FLYMPH FORUM

Muskrat
Hook - Mustad 3906 Wet or 94840 Dry size 14
Thread- Uni 8/0 Black
Tail - Brown Hen Hackle
Body - Muskrat (guard hairs removed)
Collar - Brown Hen Hackle

The lowly Muskrat. My gateway drug into the world of Flymphs and Soft Hackles, and still my favorite pattern.
The fly in the picture is tyed on a Mustad 94840, size 14, but I tie them down to 20's aswell. I dont know what hook the original was tyed on, but I do well with both the wet and dry hooks. I tie an Olive Muskrat, and an Orange one aswell. These two are tyed with rabbit instead of Muskrat. When my non fly tying buddies would bum flys off me, they would ask for either the Orange or Olive "Muskrat" and the names just stuck with me.

Wayne - Thank you for posting the detailed material listing and photo. Lovely body taper and crisply tyed, by the way. I plan to add some of these to my fly box in the near future. Great stuff!!!

PRIMO!........

I tied up a bunch of these after your earlier post and they are killers. As long as I am on here, let me ask this, and not intending to hijack the thread: is muskrat the same as water rat in the old dressings?
Any way, great fly and thanks for posting a pic of your tie.

John - I'm no expert, but I think water rat and muskrat are different animals. I believe water rats are from Europe, while muskrats are from North America. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable chimes it to answer your question...

"more knowledgeable".......... .............oh well..... ...........i was recently told they are not the same animal...........and i believe you have it exactly right Ray.

JohnP wrote:I tied up a bunch of these after your earlier post and they are killers. As long as I am on here, let me ask this, and not intending to hijack the thread: is muskrat the same as water rat in the old dressings?
Any way, great fly and thanks for posting a pic of your tie.

Glad the fly is working for you. Actually amazed anyone but me would tie it.
A muskrat is native to N. America.

DUBBN wrote:

JohnP wrote:I tied up a bunch of these after your earlier post and they are killers. As long as I am on here, let me ask this, and not intending to hijack the thread: is muskrat the same as water rat in the old dressings?
Any way, great fly and thanks for posting a pic of your tie.

Glad the fly is working for you. Actually amazed anyone but me would tie it.
A muskrat is native to N. America.

I did know that about muskrats. I just wasn't sure what a water rat is, or was. As for the pattern, it has all the elements I like - it is simple to tie, pleasant to look at and it catches fish! I even tied a weighted, beadhead version for a friend of mine to test out on his favorite lake.

It's nice to have a pic to go with the description. Good job...and nice fly.

Oh and did you know your vise was dirty?!?



Vicki

Vicki, clean is over-rated........