Bodkin / Patterns

Gurgler

Topwater · Striped Bass · Bluefish · Jack · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · False Albacore · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Intermediate · 2 versions

Gurgler fly

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Saltwater hook, 1/0-4
  • Thread White 3/0

Materials

  • Tail White bucktail or craft fur (sparse)
  • Body Chenille or flash (simple)
  • Lip/Collar Foam strip (folded over head)
  • Flash Flashabou (sparse)

How to tie it

  1. Mount hook, tie in a sparse bucktail or craft fur tail with a little flash.
  2. Tie in a foam strip at the bend, extending back over the tail.
  3. Wrap a simple body forward, then pull the foam over the top and tie down behind the eye.
  4. Fold the foam excess up and back into a short upturned lip over the hook eye, and lock it. Trim the lip about a hook-gap tall.
  5. Whip finish under the lip.

Substitutions

  • Lip/Collar instead of Foam strip: 2mm craft foam strip — Standard approach; Fly Foam strip — Purpose-made, fine cell
  • Tail instead of White bucktail or craft fur: White EP Fibers — Sheds water, casts easier; Marabou + flash — More movement

Other versions

1 more in the app: Warm.

Tying videos

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