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The Morrish Mouse 2.0 – Tying Instructions

How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
The Morrish Mouse 2.0. Photos: Stuart Foxall.

Ken Morrish’s ‘Morrish Mouse’ is arguably one of the most well known (and effective) mouse patterns ever created. In fact, it’s one of our favorite flies at Rapids Camp Lodge.

However, originally tied on a traditional down-riding hook, some believe the original Morrish Mouse has a tendency for shorter strikes and potentially a higher rate of tongue hooked fish compared to mouse patterns tied with an up-riding stinger hook. We’re not sure whether that’s the case or not, but the fact that many anglers and fly tyers today are constantly pushing the envelope to design flies to catch more fish in the most responsible way possible is a really good thing.

That’s the basis behind Ken Morrish’s newest spin on the Morrish Mouse, The Morrish Mouse 2.0. Same great pattern, but with an up-eye stinger hook for better, safer, hookups. What’s not to love?

We recently received a request for tying instructions for the Morrish Mouse 2.0 (thanks Bill), so we reached out to none other than professional fly tyer and designer, Stuart Foxall, for the step by step.

Enjoy!

The Morrish Mouse 2.0 – Tying Instructions

How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 1: Attach some backing braid through the eye of a stinger hook (size 6 shown) using a loop to loo connection. I’ve trimmed some fur off a black zonker strip but left a tuft of hair on the end to create a mobile tail. Hook the stinger through the hide as shown.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 2: Tie the braid onto a shank and double over for security. I’ve used a 15mm Waddington shank here, but you could use a single hook and cut the hook bend off later. I’ve positioned the eye of the shank downwards which will make it easier to tie the fly to our leader.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 3: Tie down the zonker strip making sure the skin is flat against (same length as) the braid. This allows maximum mobility without twisting.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 4: Cut some 2mm thick foam into a point. This will be tied in at the back of the fly.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 5: Tie in the foam by the tip of the point that we have created.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 6: Add an orange dubbing ball at the butt. I’ve used bright seals fur here but any dubbing that’s red/orange will do.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 7: Start spinning your deer hair onto the shank. I use two loose wraps of thread and pull tight. The hair will flare all around the shank.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 8: Trim the cut ends of the deer hair. This creates space to form a nice tight body. You can pre-cut the deer hair to length and then spin it onto the shank, but that can be tricky. The way shown above is the easiest to begin with.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 9: Continue to spin deer hair all along the length of the shank. Put a half hitch onto your fly to keep your thread from slipping.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 10: Here’s a view of the top of the fly showing how I’ve created a slight taper, wider at the head and narrowing at the back end of the fly.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 11: Trim the top of the fly flat along the shank.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 12: And the same with the bottom of the fly.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 13: Here you can see how we’ve created a lovely flat profile to the fly.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 14: Pull over the foam back and tie down at the head.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 15: Whip finish, trim, and add a touch of cement to your thread wraps.
How to tie the Morrish Mouse 2.0 fly pattern
Step 16: Go fishing! Meep meep!

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  1. The most fun you can have with a fly rod is catching big rainbows on a mouse!

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