Tying a Small Muddler Minnow with Davie McPhail

[@aurelienlinnenkamp9885]

All your flys are so GREAT, every time I look is like a dream,thank you .

[@chrisditchburn8337]

Definitely going to be tying some of these for the autumn. I’m new to tying and your channel has been a massive help davie thanks and keep up the good work,

[@Jimmy-n6j]

I love your work mr Mc Phail! You have taught me how to tie good flies that have caugh fish for me. Your relaxed approach and your soothing tones make me want to get busy on the vice. Thankyou mate! I would love to take you fishing if you ever come to melbourne Australia. You are like the David Attenborough of fly tying! My best wishes to you and your loved ones. Greg

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Greg. I'm glad you enjoy my videos and the flies I tye and as well for your very kind words which mean a lot to me. If I ever get the chance to visit your beautiful country then I would certainly drop by and say hello and hopefully have a cast together.... All the very best Davie...

[@simonartley1645]

A fabulous,neat tying of this American pattern,surely one of the most striking flies. That neat head is excellent

[@manifestgtr]

I’m going to second what he says at the end…how the fly looks to us and how it looks to the fish are *completely* separate. I’ve tied up some really goofy muddlers in my day…squirrel hair sticking out, wings all collapsed and gnarly, heads out of proportion…and the trout SMACK them. One of the best days I ever had was on a buggy, doofus-looking muddler that I tied quickly the night before. After at least two dozen fish, it looked like it had been conceived downwind of Chernobyl. Unless you’re very specifically trying to imitate sculpin or baitfish, I’d go so far as to say that an ugly muddler is actually preferable in many circumstances.

[@TheEzzieboy]

Right. if you try to get too specific, you will be specifically wrong more times than specifically right. Most of the time, in fly tying as well as other endeavors, impressionism beats realism.

[@tomfisher3117]

Beautiful! I've caught trout with this fly using the Leisenring lift method. You get one heck of a strike. No way can you miss it. Thanks for an awesome tying video!

[@duderoony]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I’m beholding. Nice Muddler Davie. Thank you.

[@joeduca8582]

Beautiful Davie. I've tied mini muddlers from Fran Betters fly pattern guide ever since I bought the book from him at his shop back in the 80's. He spawned a few of those 100's of variants too, even a trimmed down nymph version! I like his style of trimming the butts before tying in the bottom bunch then the bigger top bunch, if done right you don't have to trim the head. Although trimming can be relaxing at times ;o) Thanks for all the great tutorials!

[@gareth6898]

Lovely craftsmanship as always Sir, just tied up some of these myself, not anything like as well your video I might add lol. I did however use both the hen pheasant AND some golden pheasant crest I dyed (as you taught me Davie LOL) fluorescenct yellow for the tail, looks pukka. Also uses some lovely light bleached elk I died golden olive for the collar. Can't wait to give them a swim Saturday... Keep up the amazing stuff Davie we all owe you a debt of gratitude, theres no other channel like this!!!!!!!

[@dannymcg8300]

Excellent fly Davie. Very well tied and explained as always. Many thanks for sharing.

[@mikelundrigan2285]

I tie variations with the body all silver, silver with gold rib, silver with copper rib, and gold with copper rib. All work well! I clear coat the body with Sally nHansen etc. I first make the bodies and dry them. By the time you have made a half dozen, the first body has set. This makes the body super durable and adds a bit of weight. I also make moose hair versions which makes a much darker fly than deer. Moose hair can be black or a medium dark brown depending on the hide. You can also mix deer and moose and or elk hair together for another version. Some moose hair can be a shiny cream colour. You can also use a small empty tube of suitable diameters to slide over the hook at the eye to push the hair at the front towards the rear to tighten the head or body if making a bomber or “bug” body. Some ideas I have discovered over the years! As usual, you tie a good fly! It will catch many species just about anywhere! Tight lines!

[@hankvana2149]

If I had to choose just one fly it would be a #10 muddler tied sparse. Have a box devoted to them most are natural but there is a couple of all white and all black mixed in - size 14 to 2/0. I tie mine with a squirrel tail under a turkey wing and fish them on a sinking line. A classic, thanks for sharing Davie! ATB, Hank

[@gerardnglavin6249]

Wow..beautiful tye. Thanks for posting .

[@kurzhaarguy]

By the way, Davie, thank you for introducing me to Fulling Mill. High-quality, reasonable price, endless selection. For the rest of you watching, you really should give them a go.

[@TheFishleclair]

Don Grapen Mad ethe fly to fish the Nipigon River that I fish ever fall for salmon, many guys still fish for the giant brookies, Im glad to see a bit of my home area on the vice here. Nice to see a small one tied!

[@deanscott9876]

Spectacular job, one of the nicest muddler minnow flies I’ve seen.

[@OldBear5255]

Great looking little muddled mate. The bookies would kill for that in a heart beat. Thanks for sharing another great video from the Master. Best Regards, Ken

[@sashad8519]

Fantastic tutorial. Thank you Davie!

[@miasoldboy180]

Another work of Art. Beautiful work as usual

[@donjensen6805]

You make it look so easy...another awesome fly..

[@dahutful]

A neat trick Barry Orde Clarke employs at the end is to quickly run the flame from a cigarette lighter around the trimmed head. This tightens up and smooths the head. Might be a problem on this tiny thing, risking setting it ablaze. And definitely do it before adding cement!

[@metubewot]

As usual, brilliant Davie. Love it.

[@garylawlor2288]

Great video as alway Davie. I tie a similar pattern but with a Green Peter colour body of seals fur and no tail. Great fly around the Irish Midlands

[@georgeb6412]

Good old fly the muddler, nice clear easy to follow video as usual, cheers davie atb.

[@lasse1187]

Fantastic fly Davie

[@dodgeydave21]

You make it look to easy. Very nice and we'll done.

[@maknifeandrods7701]

I loved the old entrance softer made me relax.

[@joeduca8582]

so do I

[@joemahler]

Beautifully done.

[@franckmilliot4656]

Excellent thank you M.McPhail

[@TrifonovYra]

Спасибо,Вам! Вырос на ваших видео! Только вперёд, успехов вам, в нашем нелегком мухостроении👍🐝

[@etamaman]

Great lookin small muddler.😎 Great pattern to fish dry or wet. Can even use in a pinch as a popper if you treat head with floatant. Another great all around pattern. Try also in black or white while swinging for salmonids.

[@krallmi48]

I did enjoy it, Davie... even if you were being fussy... =] Thank you... Mike

[@mikeking453]

You truly are a master.

[@sirmegallot3276]

A beaut as usual Davie

[@rosariourtasunsanz1671]

Good job,Davie

[@50Squirrel]

Brilliant as always!

[@tomcrowley9269]

beautiful work sir

[@fredleroux6920]

Inspiring as always, thank you

[@Vincentdonnelly5158]

Great fly. Great video.

[@edboutdoors3632]

Wow Dave you do incredible work that is amazing where do you like to get your fly tying material

[@Chipbarm1009]

Not sure about the new start.... I miss the old one already

[@chasnaj]

It sure has a different character and feel than the rest of the video...

[@harleyjune1233]

small muddler wet... - i tied this the other day and mine floated? do i need to lead the body? - or fish it split shot on dropper? or maybe a sink line let it float above the line below? - thanks in advance

[@mortellarojoseph4111]

Very good beautiful fly

[@stephenwylie145]

Like the guitar music at the start.. great fly with a dropper

[@Jay-xc5uf]

Beauty is the muddler ❤

[@jamiewilliams1287]

How do you fish this muddler minnow?

[@Sribolov]

Прекрасное видео. Супер!

[@mikewalters4994]

That's a Beautiful Fly!!.. I've just started tying and spinning deer hair. I'm really getting into it. Do you tie any deer hair poppers?? I'm going to start fly fishing for Bass. Thanks for sharing this pattern with us.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mike, I'm glad you liked the fly, I've never tyed a popper maybe I should do one in the future as I'm sure it would test me out.. All the very best Davie

[@mikewalters4994]

@@DavieMcPhail I'm sure you could handle one with ease. You seem like the type of guy to me that loves a challenge. I will keep an eye open to see if you post one. Thanks Davie !!! Stay Safe !!!..

[@simonlakin5067]

Thanks Davie, great pattern. Do you ever lightly burn the head to tighten it up?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Simon, I have done this but mostly on larger flies which is easier to do though you could do this on this size but you would have to be very careful..I'm glad you liked the fly.. All the very best Davie...

[@matiasrafaelleiva3152]

Excelente video, como siempre!

[@alessandradeoliveira8785]

Amigo Matias. Estou há dias tentado te encontrar. 66996025375

[@jorgefishingfly]

Hermosa Davie👏👏👏👏👏

[@frankmonroe8320]

A great fly here in new england. Love your version. I tend to tie with what my buddies harvested in the fall hunting season. Keep tying Davie. And I don't like the fulling mill intro. It's not your style.

[@flydryriver4966]

Sorry but I use these as a dry fly and big browns in the evening smash them like candy.

[@lazetanqn]

Man, you are the best. I love this fly. A question, you use this fly like a tradicional streamer?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Hugo, I put this fly on a cast of two to three flies and I would normally put this fly on the top dropper so that it's close to the surface bringing it through the waves which the fish love..I've also fished it on it's own as a dry fly but you can fish it in many ways as it's a great all-round pattern.. I'm glad you liked it.. All the very best Davie..

[@lazetanqn]

@@DavieMcPhail Yes, i fish it like a streamer, but on a #2 to # 6 hook. I love your fly, in a very small size. I'll try it. Thanks!!!

[@МиколаГеранічев]

👍

[@johnprentice2546]

The muddler should be made into a Scottish streamer. Big trout would be willing to accept an offer of such a creation.

[@tattvamasi_1]

👍👍👏👏 Sea trout in the tidal zone of the mouth of the river loves this fly very much.