How to Build Muskie Lures

Few sport-fishing experiences can match the thrill of catching a muskellunge (muskie) on a fly rod. The muskie's primary diet consists of fish, so an angler using dry flies or nymph patterns is not likely to have any success fishing for muskie. A fly-fisherman can catch muskies on large streamer patterns, though. Tom McNally, author of "The Complete Book of Fly Fishing", believes muskies will take a red and yellow McNally Magnum before any other lure or bait. Fortunately, McNally Magnum fly patterns are not difficult to tie.

Things You'll Need

  • Hook Vise
  • Thread
  • Chenille (yellow)
  • Hooks
  • Saddle hackles (red and yellow)
  • Scissors
  • Varnish or head cement
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Affix the hook in the vise in such a way that the jaws enclose a portion of the hook bend while the shaft and point of the hook are exposed.

    • 2

      Wrap the thread around the hook shaft four to five times, and stop at a point approximately 3/4 of the way up the hook shaft.

    • 3

      Place a strand of yellow chenille along the top of the hook shaft and wrap the thread back over a portion of the chenille strand until you reach the hook bend, leaving the rest of the chenille strand extending beyond the back of the hook. Advance the thread forward to the 3/4 point of the hook shaft.

    • 4

      Wrap the chenille forward over the hook shaft to form a cigar-shaped body up to the 3/4 point of the hook shaft. At that point, wrap the thread three to four times over the end of the chenille strand, and trim away any excess chenille.

    • 5

      Tie in six yellow saddle hackles and two red saddle hackles by wrapping the thread three to seven times over the base end of the hackle feathers. The hackle feathers should point backward along the top of the hook shank and should be roughly 5 to 7 inches in length. Advance the thread forward to a point just behind the eye of the hook..

    • 6

      Take the two red saddle hackle feathers and wrap them around final 1/4 of the hook shaft in such a manner that the individual feather fibers stand out at a ninety-degree angle from the hook shank. Keep wrapping these feathers around the hook shank until you reach a point just behind the eye of the hook. Wrap the thread around the tip of the hackle feathers two to five times, and trim away the excess portion of these feathers.

    • 7

      Pull the red hackle feather fibers gently in such a way that the fibers point toward the hook bend. Wrap the thread snugly against the base of the feather fibers an additional three to seven times to ensure the red hackle fibers keep facing backward.

    • 8

      Tie off the fly and trim away any excess thread. Place a drop of varnish or head cement on the thread wrapping just behind the eye of the hook and let the varnish dry.