Fly pattern for Musky?

[Mr T]

Anybody have a fly pattern they recommend for Western WA musky that they have success with? Goal this year is to catch one of these on a fly that I tie.

[metlhead]

Made some tube flies with a trailing 5/0 Gami octopus. Built on 40# mono. They were dark brown and gold rabbit strip with maribou heads. Total length was about 6". Those things got so many follows at Mayfield. Never a hit though.

[RightPlace-RightTime]

Big/long and Ugly

[jackelope]

I took these on my Boundary Waters trip in September to use for pike. Unfortunately I can’t confirm their efffectiveness,  but they look like they’d be effective.
One guy I talked to thought they’re too small.



Also had a few of these. They’re called flashtail whistlers. I don’t tie. I bought them on eBay. If you tie, you can make them whatever color you want.





They’re big but way easier to throw than the top ones. Tied on 3/0 hooks.

[KNOPHISH]

Black, black or black. Small baits works well.

[boneaddict]

Big/long and Ugly

It’s been 30 years I th8nk. We used some sort of carpet material in the head, it helped top surface (wake) action.  Long streamer, red and white with lots of flash.  I think we had trailer hooks in the tail, though not sure of legalities of that now.

[Mr T]

I can definitely tie an ugly fly! The "carpet material" has me very intrigued... Will try and do some digging of info on that.  The potential of what this fly could be may be a better story than the potential catch of the tiger musky.

[jackelope]

Just make sure it’s not too big so you’ll be able to cast it and that your wife won’t get pissed if there’s a bald spot in your living room carpet.

[chukardogs]

Many years ago, I tied some multi-colored Arctic Fox spun in copper wire and 8 rabbit strips (double bunny style) about 8 inches long. Fished Mayfield a few time with them and got follows but no takes. One of the most exciting moment's of fishing I've ever had.
As far as the flies go, stay away from rabbit or use it sparingly. It picks up way too much water and splats when it lands. Build bulk by flaring the body material. Unless you have a unit for spinning material in copper wire. Use as many huge schlappen feathers wrapped back to back on the hook as possible. If the fly doesn't move water when stripped, start over. Don't judge the fly in the vice. Put it in water to see if it all flows naturally. If the body doesn't flow and undulate naturally in conjunction with the tail, game over. There are synthetics that shed water really well but I don't think they move naturally.
 A fishy shape, a lot of natural looking movement and flash are the keys. Crystal flash or Flashabou give a good amount of natural looking flash. Iridescent and minnow flash together are an awesome combo. They flash well when moved but disappear when still.
Couple lessons I learned the hard way. Don't use 10 foot rods and don't use long leaders. Use a shorter  8 1/2 or 9 foot rod and clear intermediate sink line and 3 to 5 foot leaders so you can do a figure 8 at the boat if needed. We had two fish so close to the boat that we could have grabbed them with our hands and don't be surprised if they leave and come right back for another look. They know they're the top of their food chain. A wolf in the water! Good luck!

[chukardogs]

Also, a material I just found for tying Ling Cod flies. Gives good bulk but sheds water fast. Yak hair. Comes in multiple colors.

[Brushcrawler]

This is on my bucket list too. Never caught a musky, but I’ve caught some pretty big pike on surprisingly small black wooly buggers.

[chukardogs]

I've been told by the architect of the Tiger Musky program in this state, that in some of the locations like Newman and Curlew, the Tiger Muskys will hit much smaller flies (prey) because of what their natural forage is. In Mayfield and Merwin, the prey is Pike Minnows, planted Rainbows and suckers. Everything they eat is 8 plus inches long. In places like Curlew, which has every species of fish imaginable, some of the perch and such are available to the Muskys at 2 to 3 inches long. A much smaller forage base.
 I'm not saying a smaller fly wouldn't work, it just wouldn't represent what they're naturally feeding on.

[boneaddict]

I have a feeling the way I targeted it, was them coming into the shallower water to spawn and they were defending their “nest”.  It had nothing to do with lunch.

[jackelope]

I’ve got a fairly large box of flies that were aimed at a pike trip that would probably work for muskies also.  Happy to share if anyone’s looking for company on a musky hunting trip. I’ve got multiple 8wt rods too.

[chukardogs]

I've heard the guides go catch suckers anywhere from 10 to 14 inches long in the morning and kill them and use a double hook rig to cast them into shallow water where they know there's a fish hangin.