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Mirco Flesh for Trout – Tying Instructions

How to tie micro flesh flies for Alaskan trout.
Bigger’s not always better. Photo: Jason Whiting.

Trout in our neck of the woods may behave a bit different than trout found in other areas of the world – Gorging on large meals like mice, sculpins, and salmon parts, as opposed to insects. However, the fact remains.. They’re still trout!

That means that even though our trout love big, gaudy, nearly comical offerings most of the time, throughout the season they can still become pretty selective.

When dealing with selective trout, generally a smaller imitation of the natural is often the ticket, and even in Alaska the same rules apply. So what do you offer a picky trout who’s use to chomping on huge chunks of dead salmon flesh? How about a smaller ‘snack size’ piece of dead salmon flesh! Smaller ‘micro’ flesh flies are a must in any Alaskan trout box, and today Alaska West guide, Jason Whiting, gives us the step by step on a simple, but super effective flesh pattern.

Dubbed Micro Flesh – Tying Instructions

Materials:

  • Hook: OPST Swing Hook, sz. 4
  • Thread: UTC 140 Denier, Cream.
  • Tail: Peach Marabou.
  • Body: Flesh Colored (Light Tan) Rabbit Strip.
How to tie micro flesh flies for Alaskan trout.
Step 1: Secure your thread just before the bend of the hook and catch in a pinch of peach marabou cut off at the quill (quantity can be varied at your discretion). Tie it in with approximately a centimeter of hangover off the end of the hook, and fold back the remainder to lock it in. Keep in mind, messy is okay here.. It’s salmon flesh!
How to tie micro flesh flies for Alaskan trout.
Step 2: Create a dubbing loop, cut an approximately two-inch strip of the flesh colored rabbit, and lightly wet the fur so it can be managed. Then, with the skin still attached, place into the dubbing loop as shown.
How to tie micro flesh flies for Alaskan trout.
Step 3: Once set, using a sharp pair of scissors, cut the skin off of the rabbit strip so that all that is left is the fur in the loop. Spin the dubbing loop creating a rabbit fur ‘brush’ and use a bodkin to pick out any trapped fibers.
How to tie micro flesh flies for Alaskan trout.
Step 4: Palmer the rabbit ‘brush’ forward to the eye of the hook, lightly stroking the fibers back as you go. Tie off at the eye of the hook, and again, use your bodkin or dubbing brush to pick out any trapped fibers. 
How to tie micro flesh flies for Alaskan trout.
Step 5: Create a small clean head, whip finish, and cement.

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