Welcome to the Aussiefly Newsletter where we look a bit deeper into fly fishing and tying that the normal quick sweep over. Here we take a look at product reviews, fly tying ideas, fly casting and travel.

The Gurgler Fly has been around for many years now, however there is still talk of is this really a fly. Because its mainly built from cheap closed cell foam and not feathers and pretty things. To me, what it is called doesn't matter, as long as it is castable and tricks a fish into biting it and the Gurgler does this beautifully, time after time, year after year.

 

Then the are a group of people who still think the Gurgler is only a saltwater type fly, which of course is just miles from the truth or clear thinking. The Gurgler is a wonderful fly for even Trout.

Now lets have a closer look at how to improve the action and some slightly different Gurglers.

First steps, lets improve how the Gurgler swims.

Have you noticed, that most people build their Gurglers all nice and neat, the hook perfectly in-line with the body ? The tail, also in-line with the body, just like a expansive shop bought fly ?

Here, I am going to tell you, all that is wrong, and all this neat straightness just kills the swimming action of the Gurgler Fly. And fish don't care how neat you have just made that fly.

Lets make this fly swim like a real fish or downed bug, beetle or frog or something that might be eatable by a fish.

Starting from the tail, tie the tail pointing downwards by at least 30degrees, and use a soft material for this construction like Marabou or Arctic Fox, add some flexible flash, to the underside of the tail. Please do not use deer hair, as its far too rigid.

This tail will now swim, with a up and down action, upon each retrieve, where as the badly built tail, will only trail out the back of the fly with almost no action.

The hook, the underbody of the fly, there is no need to add flash or anything as it makes no difference to the trick ability of the fly as the pretty material that would or could be used is covered by the shadow of the body of foam. If you wish to use anything, to keep the fly tier happy, then a Glow-in-the-Dark thread or flash could be used to advantage.

Tie and glue the hook to the body at about an 10 to 20 degree angle ! Yes that much of-set. The reason being, with each retrieve the fly will be pulled sideways by the leader the the tail will pull the fly back into a 'sort of' straight line of retrieve, rather like a little zig zag movement through the water.

So now your Gurgle fly will have both a tail that goes up and down and a body that zig zags through the water, then watch a crazy strike and water exploding everywhere. You will discover that the mighty Gurgler is your surface fly of choice.

Some variations of the Gurgle, there is heaps !, from tiny # 12 to 6/0 plus hooks, the range and types are only limited by your imagination. For freshwater the Gurgler can represent a moth or frog, for saltwater even a squid, and on lines from sinking, with a short leader to floating and a longer leader.

AND REMEMBER, made your Gurgle fly roughly, as it will swim better and trick fish far better !

Just a thought : I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

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