orvis Shop and Buffalo Outfitters in Williamsville).  Turk flies are single and double bunnies, married to wooly buggers and deceivers, with a rabbit fur hackled collar, and they are deadly on the green rats.  This was back in the mid-to-late 90's.  I used straight 80-pound fluorocarbon leaders back then.  They turn large flies over extremely well, but what I didn't know then, I know now - muskies can bite through fancy plastic.  Larry Dahlberg, in his amazing Fly Fishing for Pike video, used nylon coated wire connected to a Bimini twist with an albright knot, and wrapped and melted the nylon coated wire to his flies.  This video was shot before the advent of tie-able leader material.  We would need a lightweight, bite proof tippet that doesn't hinge and doesn't crimp when pike, and hopefully muskies, smack it.  Personally, I get fly changie.  When you tie a bunch of flies, you want to see what they look like, right?  So, the ability to change flies quickly and without re-tying would be huge. We could try a bunch of different set-ups until we are happy with one.  

[Mike "the facilities" Fortunate]

Russ this "pike hole" you speak of, is it open to the public? Can it be icefished? Can you inform us where it is or is it a secret spot???

[John Jarosz]

Russ...I used to fish for only two kinds of fish: steelhead/salmon & panfish (sunnies, 'gills, perch).  Now I want to try a fish that's more "explosive."  A gentleman named Dwight Tracy once said:"I personally prefer fish that eat other fish over fish that eat only insects." Talking to some who have muskie fly fished, they all said that salmon, steelies, etc will hit, peel line & RUN like he77, & I'll agree, but the muskie is EXPLOSIVE!!, especially on a fly.  I'll tie a couple for you.  Email me your address thru this site & I'll mail them to you to try for the northerns (for a small price).  You gotta let us know how you did.  That's the small price you'll have to pay (seriously).

[3q5f92vovr8mo]

no it not open to the public.  guy showed me once.  then I went to the guys house and asked him.  biggest pike caught there was about 32'. it's tight casting shinners. it can't be ice fished.  it's in darien and right by the theme park.

[3q5f92vovr8mo]

the steam is as small as the steelie stream I fish in Cheektowaga. less than 6'wide and knee deep in the deepest spot. and hardly ever seen anyone fish it.  parking is in apartment complexs to

[John Jarosz]

Scott..I think I met Turk at the Williamsville Old Home Days Fishing Contest.  Was he the one & the same?  Never knew his family once owned the Bflo Outfitters.  I took my first fly tying lessons from Jim Guida at the shop.  I frequented that shop a lot when I was getting started.  Too bad it went out of business.  I liked hanging around there.  I've got recipes for the double bunnies & they even look deadly.

I stopped into my local shop & picked up a RIO Toothy Critter tapered leader with a pre-tied 15# nylon coated braided leader that can be knotted (last one in the store).  Optional is a solid wire stainless wire with a snap link.  I think 15 lb is a little light so I'm going to have him order some 25# leaders.  The snap link at the end should make change-outs easier.  I'll prob order a couple of each just to try. The way I figure it, it's different than trolling.  When trolling, the muskie hits against the pull of the boat.  Thus a stronger setup is needed.  When I'm fly fishing, it's pulling against my stripping the line & against the fly rod setup, and also my arm.  And like you, I'm a quick-change artist.  The fish will tell me what they want.  I just have to be able to interpret what they're saying!!

The leader I have looks like it's tied to the braided wire with a blood knot & the book I have recommends a figure 8 knot to attach the wire leader to the fly.  I'm not so sure about that figure 8, though. 

[John Jarosz]

here are some pics of the leader

[Scott McKee]

John, I don't trust store bought leaders.  I'll whip something up. For a floating line maybe 5-feet of 80# fluorocarbon looped to 18-inches of Tyger Wire (or something like it), so I can re-tie a few flies before having to change the tippet section. For my sink tip, I bet I could get away with looping 2' to 3' of the Tyger Wire to the actual line.

This whole string has me juiced up to fly fish for teeth.  I'll have to re-visit it prior to the pike & musky openers.

[John Jarosz]

Thanks, Scott.  I'm getting stoked myself.  Can't wait already & it's not even the middle of January.  Oh, well, that's the time to tie.

I'll bring "Bob" (Sponge Bob, that is) to the meeting Tuesday to show you.  He's not pretty, but he's sure to get you fired up.