StreamerintermediatePacific Northwest
Muddler Minnow
$5.95
Available Sizes#2 - #10
Color Variations
NaturalBlackWhite
Don Gapen tied the first Muddler Minnow in 1937 to imitate a sculpin on the Nipigon River, and in doing so created a fly that transcends category. Is it a streamer? A dry fly? A wet fly? Yes. The spun deer hair head can be trimmed to float, fished weighted to sink, or swung in the current to do whatever it does. It catches trout, steelhead, bass, and salmon with the democratic efficiency of a pattern that refuses to specialize. The Muddler Minnow is not the best fly for any single application. It is the best fly for every application, which is a far more useful thing to be.
Quick Facts
TypeStreamer
Difficultyintermediate
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall
Target SpeciesRainbow Trout, Steelhead, Sea-Run Cutthroat, Smallmouth Bass
Sizes#2 - #10
Best LocationsDeschutes River, OR; Yakima River, WA; Rogue River, OR
Where to Fish It
Deschutes River
OR · Freestone River
Yakima River
WA · Freestone River
Rogue River
OR · Freestone River
Map unavailable. Locations for Muddler Minnow: Deschutes River, OR; Yakima River, WA; Rogue River, OR
Related Reading
region guide
Pacific Northwest Steelhead: The Complete Guide
Steelhead are the fish of a thousand casts. In the Pacific Northwest's rainforest rivers, anglers swing intricately tied flies through emerald runs for the chance at one explosive take from a chrome-bright sea-run rainbow. This is the complete guide to the pursuit.
hatch guide
Stoneflies: When Big Bugs Bring Big Fish
Stonefly hatches produce the most explosive dry-fly fishing of the season. From the legendary salmonfly emergence on western rivers to golden stones across the Pacific Northwest, these big bugs bring the biggest trout to the surface. Consider this your field guide to fishing Plecoptera — the clean-water giants that make twenty-inch trout eat flies the size of your thumb.
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