May 23 2008
Fly Day- Friday: The Muddler Minnow
For all you fishermen out there who dream of catching trophy trout, yet always come up short, wondering why it seems that the trout aren’t eating anything you are presenting to them, it is actually quite simple; it seems as though they are not eating, because, in fact, they might not be.
Before getting too frustrated with the seemingly ‘fasting’ fish, consider two major things: water temperature, and water level. These two natural characteristics tend to be inversely related, in most cases. This means that generally, with a rise in temperature, there will be a decrease in water. This also means that an increase in water will typically result in a decrease in water temperature. These factors vary due to location, weather patterns, dams, and many other things.
If the water level and the temperature of the water seem normal, then simply try another fly, but if either of the two factors, especially the later, is abnormal, simply pull in your line and wait. If conditions are not favorable for large trout, they will become dormant during the day, trying to conserve as much energy as possible in case of emergency, and simply just to stay alive. To do this, they will usually sit out of currents, along the sides of streams, where they can still receive enough oxygen to breathe, but not have to remain swimming; some large trout will lay on the bottom, generally on the immediate downstream side of a submerged rock or log. As well as maintaining energy by not resting in currents, trout will cease to hunt and eat during the day, and rather will resort to feeding at night, under the cool cover of darkness. At night, when the water temperature cools, the trophy trout will begin to feed. So, on those hot summers days, it is best to start fishing around dusk, and fish throughout the night. When night fishing, there is one fly that stands out above all others: the Muddler Minnow.
The Muddler Minnow’s slender body, paired with its large, deer hair, head, make it a welcoming meal for any trophy trout cruising the waters in the late night. The deer hair head is what truly sets this streamer apart, for two major reasons, initial presentation, and retrieving presentation.
Initial presentation is the state of the fly the moment it first hits the surface of the water. The initial presentation is hinged on a slue of factors, such as the fly’s size, weight, structure, speed, and other such variables. When presenting a fly, it is typically advantageous for the fisherman to ease the fly into the water, with as little disruption as possible, but with the Muddler Minnow, it is a wholly different game. Due to its large head, the Muddler Minnow causes much disruption to the surface tension, which, at night catches the attention of, and attracts large trout. To present the fly initially, it is best to utilize the roll cast, or the barrel cast. The Muddler Minnow is a very heavy streamer, especially when wet, and can be quite a challenge for one to back cast. Once the fly hits the water, it is important to begin properly retrieving the fly: the retrieving presentation.
The retrieving presentation consists of all action of the fly from the time it hits the water, until it is ready to be cast again. When retrieving the Muddler Minnow, it should be drawn in short strips. The fisherman should allow about a ten second pause between each jerk, (try not to allow a pattern to form in the jerks and pauses of the retrieving presentation; a patterned retrieve will make the streamer less lifelike, and may spook the targeted trout).
What makes the Muddler Minnow unique from all other streamers is its head. The deer hair that makes up the head of the streamer is hollow, much like a clump of extremely small straws. These hairs trap small amounts of air inside their hollows, which, during every tuck of the line, is forced out of their confinement, and into the water, creating a quite noticeable disturbance along the surface of the water. Almost simultaneously, as well as during the pause, these hairs reopen, and fill again with air.
The most beneficial area to fish the Muddler Minnow, especially at night, is along the edges of river banks, as well as along protruding logs or rocks. At night, large fish will tend to move into shallower water, where smaller minnows and crayfish roam the riverbeds. Even in the lively nightlife of the riverbed, the Muddler Minnow truly makes a splash, and is a delectable treat for any large trout that may be in the area.
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