Fly of the Month, The Gurgler.

This is a fly that anybody can tie no matter if it's their first or 100th fly to be tied. And everybody should be tying this fly as its quick, easy and very cheap to produce.

The Gurgle is a truly universal tool at tricking fish, and can be adapted to suit Trout, Bass and all manners of sweet and saltwater fish. This Fly can be fished as a loud vulgar fly on the surface that winds up Trevally and Tailor into a frenzy, to a sliding gentle fly that represents a mudeye or struggling grass hopper to a Booby type fly on a sinking line, in both the sweetwater and the salt.

Most people that I have spoken to about using the Gurgler use the as a surface fly for which it was originally designed for, however when used on a full sinking line or head like a LC13 you have a fly that doesn't foul the bottom and when retrieved in hard short strips, pulls down and floats backwards and upwards, this action seems to trigger a strike even in sleepy Flathead.

From my experiences Trevally, Tailor/Blues and even Trout love the up and downwards movement. In the Trout's case I believe the movement represents a mudeye cruising along over the bottom, and you can successfully fish over submerged sticks and logs this way, where the mudeye would live and a hungry Trout would look for a meal.

Now what other Fly can be used for so many fish in both the sweetwater and the salt?

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Degree of Difficulty: There isn't any, its almost too easy.
Time taken: 2 minutes.

Materials you will require:
Hook :This will depend on the target fish and the size of the line casting the fly. However, there is very little air drag when casting the fly so a larger than 'normal' fly can be cast.
Thread : Talon Unbreakable or your thread of choice, Colour: to match the body colour, if a two tone body is used, the bottom colour

Body : Closed cell foam sheet.
Body: over the hook: the tail colour of wrapped flash or Talon Glow In the Dark thread
Eyes : Anything you have!
Tail : Talon Liquid Silver in a matching colour, the top colour or a flash of choice.
Top wing :
Middle wing :
Bottom Wing :
Lower wing :
Head cement: Clear

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STEPS
1. Depending on the target fish and hook size. Cut your Closed cell foam sheet as shown in Fig1. Colours. Most saltwater fish, two tone, red on top and white on the bottom, this can be achieved by, laminating 2 sheets together using a flexible vinyl adhesive, like Cartell's, available from the Crazy Clark type stores for around $2.00. Trout, mudeyes black top and a brown bottom, Hoppers, brown top and a yellow bottom. Bass, there are mad, purple top and yellow bottom or anything!   2. Cut a length of flash for the tail, about from the point of the hook to the eye, this is the correct balance in length. Fix in place and the wrap down slightly around the bend in the hook, this magnifies the movement of the tail with every movement of the retrieve. Step 3
5. Wrap the flash or to improve the strike ration, Talon Glow in the Dark Thread up to the hook's eye. Tie down.   6. Where the hook starts to bend, tie on the thread, and then tie on the body, and tie off.
7. The head, same again leaving enough area for your flies eyes. The head can be cut in line with hooks eye for a fly that cruises along with out too much fuss or water disturbance, ideal for a mudeye or a mullet for bream etc. Lengthen the head and you will find it turns upwards, cut the foam double the eyes width, this in turn will produce a wake that will splash water everywhere and produce a large plop. Bass, Tailor and Trevally must hate the sound because they destroy it!   8. Fix your selected eyes to the flies, from experience, more strikes can be obtained with eye than no eyes. Click on the finished fly for a larger image. To close, click the cross in the top right hand side.

Variations :
Add legs, rubber or deer hair, by 'poking' a hole in the foam and gluing in place. Add Glow in the Dark spots to the gurgler's back or sides, this drives Bass crazy. Add strips or dots with a waterproof marker pen. The options are endless.

How to fish this fly:
There is no set golden rule, however the most productive retrieve appears to be a number of strips and a resting period, and the next movement usually produces the strike, no matter if fished on the surface or subsurface.

To attach the fly to your line: Never use a loop, because some fish push the fly away in their rush to consume it, a hard direct knot is far better. If you have problem with the fly or how to fish it for maximum effect, please feel free to contact me at: unclebarry@aussiefly.com.au