Need the application of PAFF WWI (Articulated Musky Flies)

[mike_richardson]

A lot of you have been giving me great insight on tying for toothy critters and such, and to say I have become addicted is an understatement. I just can't understand how I can stay up until 2:45 am, on a work night, tying flies for a fish that I have never even caught on spinning rod, let alone a fly rod, and oh by the way I don't even have a rod that I can cast these things yet. LOL

I dunno what it is about these things but they just have fed a tying desire that I have not had in a long time. Ill be getting in some other materials here soon, and will be going with bigger hooks but these guys are 3 sections, I guess it would be called "double articulated" I am still catching up on my toother critter fly lingo.

The black one has a rabbit strip for a tail, and a rubber leg skirt on top of it. The end of each articulated section has a rubber leg skirt on it as well. In all my research I didn't see one like that so I figured I would give it a try. LOL I think that may be the biggest thing on these that appeal to me. There is just no limitation on what you can slap on there.

The green one has some saddle hackle and some longer hackle on each segment. I tried to do a perch or fire tiger like color scheme on it, but I only had a tiny section of orang bucktail from a fly tying kit I go when I first started.

Now of course in time I will be learning how the materials react when you are fishing them and such, but right now I am mainly just learning how to tie in the materials, creating the articulated sections and the like.

I still have to attach the heads, and such but I am waiting for my UV resin to come in.

SO let me know where I can get the application for the PAFF WWI club because I am nearly ready to just sell all of my trout gear, and go for it. LOL

PS Please don't pick on the Cinderella bib.

 

[mike_richardson]

I need to note that no flash was used as I don't have any decent stuff at the moment.

 

[mike_richardson]

I finished them this morning.

I just ordered a ton of fish masks and eyes, and a bunch of material. I need to tie up about 350 nymphs, and 7 dozen bass flies, and then I can get back to tying these bad boys. OH the humanity LOL

 

[Dave_W]

Very nice job Mike. Muskie flies are a blast.

In the meantime, if I may suggest, you should consider test driving your flies before you crank out too many more as these flies are time consuming and burn through a lot of material.

Remember, you don't have to be actually muskie fishing to test flies. With the lack of ice lately, you can go to any stream or lake (be careful after trout season closes) and just spend some time casting and retrieving these flies. It's almost as much fun as tying 'em! You will want to see how these flies cast relative to their size, materials, and weight. Some will cast fine with an 8WT, but others you will need a bigger stick to throw 'em.

Finally, you want to see how fast they sink and how they look "swimming" through the water. Personally, I like my toothy flies to have a side-to-side swimming pattern: that is to say, when you strip 'em they swim forward and at the end of the strip, they dodge left or right. I think this particular action is excellent.
So go test those toothy flies!

Now, regarding that WWI application....
There are certain ways you'll know you have it, the best being this: while you're driving around PA and you go over a beautiful trout stream with pools and riffles....the first thing that will pop into your mind is, "I wonder where that trib flows into the river? It ought to be a great muskie spot!"

 

[mike_richardson]

LOL.

I have reached out to a few guides and such to get the flies in their hands once I get a better grip on them. They will know more than I would on what they are lacking and such. I don't have much time if any maybe 2 hours a week to do anything fishing related, so I will be relying on them to critique them, and beat them up. LOL

I honestly would only be able to see how they swim and stuff. It will be a while before I can invest in a bigger rod. I have seen a few, but they will be roughly 300-400 on the cheaper end to get fully set up. The cheapest was a cabelas three forks prestige 10 wt combo for like 120.00. I may pick that up for now just to chuck these things and see if I really like it, but then I think I want to go with a Redington Predator Rod.

 

[nomad_archer]

Its kind of the wrong time to be rod shopping. Cabelas had a crazy clearance sale last fall. Cabelas branded rods $25-$55. Prestige reels were like $30. I bought a few reels and a few rods. I don't have any complaints with the 5wt and 6wt I purchased I haven't tried out the 8wt yet. The prestige reels work fine so far even after begin submerged on a 24* day. Will they hold up long term? I have no idea but at the price I wont mind if I need to replace something down the road. I know you don't want to wait but I am waiting for the fall clearance sales again for a 10wt.

 

[mike_richardson]

I was tempted to buy their CZN rod last year.

 

[nomad_archer]

I picked up the tlr in 6 and 8 wt and the 5wt was a Tradional III. They all work like they are supposed to. To be fair I have never owned or fished $400+ rods. I waited to long and missed out on some other name brand rods they had on clearance.

 

[mike_richardson]

I figured instead of posting separate posts in the tying forum I would just post on here.

I did a few over this weekend. Learning a lot as I go. They are becoming a bit easier, but now that I got the processes down a little better I need to focus on the mechanics a little bit more.

The brown and black fly I think turned out awesome, except I used too big of head and not enough hook. The gap is just not there, and I don't think it will hook up well. I am going to have some 5/0 and 6/0 hooks here soon, and that should help that issue. I tied it kind of like a game changer with the big game shanks. I may be able to salvage it, and just add another section in front with a larger hook. I may have to redo the deer hair on the front section be hind the head but It will beat having a fly that you cant hook anything on. It is right around 8.5" long. I took a pic to show all the more hook gap I have on it. Just not going to cut it I think.

I liked the rainbow trout pattern. I was thinking something like that my work on the yough or some other type of tail waters. Maybe even for striper. Is about 8" Long.

The other one was just a big fly. I wanted to practice getting a two tone look out buck tail. I think it turned out pretty cool. Its about 11".

Like I said before these are all more or less practice flies to get a better understanding of the process and such of tying musky flies.

I did tie up around 50 nymphs as well this weekend. But as I am tying the nymphs I am still thinking of musky flies. LOL the addiction is real.

 

[nomad_archer]

Mike those look pretty darn good to me. Looks like you will need a bigger fly box and a rod to chuck them with. I would have a hard time tying those flies and not going out and fishing them right away.

 

[mike_richardson]

LOL patience grass hopper. LOL

I am not going to lie it is killing my but I want to get all of my materials for tying these in first, then get the rod. I will be sending some to some musky fly guides I have met on like to critique for me. LOL they would know better than I would on what works, and what doesn't, and how it does or does not make the cut.

But I am chomping at the bit to get a 10 weight and start chucking these monstrosities. I cant wait to get some flashabou, and rabbit strips in this week, to make them look a lot better. that crystal flash is ok, but I think you loose a lot of the action as it is stiff and hard to get non straight lines when you cut it if you know what I mean.

 

[nomad_archer]

Patience..... what is that?!? I understand you got to wait until the funds are available and the right deal on the right rod presents itself.

 

[mike_richardson]

Im waiting on some hooks and such for trout stuff. So I got to get back on my musky kick last night.

I decided on waiting until my bigger hooks get in to finish the fly. This will have either a 6/0 or 8/0 hook on the front. Should be around 10-11" long with the 6/0 and maybe 12" or so with the 8. not sure yet.

 

[mike_richardson]

I am still stuck on how I want to finish this fly. I think I will keep with Gamakatsu and use an SL12S instead of the Patridge on this fly.

Also I am not sure how I want to do the head. Thinking of trying a deer body hair head. I have never stacked deer hair before so this should be a treat. LOL I just think it will fish the best with the deer body hair head. I dunno right now I am still just doing my research on these things, but they are by far my favorite thing to tie.

 

[Dave_W]

Very well done Mike. I like a bit of flared deer hair at the front of my muskie flies as this achieves two important goals that you want: it adds some bulk to the fly's profile and it it pushes water when retrieved.

 

[mike_richardson]

Dave,

That is just the two rear sections. I think I should have made the rabbit strips longer as well.