This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Muddler Minnow. Muddlers imitate various bait fish, namely sculpins.
This is a fly I tied many years ago…a feeble attempt at best.
The development of the Muddler Minnow was attributed to Don Gapen of Anoka, Minnesota in 1937. Don’s parents ran the Gateway Lodge Resort on the shore of Hungry Jack Lake. A second resort was opened on the Nipigon River in Ontario called the Chalet Bungalow Lodge. Evidently, Don developed the Muddler there to catch brook trout. After that, the fly reached legendary status as it was popularized in Montana and now everyone knows about it.
I have to be honest, I haven’t fished this fly much. I really don’t fish many streamers except an occasional attempt trying to hook up on a Bull Trout in the Metolius. But I know many fly fishers do and swear by it.
Maybe you have.
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The Muddler has long been a favorite. One year (1981) I fished one fly style for a complete season. It was a Muddler size 4 to 18. I thought is was an interesting bit of trivia until a conversation with Gary LaFontaine proved I was not the only person to fish a single fly for a year. He did it in 1978. The fly. You guessed it! It was a Muddler as well. That’s enough meaningless trivia for today. Take care & …
Tight Lines – Al Beatty
Al
Thanks for the quick story about the Muddler Minnow. I appreciate the fact you shared it, which is one of the reasons I continue to post flies in Throw Back Thursday Flies.
John