Bodkin / Patterns

Kennebago Muddler

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 4XL-6XL streamer hook (e.g. Daiichi 1750), 6-12
  • Thread Orange 6/0 (140 denier), plus GSP for spinning the head

Materials

  • Mallard flank fibers Orange-dyed mallard flank fibers (small bunch for tail)
  • Mylar / uni-mylar tinsel Gold oval tinsel (body)
  • Squirrel tail Grey / fox (underwing clump)
  • Mallard flank feather Orange-dyed mallard flank fibers (1-2 for wing)
  • Deer body hair Natural or orange-dyed deer body hair (collar and spun head)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread at the bend and tie in a short bunch of orange mallard flank fibers as a tail, about half a shank long.
  2. Tie in gold mylar tinsel and wrap a smooth, bright body forward to the 75% mark, then tie off. Leave room for the collar and head.
  3. Tie in a sparse clump of grey squirrel tail as an underwing, reaching to the end of the tail.
  4. Set a matched orange mallard flank feather (or a pair, tented) over the squirrel as the wing, lying low along the back.
  5. Switch to strong GSP thread. Spin or stack a collar of deer body hair, sweeping the tips back over the wing.
  6. Spin two or three more clumps of deer hair to fill the head, packing each tight against the last.
  7. Whip finish at the eye, then trim the spun head to a broad muddler shape (flat on the bottom, bulky and rounded on top) leaving the collar tips flared. Cement the thread.

Tying videos

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