How to Tie Muskie Lures

The muskellunge (muskie) is one of the largest and most exciting freshwater fish in North America. Many fishermen specialize in fishing for them. One way to increase the variety and excitement of the sport is to tie your own lures. Tying a muskie lure is very similar to tying any other fly. The main difference is the muskie lure is much larger.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly-tying vise
  • No. 6 wide gap hook
  • Tying thread
  • Bobbin
  • Metal fly eyes
  • Red and black enamel paint and brush
  • Multicolored saddle hackle
  • Pearl flashabou
  • Bucktail
  • Fly-tying scissors
  • Fly-tying glue
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mount the hook in the fly-tying vise. Put the thread on the bobbin. Attach the thread to the front of the hook by winding it several times. Let the thread hang below the hook on the bobbin.

    • 2

      Cut six strands of pearl flashabou and a single-saddle hackle feather to a length three times the hook. Use the fly-tying scissors. Choose three separate colors of bucktail and cut approximately 30 strands of each to a length twice the hook.

    • 3

      Lay the shaft of the saddle hackle feather so it sets at the front of the hook and hold it with one hand. Turn the thread around the feather several times to tie in the saddle hackle feather. Gather the strands of pearl flashabou into one hand and lay them on the hook together in one group. Use the thread to tie in the pearl flashabou. The hook will now have pearl flashabou and saddle hackle tied in at the top of the hook extending behind the hook.

    • 4

      Gather the lightest color bucktail. Hold all the strands in one hand under the front of the hook. Use the thread to tie this in. Take each of the other colors individually and tie them in separately at the top of the hook in the same manner.

    • 5

      Lay the metal fly eyes on the top of the hook 1/16 inch behind the eye of the hook. Use the thread to tie the eyes in. Apply several dabs of fly-tying glue at the top of the hook where the materials have all been tied.

    • 6

      Paint the metal fly eyes with two coats of black enamel paint. Allow this paint to dry. Paint two red pupils on the outside of the fly-tying eyes. Allow to dry. The fly is now ready to fish.