A stripped Muddler has been one of my favourite flies for many, many years. Many a salmon and trout has been triggered by this lovely variant of a fly. Often fished high, with the Muddler leaving a V on the surface as it travels across the current. Floating line, long tapered leader and a Muddler variant at the end is still a fly that I think should be used more often by many fly fishers, especially in summer when the water temperature is often good and the water level has dropped after rain.
For a period of my fly fishing life there was a great deal of Muddler fishing. One season many years ago I used only Muddler. Admittedly fished at different depths, but mostly with floating line and long leader. It produced a surprising number of fine fish and some takes that were extremely brutal, especially when the Muddler was stripped at good speed across the current. Fantastic fun, and a fishing method that should not be forgotten. On the contrary, it should be used more often, in my opinion.
My wife Gro Marion paints with oils as a hobby. Some years ago she surprised me by painting a Muddler on canvas, which I received as a gift. That was probably in 2004. She said that such a painting would be fitting, as she kept hearing me talk about this Muddler, which once again had saved my fishing trip. It is the picture in the middle above. It still has a central place here with me.
Earlier, probably in 2001, I asked Gro Marion to paint a Muddler on my large fly box, which I used a lot for a period. Picture above on the left. This box was sacred and came along on most fishing trips in the period from 1985 onwards. Today the box is mostly displayed in my office, and every time I look at it, thoughts come back of both the Muddler and many other flies and trips from that period. It is properly cool, actually.
My experience with using Muddler is the starting point for the new series of coloured tube Muddlers that I am now launching in the online shop. These are Muddler variants in different colours and sizes tied on light tube. The overwing is black, while the underwing comes in different colour variants. The Muddler head is black and clear, and will float high in the water and easily create that good V profile in the water when fished across the current with a floating line. The flies are delivered with a double tube hook, which means the hook can be positioned point up or down. By having the hook point up and under the wing, you avoid catching grass or other things in the river, where the fish often stand. It is truly worth trying during the season. A take from a salmon or trout on a stripped Muddler will be remembered. I can guarantee that. And those are the good moments we seek as fly fishers.
I wish you good luck, and if any of you would like further information on how to fish with Muddler for trout and salmon, just get in touch. Thank you for reading this far.
Here is the link to the online shop and our packs of tube Muddler.
Muddler tube | 2instincts
Best regards
Helge Vetås 2instincts