The Muddler is a fly that has been fished a lot since its creation. The original pattern, the Muddler Minnow, is probably in everyone’s fly box. Today, with new materials and social media, we see a lot of variation of this pattern being created and fished with great success by salmon fishermen.
In more than 20 years of fishing, I was able to see how effective this fly can be. It's effectiveness seems to be due to different factors. We can fish this fly with a heavy wet fly hook, which will bring it down in the water column and produce a strange vibration that will usually become aggressive to the salmon, which can trigger a bite. We can also tie it on a dry fly hook (bomber type), which will make it swim more towards the surface producing a trailing V behind it. It is another good technique that is close to fishing a fly ‘’hitched’’.
As this fly is tied with a deer's body collar and head, providing it a certain flotation, it is totally possible to fish it like a dry fly. It is an effective way to catch salmon that has worked especially good for me when I was seeing heavy butterfly hatches.
The muddler is certainly my favourite pattern when it comes down to salmon fishing. It is the style of fly that has provided me the most bite and it can be fished in almost any condition. It is probably the only fly I make sure I never left the home without.
Original text by Éric Tremblay Adapted by Benoit Farcy.
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