Michigan Skunk SBS

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Popularized by Earl Madsen (also called the Madsen Skunk), although he wasn’t the creator; believed to be the first fly tied with rubber legs (from old golf balls).

hook - TMC 5212 #10
thread - Danville 6/0 black
tail - squirrel tail
body - chenille black
legs - medium rubber white
wing - deer hair

Part 1

mash barb, start thread at 75% mark and wrap back to point above barb

stack, measure (not quite shank) a clump of squirrel tail; tie in, smooth with thread wraps (a little Sally helps keep the slippery squirrel in place, too)

strip end of chenille , tie in at tail

wrap to 50% mark, then tie in rubber legs; continue chenille forward, tie off, trim

clean, stack, measure (not quite to tips of tail) a clump of deer hair

trim butts, 2 soft loops then pull tight, causing butts to flare

2

Part 2

crosswrap back, take a couple wraps then cross back to wing tie-in point

half hitch x 2, SHHAN, trim legs to length

Regards,
Scott

3

Tried it with a Congo Hair shuck, foam body and semi-bullethead to improve floatation

and basically tied a Madam X :rolleyes:

Regards,
Scott

4

Scott,
You are inspiring to this fumble fingered guy!
Thanks,
Mike

5

Mike,

Proportions and thread torque/tension; manage them and you can tie just about any trout fly well. Salmon flies? something different has to happen there; still trying to figure what that is.

Regards,
Scott

6

The skunk is a very versatile fly. It fishes well dry, wet, or as a nymph. I tie a lot of them weighted for steelhead.