With the success of foam-based patterns such as the Booby and FAB, it’s easy to forget how popular other buoyant flies such as the Muddler once were. In the 70s one of the most effective reservoir lures was a big White Marabou Muddler tied on a single size 6 long shank or as a tandem if something really meaty was required. Fished on a fast sinker or ripped across the surface it was deadly for big, fry-feeding trout.
With its head of shaped deer hair, the Muddler originated in the US and was tied to imitate a small fish similar to our bullhead. The use of deer hair was later extended by the late Dave Barker to create what he called a Spondoolie but what we now know as a Deer Hair Fry. Even with the development of patterns such as the Popper Minkie and the Booby Minkie, this pattern – in its various forms – is still widely used, the great thing about deer hair being that it can create a softer more natural-looking effect than foam.
HOOK SIZE: 8-12 wet fly
THREAD: Black 6/0
TAG: Fine flat silver tinsel
TAIL: Golden pheasant crest
RIB: Fine silver wire or oval tinsel
BODY: Black seal’s fur or substitute
BODY HACKLE: Black cock hackle
COLLAR HACKLE: Brown (red game) cock hackle
HEAD: Natural grey or dyed brown deer hair
This summer, fly-fishing fanatics from across the country will descend on Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, for The Game Fair 2025
Join the UK River Summit on July 8 at London’s River Wandle for talks, art, fly-fishing and debate uniting policymakers, scientists, anglers and artists to promote clean rivers and better water use.