Bodkin / Patterns

RIO's Morrish Mouse

Nymph · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Pike · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Long-shank streamer/bass hook, 2-6
  • Thread Brown or tan 6/0 (140 denier) or 210 denier

Materials

  • Deer belly hair (body) Natural brown/tan deer belly hair (several bunches)
  • Closed-cell foam, 2mm (back strip) Brown thin foam (1 strip)
  • Thin leather, foam, or rubber (tail) Brown silly legs nymph size (1 strip)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base along the shank and tie in a thin leather or foam tail at the bend, about one shank length long.
  2. Bind a strip of brown foam at the bend on top, pointing back over the tail, to be pulled forward later as the back.
  3. Spin or stack a bunch of deer belly hair just ahead of the tie-in, let it flare, and pack it back tight with a hair packer.
  4. Add and pack successive bunches of flared deer hair forward, keeping the packing firm, until you reach the 85% mark; leave room at the eye.
  5. Whip finish, remove the fly, and trim the spun hair flat on the bottom and rounded on top into a slim mouse body (take less than you think, so the fly stays light and floats).
  6. Pull the brown foam strip forward over the trimmed top as a smooth back and re-attach thread at the eye to bind it down.
  7. Build a small thread head, whip finish, and cement; trim the foam nose short and square.

Tying videos

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