Recipe
for Rat Mouse
Hook: 37187 stinger bass hook, size 6.
Thread: Gudebrod GX2 or any gel spun polyester, black flat waxed nylon for the
head and nose.
Weed Guard: 20 lb, 0.022”dia, Mason’s hard monofilament. 3” long.
Tail: Ultrasuede 2” long
Ears: Ultrasuede, 1” wide, x 5/16” (or 3/8”) diameter dumbbell
shaped.
Body: Natural deer body hair. (See note regarding hair).
Whiskers: Moose body hair.
Eyes: Black magic marker.
(Note
on hair) We want the belly of this fly to flare, and the
top not to flare. The heavier hair on the belly is what will
allow this fly to float, and the fine hair on the top will not flare,
but lay back as the natural. You could use two different patches,
or as in our case, we will use the bottom half of the hair for the
belly, and the tops of other bunches for the top of the body. (The
bottom half of any strand of deerhair is the part that has the air
pockets, and makes the best spinning or stacking hair. The top
half lacks these air pockets, and therefore will not flare well.)
Directions
Step 1. Tie on just behind the hook eye, and wind back to the
mid point of the bend. Wind quickly back to just over the point
of the hook. At this point it’s a good idea to apply a
coat of “zap-a-gap” to the entire thread base. Using
the pinch technique, tie on the 3” piece of hard mono, and wrap
it back to the mid point of the bend. Wrap quickly back to the
point just over the barb. (See photo 107)
Step 2. Tie on the tail just over the barb. Cut very close
to the skin a clump of hair, at least ¼” in diameter. Tie
the butt ends on under the hook in the gape area. Next, remove
half as much hair for the top, and tie it on top by wrapping throught
the mid point of this clump toward the rear of the bottom clump. As
you tighten the thread, hold it so it doesn’t spin around the
hook. Keep it on the top.