In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Cheech with Fly Fish Food ties a fantastic baby duck topwater pattern, the Ducky McDuckface.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Difficult
There are few thrills as exhilarating in fishing as a predator species engulfing your fly, lure, or bait. The aggressiveness and sheer desire for destruction that comes with these takes is life altering, especially when done on a fly. Those blessed enough with the opportunities to chase predatory species such as pike, musky, tarpon, golden dorado, and more, all understand why it is hard to target anything else once you have a taste. Although there are many ways to target these fish, there may be none more satisfying than topwater and the Ducky McDuckface is just the pattern for the job.
When you sit down to tie this pattern, get comfortable. This won’t be a batch fly that you knock out a dozen in twenty minutes, but instead more likely to be one in that timeline. Novice tyers will need to use patience and attention to detail to ensure connection between articulations is strong, something that becomes natural with more experience. Tie the Ducky McDuckface with your favorite drink next to your vise and make sure proportions are just as Cheech has laid out for us.
You’ll need to fish this pattern with heavier rods depending on the species and size you decide to tie. For pike and fly size tied in the video, a 10 weight rod with a floating line will work just fine. If you plan on using this pattern for bass or even trout, consider dropping down a few hook and shank sizes, while keeping materials and construction proportionate. Using a baby duck fly to target predator species is not ordinary in fishing and it is always important to enjoy the process. Have fun with the Ducky McDuckface and remember that you’re chasing the one, not the numbers!
Ingredients:
- Hook: Gamakatsu B10S – 4/0 – 25 Pack
- Hook (Alternate): Ahrex TP612 Trout Predator Streamer Short Hook – #6/0
- Shank : Fish-Skull Next Generation Articulated Shanks – 35mm
- Thread: 210 Denier Waxed Danville Flymaster Plus – Black #11
- Thread (Alternate): Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread – 210 Denier – Black
- Body: Fulling Mill Changer Brush – Short – Golden Olive Pearl
- Over Body: Fly Tying Foam – 6mm – Black
- Over Body (Alternate): Fly Tying Foam – 6mm – Brown
- Underbody: Fulling Mill Big Game Rabbit Zonker Strips – Gold Grizzly Black Barred
- Underbody (Alternate): Fulling Mill Big Game Rabbit Zonker Strips – Gold Grizzly
- Legs: Kiley’s Exo Skin – Black
- Legs (Alternate): Kiley’s Exo Skin – Black Brown
- Head: Double Barrel Popper Bodies – Large – Black
- Head (Alternate): Double Barrel Popper Bodies – Large – White
Now you know how to tie the Ducky McDuckface!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Fly Fish Food.
