Chamois Streamer.

If there is one fly pattern I can share with you that you have likely never seen, its this one. First off, this pattern IS deadly. At a quick thought, I'd say I've been throwing this for a decade or so. Maybe more....maybe less. It has provided me some of my best days fishing, and all of my best bass at this point. During one recent season when I was unable to fish much due to injury, I fished this almost exclusively. I can't claim its mine. It's too obvious not have been done before. I can guarantee you I have never seen it elsewhere. Its something that just seemed a natural. Any predatory species I've fished it too has responded well. It's bass candy. Trout love it too. Pike.........if its something that likes chowing on fish it will take this. Its success is simple. Its the Chamois.

A guy I used to fish with showed me a pattern he tied........a Chamois Worm. This was unlike any worm fly I'd seen previously. This was a big honking affair along the lines of a dew worm. A great pattern that seems to shine especially in adverse conditions like high, off coloured water. When it is dead drifted it tumbles just like the natural would. The thing I immediately noticed, was that when it was held still in the current, it would undulate like a minnow. This was the impetus to try it as a minnow pattern........and wow..........the only way for me to convey to you the effectiveness of this pattern is for you to try it. Like the worm that inspired it, when dead drifted in a rivers current, it tumbles like a dead minnow. When stripped, it will undulate........in calmer water, fluttering as it falls. Held in the current it undulates like a fish. Held just under the surface where fish are rising to a hatch? ;)

I have tried, and keep trying this in variations....looking for the next best thing....but here is how I default tie it. Nothing has really proven anymore effective....styles, colours, dying the chamois........been there, always end back here.

Chamois Muddler.
Hook: Not a biggy. I tend to tie it on #8 Streamer hooks....I think. I add lead wire as a straight strip across the shank for weight. Stop Short of were you want to tie in the spun deer hair head. Actually, besides weight, I use it to bulk up the body a bit....so a few strips are in order, depending on the wire gauge. My ties are still anorexic......most of my flies are.........my style? Or constant error?
Body: Silver tinsel.
Wing. A strip of chamois, cut to resemble a baitfishes body. I dunno....maybe 1 1/2 the length of the hook? I often exaggerate the tail.....thinking this may vibrate the chamois with a better action.
Head. Deer Hair. Spun like the muddler minnow.

And thats it. The only thing you actually need, is the chamois body. That can be lashed directly to a hook on its own and still produce. The one problem ( which can be solved by tying in a different style ) is the body will wrap itself around the hook on occasion. One way I combated this was to tie it on a short shank, wide gap hook where there was just enough room to spin the head and attach the chamois.

Again............not claiming to have created this. I'm sure someones tying Chamois as a minnow somewhere........just ain't seen it myself. It's a no-brainer. Otherwise it wouldn't have occurred to me. If you've seen it, know who originated it, lemme know.

I have no reservation about this fly. It is my go to streamer. There is no arguing with the success it achieves. Especially with Bass. Even on some of the marginal fisheries I frequent it produces extremely well.

I added a pic for reference at this point. Pretty fly ain't it? ;) You won't see me spending any time to gussy them up. No point. They go to the ball as is. To me, a good fly not only has to be effective, but it should also be a quick, easy, tie. Most patterns I fish fall into this category.