modern Michigan streamer · date unknown
Maddin's Flash Monkey
Also called Flash Monkey
Likely origin Sold under Maddin's name by MFC and tied in a video Tai supplied; no design date or origin story found.
History
A lightly dressed baitfish fly that Montana Fly Company sells under Maddin's name. Dry, it looks thin and a bit odd; wet, the bucktail and flash pull into a teardrop minnow shape, and the bead-chain eyes let it hang and dart on a pause.
Retailers say Maddin first designed it for king salmon. It is swung or stripped hard with a two-handed retrieve, and shops now list it for trout, smallmouth and pike as well. Maddin's own tie is a two-hook version joined with beaded mono or wire, with the same bucktail-and-flash build on each hook. The single-hook flies MFC sells are a smaller take on it.
Materials
| Hook | Tandem: Ahrex Trout Predator streamer hooks, size 2 rear and size 1 front (the MFC shop version is a smaller size 4 tie) |
|---|---|
| Thread | Veevus 6/0 |
| Rear hook: tail | Bucktail |
| Rear hook: flash | Flashabou, Polarflash or Lateral Scale |
| Rear hook: accent | Barred saddle hackle |
| Rear hook: head | Bucktail |
| Connection | Heavy mono or intruder wire, with 3D or egg beads |
| Front hook: eyes | Bead chain |
| Front hook: wing | Bucktail with a peacock herl accent |
| Front hook: head | 3 inch Chromatic streamer brush |
| Finish | Clear nail hardener (Sally Hansen's) on the thread wraps |
Tying video
Russ Maddin's Flash Monkey by The Northern Angler
Sources
- "MFC Maddin's Flash Monkey." Ed's Fly Shop (product page).
- "Maddin's Flash Monkey #4." Alaska Fly Fishing Goods (product page).
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No photo yet. Every photo on michfly is of a fly tied for the site, so they're added a few at a time.
Original recipe cards for many Michigan patterns are kept at the Michigan Dry Flies archive, built by the late Tom Deschaine.