[matuka mike]

has anyone ever found a mouse in the belly of a brat ? and does anyone skate a mouse pattern, or are they too bulky for a good hookup?

 

[SLSS]

I haven't for steelhead, but skated a bunch in AK for rainbows, char, slivers, and grayling. They miss as much or more than they hook up, but that's the nature of the game. DO NOT SET THE HOOK. Let them take the fly and hook themselves as they turn away.

I think a small Moorish mouse would make a great steelhead skater. I mostly skate hitched muddlers and another pattern I'm working on, but the Skopper is not to different than a Moorish mouse.

 

[G_Smolt]

Project: Steelmouse

That is now one of my favorite topwater for summer run steel, and I have found that they aren't exactly delicate in their takes. Even in the dark of night they take it like they are trying to kill and eat it...

See also: Bulkley Mouse

 

[matuka mike]

I think a small Moorish mouse would make a great steelhead skater.

exactly the pattern i was thinking of. i fish a #6 alot for montana trout, skates, pops and chugs like a champ, leaves a great wake, very castable and visible. i just use a loop knot, no need to hitch. even midday in bright sun, big fish,especially rainbows (could there be a connection there ?) will attack it. why i thought it would be great for steelhead too. and yes, setting the hook should be left to the fish.

 

[Hardyreels]

I haven't for steelhead, but skated a bunch in AK for rainbows, char, slivers, and grayling. They miss as much or more than they hook up, but that's the nature of the game. DO NOT SET THE HOOK. Let them take the fly and hook themselves as they turn away.

The "do not set the hook" thing is the key for mouse or articulated Sculpin both. We are fishing for what F&G calls rainbow / steelhead trout and they are steelhead size in some cases. Many fish are pricked by folks trying to set when they feel or see a fish. It's a game of nerves and you just gotta wait until they hook themselves.

Good advice SLSS

 

[kevbine]

The actual Bulkley mouse pattern is more like a muddler and a caddis pattern than a mouse...

 

[SLSS]

I'm certainly no expert on skating, but in my experience the most important part is a wake and some target at the point of it.

In AK this August we were just crushing silvers, and one of the guys wanted to see how small a fly he could get one on. A #12 stimulator was what he decided on, and he landed an approx 10 silver on the waked fly.

Mouse, muddler or whatever, just a pattern you feel confident in. And patience.

 

[Hayek]

The actual Bulkley mouse pattern is more like a muddler and a caddis pattern than a mouse...

This is the large version of the Bulkley mouse by Andre Laporte. It's all that I'm fishing this fall in black and natural, small and large. It works very well.

 

[SLSS]

This is the large version of the Bulkley mouse by Andre Laporte. It's all that I'm fishing this fall in black and natural, small and large. It works very well.

Hayek, do you fish that hitched?

 

[Hayek]

Hayek, do you fish that hitched?

Yes indeed I fish it hitched. It tends to dive a bit otherwise.

 

[matuka mike]

"do not set the hook"It's a game of nerves and you just gotta wait until they hook themselves.

its really a game of laziness. gotta do nothing, nada. the fish either hooks itself, or not. how i hook all my steelhead and trout on the swing. lazy comes easy for me. stripping streamers, also. except instead of nothing, its doing nothing different, just continue to strip. same with swinging soft hackles, and sometimes skating dries. in fact, most tight line presentations period. so , back on track, has anyone found a mouse in a brat? has anyone skated the morrish mouse for steelhead?

 

[shotgunner]

If I were going to try the Moorish Mouse would be at top of my list. Love that pattern.. great profile with minimal bulk. My go to single hand 6wt fly.