Shoeman
02-24-2009, 08:52 AM
Here's another all-fur critter (no hackle). It's a crossbreed of Mike Schmidt's Foxy Bastard and Whitlock's squirrel nymph
I've had great luck using both, but found the squirrel nymph difficult to tie in larger versions do to length of the guard and belly hairs. Using the tails makes them too stiff.
These are in sizes from 10 3X long to a heavily weighted 6. All of them are tungheads and have lead wraps behind the bead. Perfect for Spring and Tailwater conditions
It was my most productive fly last year on the Muskegon and Manistee.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_2_rs.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_3_rs.jpg
What's nice about this pattern is the lack of prep-work. Just lay the critter on your lap and cut as needed. I used a grey fox, but stayed with the orange/tan hairs around the neck and the under fur of the same area for the dubbed body.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_4_rs.jpg
For the larger "bugger" version I went toward the rear legs
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_5_rs.jpg
The bugger is best fished with a 6wt or heavier rod. It's quite heavy and will crown ya with any leader lighter than a 3X :lol:
I use it with a sinktip and short leader application.
The smaller ones are an ideal "attractor pattern". Most of the time I will add a pheasant tail, wet fly or any "match the hatch" fly as a dropper.
I've had great luck using both, but found the squirrel nymph difficult to tie in larger versions do to length of the guard and belly hairs. Using the tails makes them too stiff.
These are in sizes from 10 3X long to a heavily weighted 6. All of them are tungheads and have lead wraps behind the bead. Perfect for Spring and Tailwater conditions
It was my most productive fly last year on the Muskegon and Manistee.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_2_rs.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_3_rs.jpg
What's nice about this pattern is the lack of prep-work. Just lay the critter on your lap and cut as needed. I used a grey fox, but stayed with the orange/tan hairs around the neck and the under fur of the same area for the dubbed body.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_4_rs.jpg
For the larger "bugger" version I went toward the rear legs
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/552/Fox_5_rs.jpg
The bugger is best fished with a 6wt or heavier rod. It's quite heavy and will crown ya with any leader lighter than a 3X :lol:
I use it with a sinktip and short leader application.
The smaller ones are an ideal "attractor pattern". Most of the time I will add a pheasant tail, wet fly or any "match the hatch" fly as a dropper.