Cone head matuka

[jeremymcon]

I picked up a grizzly hen set from Collins hackle farm recently, and used the saddle to tie up a couple of matuka streamers. I tied them on a #8 3x long hook with a brass cone head. The looked ok to me, but I tried to fish one the other day, and instead of swimming with the wing up, it swam sideways in the water. I used a somewhat lighter color for the body of the fly, thinking that it would imitate the coloration of a baitfish, but swimming sideways I feel like the fly just doesn't look right.

Has anyone else had this problem? I'm thinking that maybe the cone is too heavy for the hook?

 

[Volksnurse]

I've done beads but not cones....not sure why it swam sideways..
Not to be obtuse (but I will) what was the current like?
It'll probably still catch fish.

 

[nfrechet]

 

[jeremymcon]

 

[McSneek]

My experience with matukas is very limited. Can't say for sure but I wonder if you shorten the tail up it may help the fly swim upright. That tail looks too long to me.

 

[GenCon]

McSneek wrote:
My experience with matukas is very limited. Can't say for sure but I wonder if you shorten the tail up it may help the fly swim upright. That tail looks too long to me.

+1^ also maybe hook size 1x longer.

GenCon

 

[melvinp]

From the top view I would say you are just not centered with the body or tail.

 

[Volksnurse]

Shorten the tail to about 1 or at most 1.5 hook length...and make sure the stripped part of the feather ends just at te end old the tie in...

 

[Chaz]

Tails too long and the whole fly is off center, but I'm thinking it might not mater, because swimming on it's side may make it look more like a baitfish in trouble.

 

[Fredrick]

I'm no matuka expert but that fly looks allot like a deciever and we all know they catch fish