Steve Hudson
Senior Member
Warm weather is here, and bass and saltwater fish are on the prowl. Go after them with the Gurgler!
There are few things more exiting than the explosive strike you get when a big fish blasts a topwater fly -- and one of the best topwater flies you'll find is the time-honored Gurgler. It's fun to tie, easy to fish, and extremely durable -- and it works as well in saltwater as it does on your local freshwater pond or lake or stream.
Our version of the Gurgler can be fished as a "super popper" (think of it as a "Hula Popper" for the fly rod), as a diving fly, or as a surface-skimming jerk bait. Its versatility is unmatched, and I am sure it's a fly you will really enjoy tying and fishing!
Materials:
Hook: Size 1 or 1/0 saltwater or freshwater hook. Go ahead and tie on saltwater hooks if you think there's a chance you'll be fishing in the salt. 1XL is preferred.
Thread: 3/0 to match color of body foam. You want strong thread!
Tail: White bucktail (the classic) or synthetics. Many long-fiber synthetics can also be used, especially blends which contain some flash. Note that tail color should match body color.
Flash: You can add several strands of crystal flash to the tail for added flash. You won't need this if you are using a synthetic blend which includes flash, but it can be used to enhance a bucktail tail.
Body: Craft foam strip about a half inch wide and about 4 inches long. 3mm or 2mm foam. White is the classic, though other colors (tan, gray, olive, black) can also be used. Note that tail color and body color generally should match.
Hackle: Long-fibered hackle feather (for example, strung hackle or schlappen), large woolly bugger hackle (if fibers are long), or various types of long-fibered hackle yarn.
Eyes: Plastic bead chain eyes. Eyes can also be made from a narrow strip of colored foam.
Zoom meeting details:
The Tying Bench:
FRIDAY, June 3, at 7 p.m.
(note the special day and time this week only)
Meeting ID: 896 4035 3755
Passcode: FlyTying3
There are few things more exiting than the explosive strike you get when a big fish blasts a topwater fly -- and one of the best topwater flies you'll find is the time-honored Gurgler. It's fun to tie, easy to fish, and extremely durable -- and it works as well in saltwater as it does on your local freshwater pond or lake or stream.
Our version of the Gurgler can be fished as a "super popper" (think of it as a "Hula Popper" for the fly rod), as a diving fly, or as a surface-skimming jerk bait. Its versatility is unmatched, and I am sure it's a fly you will really enjoy tying and fishing!
Materials:
Hook: Size 1 or 1/0 saltwater or freshwater hook. Go ahead and tie on saltwater hooks if you think there's a chance you'll be fishing in the salt. 1XL is preferred.
Thread: 3/0 to match color of body foam. You want strong thread!
Tail: White bucktail (the classic) or synthetics. Many long-fiber synthetics can also be used, especially blends which contain some flash. Note that tail color should match body color.
Flash: You can add several strands of crystal flash to the tail for added flash. You won't need this if you are using a synthetic blend which includes flash, but it can be used to enhance a bucktail tail.
Body: Craft foam strip about a half inch wide and about 4 inches long. 3mm or 2mm foam. White is the classic, though other colors (tan, gray, olive, black) can also be used. Note that tail color and body color generally should match.
Hackle: Long-fibered hackle feather (for example, strung hackle or schlappen), large woolly bugger hackle (if fibers are long), or various types of long-fibered hackle yarn.
Eyes: Plastic bead chain eyes. Eyes can also be made from a narrow strip of colored foam.
Zoom meeting details:
The Tying Bench:
FRIDAY, June 3, at 7 p.m.
(note the special day and time this week only)
Meeting ID: 896 4035 3755
Passcode: FlyTying3
