The Tying Sessions, EP:32 The Drowning rodent 2.0

I always liked fishing mice/rat flies. I remember when i was much younger, i was fishing with my father, we were on a river and his float fished roach disappeared in a flash. The fight was poor and short as the water temperatures were very low. Sadly after many efforts that fish decided to stay belly up. We decided not to waste it and  took it home. But when we cleaned it at the river, he had in his stomach three full grown rats, and that pike was not big pushing maybe just 3 kgs!
Since that day i cannot have a fly box without at least a couple of rats!

Tried and tested...Many times over

I like to fish them on a floating line, early spring (end February , March, April ) When most anglers wouldn't dream in using a topwater fly at this time of the year, i usually score some good fish on this pattern early in the year. Rats and mice are in full activity at this time, ready to start breeding after their long winter they often cross rivers and loughs simply because its the shorter route. Later in spring you will have the young ones, a little inexperienced and without any fear of what might lie beneath them when they fall in the water.
Later in the year, summer time , i like using these rats for late evening if it's a bright hot day, and if you have a summer like us here in Ireland (rain and not so hot...) you can be deadly fished over big weed beds. Not just margins and lillypads.
I started using deer hair for the top of the tie to give it buoyancy and Congo hair on the belly to make it sink. I caught many good fish with this tie, but i knew i could improve it's action a lot more.
This is the results, the drowning rodent 2.0! I use two types of fibers now, WATER SILK and CONGO HAIR from FLY TYERS DUNGEON .
The water silk is finer it olds and absorbs more water, the Congo hair is a little stiffer and doesn't hold water much. But water still sheds fast with a couple of false cast making this fly a lot easier to cast then it's original deer version.

 I use the water silk for the bottom of the tie(tail and first section) and introduce the Congo hair on the third shank but only on the top of the shank, belly stays in water silk. Finish the head with the foam, give it a good brush and trim.
You could make this fly with a brush instead of stacking like i do, bit stacking gives you advantages that you can't match with a brush...Using two type of fibers is one and the choice in colours that you have at your disposition.

I hope you enjoy the video, and thanks again for your continued support!

 

Jungle flies , the Disco Biscuit !

The jungle box is growing by the day!This time we stay with some top water madness, the Disco Biscuit!
A head that skim the surface with a little dive action, but its the engine at the back that makes all the commotion! Most of them are tied with strong metal propellers, as the crushing power of the Aimara is immense and i try to tie flies that will be used for more that one fish....
On the fire tiger model i put small quad props, they are made of plastic but feel very strong....We will see if they hold... The tails are tied on 30lbs single strand titanium, a prop , a bead and some northern lights flash.
It's a pretty simple tie but it requires time. The making of the heads has to be home made as they need to match your chosen hook.In this case i am using one of my favorite hook, the Gamakatsu SL12S in 8/0.
A weedguard is essential to be able to cast into deep wooden cover without the fear of snagging.You can be more adventurous with your casting when you have a quality weedguard.
I use a double 80lbs fluorocarbon, as i said before the power of the jaws of the wolf fish is so important that a stiff weed guard won't get in the way of a good hook up.
I finished the tie with a good coating of epoxy. I rarely use UV resin for my heads as i find none of them have the solidity of the epoxy.

• Hook selection: this is where i buy my bulk Gamakatsu: www.millersflyshop.com

 

• Head building:

Cut your block into rectangles close to the size that you need.

Cut the sides to start to get a rounded shape

Place in a drill and shape using sand paper.

Cut the bottom part.

• Head decorating: Airbrush/Sharpey, stick some eyes.

• Tail preparation:

30lbs titanium and a clevisse crimp.

Secure the tread with superglue+ uv resin

• Secure tail onto the hook: 

Place the bead +prop

• Tie the weed guard:

• Place the head, secure with super glue and tie the weed guard at the front:

Secure with figure 8 tying

Measure and burn the tips to create a mushroom head.

•  Finishing the tie, epoxy the head.

I like to add a little glitter for some heads to get that extra bling.

 

Red or dead

Nebula!!! one of my favorite finish!

Fire tiger