Wiley’s Mad Hatter

Hook: Gamakatsu SP11 #2
Thread: 6/0 Uni-Thread
Eye: Medium Size Dumbbell Eye
Tail: Schlappin Feathers and Buck Tail
Body: Cross Cut Rabbit Strip
Collar: Base of Schlappin Feather
Flash: Holographic Flashabou
Legs: Sili Legs
Head: Ice Dubbing

Step 1- Start by putting a Gamakatsu SP11 #2 in the vise. Wrap a layer of 6/0 Uni-Thread on the shank.


Step 2- Attach a Medium size dumbbell eye 1/8” from the hook eye. Tie the eye on the underside of the hook shank.

Step 3- Take four Schlappin feathers and cut them about one and one half the length of the hook shank. Secure two feathers on either side of the hook.

Step 4- Tie in a small clump of buck tail on either side of the Schlappin feather. Make the buck tail about half the length of the Schlappin feathers.


Step 5- Tie in a strip of crosscut rabbit in the same area as the Schlappin and buck tail were. Wrap the rabbit forward to just before the eye, secure and cut off excess.



Step 6- Were the rabbit was tied off, tie in one of the fluffy base ends of the Schlappin that was cut off for the tail. Wrap that forward twice to the eye, secure and cut off excess.


Step 7- Now, tie in two rubber legs on each side of the fly. Tie the legs in right above the dumbbell eye.


Step 8- Now, take three to five strips of Flashabou, double them over and tie them in above the eyes as well.


Step 9- Take Ice Dubbing and dub over the area that the eyes, flash and legs were tie in at.


Step 10- Whip finish, cut thread, glue and serve to your local fish of choice.

I first started tying this fly to chase big brown trout on the Au Sable and Manistee river. It has evolved in to one of my go to patterns for smallmouth, largemouth and Pike as well. Tied in different colors this fly can be used almost anywhere to chase large predatory fish. So give this fly a try on your next trip, you may be presently surprised.
Aaron guides for Schultz outfitters in Ann Arbor Michigan. If you have any questions or would like to book a guided trip e-mail him at troutbum0112@yahoo.com or check out schultzoutfitters.com

Zuddy's Chewy Streamer (Chewbaca)

The Chewbaca Streamer is definitely my most requested tutorial. I do well with this streamer pattern on my home river in early to late May for big brown trout, and sometimes rainbows as well. I have heard many stories from other fisherman telling me how Chewbaca made the day on their home river too, which is always music to my ears. I nearly always fish it on a 250 grain sinking line with a short (3ft.) flourocarbon leader of 6-8 lb. test. It is simple to tie and fun to fish. As with most streamer fishing for trout, strip it fast and eratic, working the rod tip for even more action. Many times, trout will chase it all the way to the boat before grabbing it.... making for some really exciting takes!

Step 1: Place a Daiichi # 2461 size 4 streamer hook in your vise. Sometimes I even use a size 2. Attach your thread and wind it to the bend of the hook, even with the barb. For thread, I really like the GSP 100 in white. Tie in an olive barred white zonker strip as shown.

Step 2: Dub a short body of olive Ice Dub or Senyo's Laser Dub.

Step 3: Tie off the remnant of the zonker on top of the dubbed body and clip off the excess. Many times I will top the fly with a dozen or so strands of copper flashabou the same length as the zonker strip before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Clip off a clump of Australian Possum from a hide and tie it in tightly as shown. Advance thread to in front of the clump.

Step 5: Tie in a large mallard flank collar (usually 4 or 5 wraps around) and wind thread tightly against the A.P. clump so the flank splays out well.

Step 6: Tie in another clump of Australian Possum, this one a little thicker than the first. Whip finish. Now go catch a toad!

For Australian Possum hides visit http://www.swingabigfly.com/

Matt Zudweg is a full time guide for Feenstra Guide Service on Michigan's Muskegon River, and also owns http://www.boneyardflygear.com/