Tying the Rusty Rat (Salmon Fly) with Davie McPhail

[@cwmitch2]

Just wanted to say as someone new to fly tying your videos are my library. Anything I'm not sure how to do I always find the answer through you, Many Many thanks Davie. Regards Colin.

[@joeduca8582]

Davie that was fantastic, thank you. It's 2016 and I've been watching a few rusty rat videos. Yours is the best by far! I don't remember if badger was in the original and I've heard various takes on the history but that silver fox body hair is beautiful. I've heard the mask is ideal as you said. I bought a silver fox tail at our state fair this year that is great. Almost 2 feet long plush with 3" long hair as thick as my hair was 40 yeas ago! ;-) It's not as grizzled as that body piece but has a white tip and mostly black and some white spread throughout. Only $15! I can't believe it! Tandy Leather company. I'll definitely be tying some rats and other salmon/steelhead flies and skandi style thanks to your tutorials. ATB Davie!

[@rcflybry]

Beautiful fly and an absolute work of art Davie!! Always great to see your work on here.

[@madaboottroot]

I never fish for salmon but it's relaxing just watching you tie the flies. Salmon flies are more interesting and natural looking than trout flies. Great video!

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Hi Davie, I do not have silver fox and I have difficulties when tying grey squirrel. I use badger for the wing it's softer and looks great. By the way you are the reason I started fly tying. Your vids are great. Keep on tying!!

[@cardfishing506]

Its especially popular in New Brunswick Canada to !! Thats were the fly was born !!

[@tedpace4465]

Thanks Dave, I am going to try to master this. My local Salmon Association here and tying group has a challenge out on this fly.. Could you use Artic Fox for the wing? It will be nice to get back into tying some salmon flies, been tying a ton of pike, and bass flies for my Kayak Team here in Nova Scotia. Thanks Davie, always a pleasure

[@tjmfishing]

@DavieMcPhail Neat. I read that he was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick before moving to Saint John, NB. Campbellton is about 6 hours from where I live and 90 minutes from my father's hometown on the Gaspe in Quebec. There are amazing salmon rivers in Northern New Brunswick and the Gaspe, heck, every river up that way is a salmon river. I'll have to tell the guys at fly tying what you said. One of the guys there also has one of his flies framed. Taylor

[@dannymcg8300]

Lovely looking fly there, Davie.

[@varkskiet]

Beautiful, will have to try this one for steelhead this fall.

[@SOFAKINGMAINE]

@DavieMcPhail Davie, Search Warren Duncan on KZbin. If you haven't seen this, take a look. It's Warren Duncan tying a Rusty Rat while reciting a Robert Service poem. I can't post the link in this reply.

[@tjmfishing]

It was rumored that Warren Duncan could tie one of these in one minute, forty-five seconds.

[@fisterra66]

Hola Davie, impresionante, eres un artista, gracias.

[@mw2koolboy]

@DavieMcPhail Thank you

[@txflytier]

Hi Davie I was wondering why on the salmon hooks they leave the eye open like that. The way they just bend the hook around and leave the eyes uncliped I guess that what I am trying to say... Chance

[@MrWilliamlynch1984]

Hi davie, beautiful fly, where can you buy the floss?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi William, I have attached a link to a company that sell the stout flosses, I've not bought from them myself though they have been around for a very long time.. All the very best Davie morus-silk.com/product-category/fishing/salmon-tying-silk/?v=79cba1185463

[@tedpace4465]

Thank you Davie, time will only tell now.. Thanks

[@TotallyFlyTying]

Hi Davie, Is there anything else you could use instead of the silver Fox? Thanks, ~David

[@madaboottroot]

Could you tie smaller versions and use them for rainbows and browns?

[@mw2koolboy]

what is that thing called for holding the thread???