Re: [VFB] Flyfish 2003

[Dr. Doug Miller]

Thanks for asking, Joyce.   Here is "my" secret - which usually means I have discovered what others have been doing for decades.   Almost always, I use a brass bead head and a 9672 hook.  Favorite sizes are 12 - 14.   Step 1 - When I tie in the marabou, I use the tip of the marabou FIRST; measuring it to be just a little longer than the hook shank. I tie that in with two wraps and cut the marabou feather just ahead of the wrap. Sept 2 -  I take a piece of krystal flash, either to match the marabou or rainbow AND a half-piece of red krystal flash.  I have found that by using a half-strand, doubling the piece and cutting it, and doubling it again and cutting it, it is just about twice the length I need.  I use half as much red as the other color.  Step 3 - I measure half the krystal flash and tie it in ON TOP of the marabou; fold over the other half and tie it in ON TOP. Step 4 - I cut marabou from the stem of the feather I used in Step 1.  I use a very generous amount of marabou - probably twice as much as others because it is usually the first to get eaten off the bugger. The rest of the bugger is exactly the way you would normally tie it.   The secret - if there is one - is that I layer the marabou.  Starting from the shank and moving upward:  marabou tip, krystal flash, more marabou.  This keeps the krystal flash inside the marabou and is a "hint" of flash rather than a bold flash.   If I am fishing subsurface, this is the very first fly I will try.  It works about as well as dynamite or a crank phone around here!   I will be glad to send you one. Send me your address.   Doug