The original Muddler has spawned a large number of variations that all have the clipped deer hair head. It is now used all around the world. The head is tied with natural deer hair and then clipped into shape. The Buoyant deer hair keeps the Muddler off the bottom, so it can be fished at all depths. The hair is hollow and the trapped air makes it buoyant. Fish them as a wake fly when the weather is dull which is usually late in the season when the sedges can be seen skating on the surface. A Muddler striped across the waves can induce ferocious takes from trout which will follow it for yards. Tied in natural colors this type of pattern can prove effective. With a sinking line its buoyancy adds life to the fly. Towards the end of the season trout go on a feeding spree to build up strength for their annual orgy. More trout show cannibalistic tendencies at this time of the year than any other and eat trout fry (baby fish). These small fish congregate in areas that suit their needs like marginal weed beds or entrances to feeder streams. The streamer lure now comes into its own. These fry imitations flies are probably one of the leading Streamer Lures at this time. On large saltwaters a Muddler Minnow fished fast at the surface, in a big wave, is always worth trying in late summer as a brown sedge fly representation.

The Muddler Minnows are true great flies. They are often used as surface streamer/lures for sea-trout fishing at night. In breeze midsummer weather skip it across the surface to bring trout up for an attack. They are also useful for salmon in shallow water. When retrieving try to mimic the action of the local small fry. You can fish the Muddler at different depths. It is a great all-rounder. Fished slow and deep along the bottom can fool the fish into thinking it is an aggressive dragonfly nymph. Fish it with slow steady pulls, pausing between each pull. Study where your fish are feeding. Try the muddler on a slow sinking line retrieved at a slow pace just under the surface. This fly is now tied and used all over the world. There are many variations on the same basic pattern.

The Muddlers are good imitations of a small sculpins. Many smallmouth bass rivers have large populations of sculpins. These creatures are bottom hugging minnows that live under stones in well aerated water. This means that smallmouths living below riffles often feed heavily on sculpins as the offer a substantial meal. Wade into a river just below a riffle and cast across and slightly downstream. Give your streamer time to sink and then strip the line to make your fly swim along the bottom a good six inches every five or so seconds. Make about six casts to the same location and make each one about four feet longer than the last. If you do not have any luck wade about three yards downstream and start the sequence again. This overlapping casting system enables the fly to be seen by nearly all the bass in front of you. A prime feeding location for bass is against a three foot deep shaded bank as this is where the sculpins like to live. Wade into the middle of the river and cast downstream tight against the bank. If you do not get an immediate strike move down stream about five foot. If you see minnows splashing through the shallows they are probably trying to evade predatory bass or trout. Smallmouths often patrol around gravel bars and grass beds on overcast days at dawn and dusk. Cast your fly about three feet in front of the minnow and to the side of the minnows. Aim to strip your streamer through the middle of the shoal in the hope of presenting it in front of the oncoming bass.