Everything seems to be getting the Straggle treatment these days so why not a Montana?

Dressing:

Hook - FM Comp Heavyweight size 8
Thread UTC 70 Black
Undertail - Definate Advantage Humungus Silver Sparkle
Overtail - Black Marabou
Body - Small Black Tinsel Chenille
Thorax Cover - Pearl Shellback
Thorax - Black Straggle n' Silver



Tie in your silver undertail first about the same length as the hook shank. Cover the tag end of material in touching turns back towards the eye to maintain a nice, level underbody.




Tie in a small pinch of marabou for the overtail and pinch to a length just longer than the silver. Catch in your chosen body material at this point.




Wind the chenille up towards the eye in touching turns, ensuring you sweep back the chenille towards the tail between each turn. Stop at a point just beyong halfway along the shank and tie off your chenille.




Select your chosen thorax cover material and catch in along with the straggle. Be careful when winding on the straggle to ensure you do not catch too many of the fibres, tie off the straggle and bring the thorax cover forward towards the eye. Catch in, build a nice neat head, coat head and thorax cover with varnish.




The Straggle Montana.


Dougie

Eugh

Hehe, not my kind of fly Dougie, but thank you and nice tie anyway.

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Dougie, that IS my kind of fly. I actually came up with something similar, although not as nicely tied, using fluoro green straggle at the thorax and it has done well for me this winter.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

I like it dougie looks good how do YOU fish it with a long leader on a floating line i would imagine

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FEAR NO FISH JUST THE WIFE
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Hi Frankie,

I use it more as a searching fly. If surface activity has dried up I'll put a montana on the point and a DB or Cruncher on the dropper with a slow intermediate and fig8 retrieve. Works well for me.

A variation of this fly incorporating olive glister in the thorax produced 27 rainbows for me on my first trip to Fitty a couple of seasons back.

Dougie

Just tied one up Dougie; I'm impressed.
What is the purpose of the undertail please?
With the shellback, the fritz and the straggle, I would have thought there would have been enough trigger points there?

This is not a criticism, I'm really interested in the thought process because the "Shuggie" and Daver's "deadly damsel" are tied the same way aren't they?

Steve

You're exactly right Steve. I tie this fly in a Shuggy version with gold or silver micro chenille thorax (to match the undertail) with a light cream or white hackle wound through - absolutely deadly. (I'll post a pic)

I think the undertail just gives that bit of edge. I did a wee experiment that day on Fitty by changing to a standard Monty and the fish just weren't having it.

Dougie

This one has been through the wars a wee bit - just proves it works!




Dougie

What's the rear body material on that fly Dougie? It looks as though it is dubbed eith Hares ear or similar??


Steve

Its actually dark olive/black Wapsi tinsel chenille Steve.

Dougie