Fishing Forum

I bought some flies today that look like little mice. I'm hoping to float them down the river and get me one of those big browns that hide under the bank. Has anyone ever used them before? I need some tips on how to use these.
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I cant really give you any good advice on how to fish these flys, But last spring fishing on the weber river my uncle caught a nice brown on a zonker and kept it. that was unusual but said he wanted it for dinner. When he cleaned the fish there were 2 baby mice it its stomach they were about 1 inch long and all pink no hair on them yet. I can only imagine that you would fish them similar to a streamer real tight to the rivers edge and near over hangs. maybe even slightly submerged. fly godess probally would be a good one to ask. I have a pic of those mice going to try to dig it up and post it.
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I used to catch lots of monster rainbows with mouse patterns in Alaska, and I have caught a few browns and rainbows with them in the Green and other rivers. Around here, I fished them on a very slight swing/twitch, along the banks, during very low light or at night. The "fly" was mostly dead drifted, with just enough twitches to give it some life as it floated along the bank. The closer to the bank or structure like logs and limbs, the better.

I also caught some fish at night just skating the thing across some slower, deeper pools. I used a deer hair pattern, but I know there's better patterns around.
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Just my experience, but you don't need to be delicate at all.
Plop them down. Low sun has been the best for me. Evening or early morning.

You know, these work killer at Strawberry as well, and you don't have to be shallow.
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I love "mouse'n it". Like said above the low light, dusk, dawn, full moons as well. Works great on still waters too like FG said the berry. Its surrounded by high desert sage brush and there are tons of mice. I have had some exciting nights. I like dragging them by casting out, pointing the rod tip at the water and constantly lifting and stripping in line over and over covering lots of shoreline keeping a small wake with stops and pauses.

I have also used pink patterns. They all look the same to the fish. I think it is more the silhouette that they key in on.

This thread gets me excited about the dog days of summer.
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Its alot of fun to catch a fish on a mouse fly. You will be surprised how small some of the fish you catch are. They are very wind-resistant and not all that fun to cast but great fun to catch fish on. I'll usually break it out at some point during the night but I have much more success fishing a stimulator or elk hair caddis at night.

I sometimes will tie a black woolly bugger 18 behind the mouse and some nights that's what gets all the hits.
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anyone got photos of their favorite mouse pattern?

Very simple. Foam and key ingredient......MUSKRAT. Water repelent.


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That looks like my kind of fly! Do you palmer the muskrat (strips?), or how is it tied on?
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Yes, just wrap it up the hook. I use stripped Zonker for the tail, but Ultra Chenille will also work.
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Thanks! I love quick ties, and that one looks highly effective and buoyant as well. Great idea with the muskrat.
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Cool, I'm going to have to make some of those. That looks much more pleasant than spinning deer hair. Some one mentioned that surprisingly small fish will eat mouse patterns. I had an 11.5" largemouth throw up a mouse last year. Definitely a surprise for me.
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I'm just curious how deep you think you were at strawberry. I've always wanted to try, but never have the guts to switch flies.
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I was flipping them into the grassy area and doing well but, then I was fishing nymphs and notice a fish rising and I must have been 18 to 22 feet. So what the heck, mouse was still on, so flipped it out. It smacked the water like being dropped by a bird and BAM!

I carry three rods already rigged. One floating, one Intermediate or Type II, and one Type VII or Depth Charge.
I hate trying to change reels or spools then re-lining the rod in the middle of a lake.
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I'm there with you; I hate change the reel in the middle of a lake. Type VII, that must sink like a rock. I bought a type IV but haven't tried it yet. The person I fish with called me crazy for buying the type IV, told me that I would never use it. I bought it to try on strawberry this coming season.
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When it warms up..,you will see how well it DOESN'T work[laugh]
That is why I bought the VII. Get down quick past the dinks.
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what size/type hook do you use sis?

MacFly [cool]
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Streamer 2 or 4
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thnx sis...

MacFly [cool]
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Just curious at what depth you are fishing this type VII?
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