Maggot

[Hans Weilenmann]

There is something really attractive about simple yet very effective



Maggot
Hook: Sprite Grub #14 (or equivalent heavy wire scud hook)
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Abdomen: Camel (or other cream fine dubbing)
Rib: Tying thread
Thorax: Peacock herl, re-enforced with tying thread

Cheers,
Hans W

[DUBBN]

This pattern reminds me of the Buckskin. I will have to practice my dubbing technique to get my body as tightly wrapped and perfectly tapered as your pattern is. I will copy your maggot and run it head to head with my Buckskins.

I wonder. Think they take it as a maggot or a caddis larva? In either case, if they bring fish to hand, I am happy.

[William Anderson]

Hans, these simple patterns are my favorites. I'm curious about the length of the camel fibers. The material I have is rather long in the staple (over an inch). Did you cut this or is it a prepackaged product? I have shied from camel for some time because of the length of the fibers. It seems there are other materials that would be fine in a shorter staple and the thing the camel has going for it is its unique length.

Wayne, do you have a buckskin pattern to post? I've seen the pattern in an old tying book somewhere and I know they are around, but I would like to see the comparison. More than that, I'm looking forward to hearing about the field testing. I hope your weather turns friendly soon. It's been a long stretch since seeing your trip pics.

Maggots. I have heard of trout feeding opportunistically on available maggots if a carcass is near the waters edge or in the water, but is there an aquatic supply of maggots? I wish I could remember the author, maybe Ted Leeson, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but he described finding an unfortunate deer lying just in the water. For kicks he unleashed a torrent of maggots from the body and watched a seemingly quiet and minor pool below erupt in a piranha like feeding frenzy.

Another reason to fool around with the Killer Bugs.

w

[Hans Weilenmann]

Hans, these simple patterns are my favorites. I'm curious about the length of the camel fibers. The material I have is rather long in the staple (over an inch). Did you cut this or is it a prepackaged product? I have shied from camel for some time because of the length of the fibers. It seems there are other materials that would be fine in a shorter staple and the thing the camel has going for it is its unique length.

Long staple, but tightly dubbed

[letumgo]

Nice maggot, Hans.

William's comments reminded me of a couple photos I took several years ago. I was walking along the edge of the stream while fly fishing, and I came across the decaying remains of a smallmouth bass. The body was completely covered in white maggots. I stopped to look at it closely, watching the maggots wriggle as they feed on the bass. After taking a few photos, I pushed the body out into the main stream. The current washed away the maggots, and they formed a long trail downstream. Soon, the water was boiling with the activity of small baitfish feeding on the trail of maggots.




Pretty gross, but still worth a couple photos.

[Mataura mayfly]

Hans, nice "Maggot" imitation. I use a lot of them here- tied with a brown or olive floss body as a Caddis nymph- just as Wayne pointed out.

Ray. I will never hold back now with my "dissection" photographs...... that Bass is just gross!
It does make a point though and help explain how Maggots become to be in the aquatic system.
Kind of reminds me of the old Scottish poachers trick of hanging a sheeps head on a branch overhanging a trout stream........

[DUBBN]

Buckskin
Hook- Mustad 3399A, size 16 or 18
Thread- Veevus Black, 14/0
Body- Chamois
Head- Black super fine dubbing

[letumgo]

Nice!! I tie a pattern very similar to your's Wayne.

[hankaye]

Ray & Jeff, Howdy;

In that Survival school they taught us that maggots are beneficial
in 2 ways. First, they can be used to clean wounds as they only eat
deteriorating flesh and secondly, they are a source of pure protein.
Not to bad ... after the first few ...

hank

[William Anderson]

Thanks, Wayne. I'm going to do my best to produce Hans' maggot and your buckskin. Nice and simple.