A few muddlers

[mayflyjunky]

I am trying to improve on my muddler heads so any advice would be welcome,

Black hopper muddler

Pearly Dabbler Muddler

(I would like to think) A Georgous George muddler

[arkle]

Try using a stronger thread, Kevlar is perfect. Much better than g.s.p's which are so smooth they cut the hairs. Next use a tool, such as a "Brassie" to compress the hair, it makes the hair easier to trim. Use scissors that have one micro-serrated edge when trimming as they hair doesn't slip from the blades.

Overall they're pretty good, hope this is of some help.

[stevekale]

Or just use 3/0 monocord for the larger versions (say, size 12). Agree using a brassie can help. I just use an old-fashioned razor blade (split in two) to trim deer hair.

If you want to see precision muddler head work in practice, check out the latest tutorial on Charlie Craven's website:

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/fly...m?parentID=176



or his muddler minnow

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/fly...fm?parentID=54



Click on the photos to enlarge them. The heads are so neat it's scary. (He doesn't bother with a brassie for muddler heads but uses one on a Goddard caddis.)

[arkle]

Another site worth a look is www.gajaflies.com

[AndrewMWalker]

Sorry for the stupid question, but what's brassie

A

[arkle]

A tool made for compressing deer hair made by Chris Helm, one of the worlds best deerhair tyer's. Try googling "brassie"..........

[stevekale]

http://www.lakelandflytying.com/1886...r_Packers.aspx

[Cap'n Fishy]

Don't think anyone has mentioned a hair stacker? If you want to get a neat collar (like a hackle) of untrimmed hairs at the rear edge - like in some of those super-neat photos - put your bunch of hair (tips first) into a hair-stacker and tap away with it for a good few hits until you get all the tips aligned.

Those heads are fantastically neat, but will they catch more fish? I'm not so sure. I get the impression that part of the attractiveness of muddlers is the disturbance they make when pulled through the water. Wouldn't a rough and ready finish to the head make more disturbance than a super-smooth one? Just a thought

Col

[savage take]

nice tying peter. have to agree with the cap,n here. rough and ready.

[mayflyjunky]

Fantastic replies Guys thanks for all the links and help.

That's an interesting point though, Chris Helms flies are picture perfect, nearly too aesthetic? (I understand the rough and ready but mines a bit too rough, I would like to achieve a bit more consistancy )
Could it be more a fact of the type of water you are fishing?? Would that determine the build of the head??? I'm thinking roughish water on the loughs.

Originally Posted by savage take

nice tying peter. have to agree with the cap,n here. rough and ready.

Very tasty Andrew, loved your peach muddler.