by Ken Hanley
Are you looking for an industrial strength tarpon and snook
fly?
Howard McKinney found the model for his dream pattern while fishing
with Captain Simon Becker. Captain Becker's a top guide in the Florida Key
West region. Becker's original streamer caught the imagination of Howard
during a highly productive adventure a few years ago. Since then Howard's
worked almost exclusively with the pattern, anytime it's necessary to
imitate mullet, for all his flats and estuary
fireworks.
McKinney made a few adjustments in the selection of raw materials, but
essentially has stayed true to Captain Becker's design. Howard's quick to
credit Becker for the outstanding features of the fly.
Materials List:
Tying Sequence:
Prepare two strips of rabbit fur approximately five inches in length. One strip should be cut 1/4" wide. The other strip should be cut 1/8" in width. To prepare the fur strips use a double edged razor blade. The thin metal provides a quick and accurate cutting edge.
Be sure to cut each strip in the direction the fur is growing ("flowing"). Always cut from the hide-side to protect the delicate fur fibers.
Step One
Start the streamer by winding your thread on at the mid-point of the shaft. Begin the tail assembly with the McFlylon Plus material. This under-tail should be approximately four inches long. Secure the material by wrapping back to the hook point. Next, add about sixteen strands of Krystal Flash for the mid-layer. The flash should be slightly longer than any other material in the tail assembly. Wrap back to your starting position. Position the wider rabbit strip so the fur flows backward. Wrap the thread back over the point and reverse it to your original starting position.
Step Two
Your next step will be creating the monofilament tail-guard. The guard will require an eight inch piece of hard mono.
Fold the mono in half and lay it directly over the hook shank (creating a small loop to the rear). Begin to wrap your thread backward. Adjust the size of the mono's loop so it's just a bit longer than the hook's bend. Continue to wrap back over the hook's point, then reverse the wrap to complete securing the monofilament. Cut the two mono tags at this point.
Take your entire tail assembly and bring it upward through the mono guard.
Step Three
The streamer's short body will be constructed using the narrow rabbit strip. Attach the strip at the shank's mid-point. Pay attention that you secure the strip fur-side down. As you begin to wrap the fur, blow on the fibers so they flow back away from your next forward wrap. The body only takes four wraps to complete.
The pattern's head is designed with two "clumps" of McFlyfoam material. The diameter of each clump should be about thumb size. Cut each piece of foam about three inches in length.
Using your tying thread as a guide, take the white foam and fold it onto the thread. Slide the foam along the thread to position it under the hook shank. Make a few wraps to secure the foam. Spread the foam apart, and continue to wrap a few extra security coils through the middle of the clump. Pull the thread back to your original starting position.
Repeat the process with the charcoal clump on top of the hook shank. Whip finish and cement the thread.
Step Four To achieve the final shape of the McMullet's head, you'll need a pair of very sharp scissors. Be careful not to cut any of the rabbit fur as you taper the rear foam area.
After all the cutting and trimming is complete you attach the eyes. Auto "Goop", or a similar product, is ideal for this application.
