The Pellis Muskrat - a Western Pennsylvania Favorite

[@epsieblaine7968]

The Miller is not forgotten here in the Smokey Mountains.We just spent a week where the big browns grow,head waters of the natahala

[@SavageFlies]

Nice! The Smoky Mountains have it all! Small tributaries for native brook trout, some big stocked rainbows, and some headwater brown trout. You've got it made Ken. :-)

[@EpellisProductions]

I know im a little late to the video, however i wanted to pop in, I am Toms oldest grandson, and he taught me at an early age the are of fly tying as well as fishing. I have recently gotten back into fly tying and i think its amazing to see, not only the fly being published in the book, but also being kept alive through this video! One small editorial is that his passing was in 2013, but whats more important is seeing this live on through the internet. Thank you so much for the video!

[@jamesvatter5729]

A good generic searcher. This pattern created by a local is fitting for today. This evening they have "Fly Tyers Reunion" at the Sporting Clay's Lodge by Seven Springs, Pa.

[@SavageFlies]

No way! I've never heard of Seven Springs, but just looked it up and it's not far from Greensburg and the Allegheny Mountains.

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, this pattern is super nice looking. I do have all I need to ty this beauty 😍 .

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding Edward! Go for it my friend. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

@@SavageFlies 👌❤💯👍😊

[@jimholland1592]

Good morning ☕️☕️ Nicely done, enjoy watching this morning as always. Got in at old Town Alexandria last night. With all the stops and a short hike at the natural Bridge we made it in 15 hours.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, 15 hours is still a long day in the car! I hope ya'll got some rest tonight. Lisa has been baking and making me help clean the house for your visit! Looking forward to tomorrow. :-)

[@jimholland1592]

@@SavageFlies We are so looking forward to seeing y’all we can’t wait. Baking 🙂

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Very attractive. I like the uncut palmered hackle to be honest. Anyway it will work a treat. I have a piece of red fox fur, and the under fur is very similar looking to your muskrat. :-):-)

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Terry! I think if we didn't clip the palmered hackle on this thing, it would be hard to get it to sink. But then again, the Soldier Palmer flies are wets and they keep the long hackle. And those flies have been around for hundreds of years!

[@karljones6594]

Good morning Matt. Nice looking fly. Just tied up some Miller Nymphs for my sister-in-law to fish in Boone NC. Will tie some of these for both of us to try. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Karl! I'm surprised so many people on here have heard of the Miller, and actually fish it too. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Good day Matt. Sometimes, simple is good. Thanks for the share. Have a blessed day.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Nich! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@jimgollach6202]

This pattern catches fish. I fish a similar pattern to this one, it's one I made up many moons ago. Fun to fish. Thanks for sharing Matt 👍.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Jim! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@tubbyguyoutdoors]

Another interesting tie with a equally interesting back story . Thanks for sharing !

[@SavageFlies]

You bet! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@davidhughes2622]

Hi from Kansas City 🎣🤠 Dave When I was a kid and that was a good many years ago, I had walked out to the lake (3miles) to catch some crappie on the spown. I saw a Young Man with a giant ball of crappie on a stringer. Asked him what he was using for bait and he pulled out a plastic bag of colored embroidery threads and a few small split shots and some size 10 gold hooks, straight eye. About that time he got hooked up and lost his rig. I watched him tye a split shot on the front with regular thread then tied on the embroidery thread all the way to the bend with half-hitches, left about 3/4 of an inch for a tail. I was amazed at this.,and to this day I 've got a bag the same in my tackle box. Good health for you and your's Dave Hughes 🎣🤠

[@SavageFlies]

What a great memory Dave! Thanks for sharing that with us. :-)

[@steveglasstetter4394]

I learned to tie from Mr. Pellis, at his shop, “The Fly Box,” back in the early ‘80s. This is one of the first patterns he taught during his weekly classes. I bet I still have a few in one of my old wet fly boxes. I probably have some muskrat fur in a bag with his shop’s label on it as well. Thanks for reminding me of a great old pattern that I haven’t fished for quite a while.

[@SavageFlies]

You're welcome Steve; thanks for this great story! It's always nice to hear when someone has a personal history with something I tie on here. Have a great weekend my friend!

[@danielyost9126]

Being from western pa had abundantly amount of muskrat easy to trap use in a lot of patterns thanks matt

[@SavageFlies]

Cool to hear Daniel! I haven't done a lot of fishing in that area but I did spend a week camping in Ohiopyle so I fished a few of the streams one summer. Good times!

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning. Enjoyed your video with my morning ☕️. I think it’s a nice morning habit to have. I like how the cropped off hackle looks on this fly. I think it would be a good addition to my fly box. Take care Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it John! And I love your morning habit of watching my videos. And all the pressure to get a video done the night before. :-)

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

Nice pattern, unique process in clipping the hackles short. As for decoy carving and judging, there is an annual event in Havre de Grace, MD annually. I used to attend it when I lived on the Eastern Shore. The fly would make a good search pattern. Thanks again for a great session.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ed! I think I came across a reference to the annual event you're talking about. There seem to be a lot of waterfowl carvers in Maryland. I guess the eastern shore has a lot of unique water birds. I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@jamesphillips2216]

Very nice!! Great job on an awesome pattern!! The muskrat dubbing really works for that fly!! Thanks for sharing Matt!!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it James! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@mikeney5113]

I like this cool looking pattern Matt.i am gunna have to spin up some for my trip next weekend.thanks for sharing buddy.

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding Mike! And good luck this weekend. :-)

[@garrettswoodworx1873]

Perfect way to start the day! (Now I have to go be productive.) Thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

I hear you Garrett! I end my day posting a video, then go to work in the morning and don't check back in until later that night. But I always appreciate coming here and seeing all the comments. :-)

[@ybarrajc]

Thanks for sharing Matt, adding this one to my list. Have a blessed day my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@rollinlapoint4554]

Great pattern and tie. Love the look. Thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Rollin! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Cool pattern Matt, I'll have to add this to the box. Thanks for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Layton! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@jeffreystone7327]

I love the palmered hackle flies. This is a pretty sharp looking fly. The colors work great together. Another one that has caught my eyes. Has fish catcher written all over it. Thank you for another great video Matt. Greatly appreciated Buddy. Hope you have a great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

You got it Jeff! I always appreciate the notes my friend. :-)

[@davehall2160]

Yes, that is a cool looking fly Matt Thanks for the video

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Dave! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

Very nice! Oddly I have had some muskrat for quite a while now and haven't used it. Now I will! Thanks Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Troy! You should put that muskrat to use tying some old school original Adams as well. One of the all-time greats. :-)

[@bigdaddy99929]

Very nice looking fly! Most certainly a fish catcher. As always, love the background stories. Thx Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Clyde! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@johnsamothrakis4621]

Hi Matt thanks for another great video

[@chasselynch5733]

Love your simple patterns you bring back to life Matt ,I have a request ,simple request on some of these patterns you tie could u put them in a clear glass or container of water so we can take a look at what the water does to the pattern??

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Chasse! I've actually tried that, with an aquarium and even the Flymen test tank and it was really hard to get good video with it. But maybe I could do it with a small glass. I'll give it a try soon and see how it looks. Thanks for the note!

[@joelfraser3335]

This reminds me of the sheepfly we tie in NC, except ours has grizzly wings.

[@barbaraemerich1921]

I love it! Matt you always present amazing patterns!! Now I need to find muskrat. Thank you!!

[@SavageFlies]

You do Barbara! It's a great dubbing material!

[@leemowers9395]

Looks like a great wet fly, I use the palmered hackle body on my favorite Pine Squirrel zonker streamer. Nicely tied, great video, thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh, that's a great one I need to tie more of Lee. I've got a few colors of pine squirrel zonker strips... rust, burnt orange, olive. I got it for a crawdad pattern, but should probably make some streamers with it. I could have used a slump buster last weekend. :-)

[@crowdaddy8355]

Nice fly. Thanks Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Chad! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

Nice fly and story Matt. Funny, I have a whole muskrat pelt taken from the creek down the road and it's very light it color, almost tan. My cotton tail pelts have darker grey underfur like your patch of 'rat. Hopefully the trout aren't fashionistas and won't mind because that fly looks very tasty 😉👍You are what you eat after all. Thanks Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! It really is interesting how the underfur on some critters is very different from their outward appearance. Red fox underfur is very gray. And opossums, which look kind of gray when they're running around behind my house, their underfur is very light. And I've got rabbits that run the gamut. And raccoons look gray, and well, they are gray so no surprise there. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies Love opossum! Live ones look like a storm cloud, such a depth of gray it looks like it glows from within. Some long dark guard hairs, just screams baitfish! There was one playing "possum" in my yard one afternoon, had to call off one of the dogs as she was sniffing it. Wicked set of teeth on it. What's this critter doing in my yard in the middle of the day? Thought they were nocturnal! As much as I wanted the fur I scooped it up in a snow shovel and walked it down by the creek. Checked on it later and it was gone. They are a beautiful animal, look like they have mascara around the eyes and the edge of the ears. I'd like to get some zonked mink too. The strips edge has a builtin black lateral line. :o)

[@chevyguy6510]

Nice pattern that does seem easier to tie. I'm going to give it a spin in my vise. Thanks Matt!!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Todd! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@dahutful]

Ive snipped the palmered hackle prior to wrapping, just because

[@SavageFlies]

I've done that before too, but I can't tell if that makes it any quicker or not!

[@jeffjackson5331]

That is pretty cool! I am in western Pa also. I am about an hour or so north west of Greensburg

[@SavageFlies]

I appreciate that Jeff! I'm not real familiar with that area but I'm going to retire near Cumberland, MD so I won't be too far from Ohiopyle and the Youchiogheny. I'm sure I'll hit some of your waters someday. :-)

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@SavageFlies oh ok cool! You are very welcome. I’m not sure what all streams and stuff are good fly fishing spots. I don’t know if you have heard of Risen Fly and seen their website but their brick and mortar shop is 2-miles down the road from me. Ryan(owner) knows all the good spots around here.

[@bobhammond8067]

Super fly!!! A Fish Catcher!!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Bob! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

Hmmm, muskrat, I wonder if I could get any from Johnny Kolakowski. Johnny's "Kola's Kitchen: just south of Detroit used to serve muskrat as an entree', but it's closed now. I'm betting he got them already skinned. Neat fly I guess I'll have to go see one of my trapper friends and get a muskrat pelt. Keep the good stuff coming Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh wow, muskrat as a meal. Hmmm.... I do wonder what that critter tastes like. Of course, I've never eaten raccoon or opossum either. My wife won't even let me make squirrel stew, and I get plenty of those every year. :-)

[@FlyTyer1948]

Murphy’s law #1 for fly tying: “There is always at least one errant fiber.” Matt’s law #1 for fly tying : “That’s okay, we can fix it, & we will be fine.” I like this fly. Just as you like fly patterns that use peacock swords, I like patterns that use muskrat fur. ;-)

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! I've said it before Bob-- if I only published videos of perfect ties, my three hour creating process would take at least six hours. :-)

[@sinelocum]

Saved! Thank you

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Mark!

[@kenb4685]

Another nice job Matt. We have a species similar to muskrat in Australia but I think it is a protected species so ill have to find somethincg elseto substitute.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ken! You know, oddly enough, red fox underfur has similar properties to muskrat, and the color is almost an exact match. At least the pelts I have. Of course it's not quite as oily as a water rodent like a muskrat.

[@joutdoorsmen23]

Cool nymph

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@RyanAshley419]

I like Miller Nymphs. :)

[@SavageFlies]

I'm surprised how many people on here have even heard of that thing! You're about the fourth one who's mentioned it. :-)

[@randywood6384]

Have you ever tied out of the book Pacific Northwest Fly Patterns Book by Patrick's Fly Shop Seattle WA.

[@SavageFlies]

No Randy, I don't have a copy of the book. But I have referenced it and if I recall, it's a thin paperback, like something that was created on a typewriter and taken to a local print shop. It would be cool to find an old copy of it somewhere.

[@randywood6384]

I have that book and yes it look like it been typed on paper and then printed out . If I get some time I will take it and have it printed out and send it to you if you want.

[@francisbrossard4846]

Que du bonheur

[@johngallagher5821]

Matt, looks like a great generic fly. I’m going to have to add some to my boxes.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it John! And thanks for watching my friend. :-)