FLYRODDERS, Did you ever feel left out when BILL"MUSKY" MODICA......

[Greg McWilliams]

  As a FLYRODDER, I always feel left out when BILL catches these huge BLUEGILL on spoons!!!!

I haven't used a spinning rod in years because I love the feel of long rod In my hand!!!!!!! Spoons and Flyrod do not mix!!!!! Even in the smaller sizes, a chunk of metal whizzing past your ear is a little scary to say the least!!!!! Even a wide brimmed hat offers little protction!!!!!!

    In 95 or 96, Fly Tyer Magazine had an artical in unusual material section!!! Basically a hook epoxied in the bend of a Fake Fingernail!!!! New to tying and trying everthing in the magazine I went after this project with gusto!!!!!!!!! They made a great White Bass or sand bass fly!!!!!! This one should work for bluegill also!!!!

 

   Jump forward to today and With The SPOONMASTER, and HIS TEACHINGS on BBG!!!!! The spoons have the hook on the back side of the spoon!!! Where you can add tube tails, tie feathers, or even add bait, maggots, worm etc... I am looking for spoons that resemble those like Bill has in his arsonal!!!! Checkout Bluegill Spoon Connection, in the North American Spoon Chuckers discussions. Which I am sure everyone here has seen anyway!!!

     Materials: Fake Fingernails, jewelry wire, 5 minute epoxy,  split rings, hooks and fingernail polish of which I have accumulated a bunch over the years!!!!!

With the jewelry wire form a loop and twist the wire!!!! Lay in the fingernail for lenght slide the split ring over the end and form a loop with the split ring in the loop!!!!  I found it easier to add the split ring now instead of later!!!! There are several split rings scattered in my tying room that will never be seen again!!! Here is a look at the two types of spoon fly setups!!!!

Lay the wire in the center of the fingernail and epoxy!!!! On another variation heat up the end of the wire and push it thru the nail form a loop and slide it back thru the nail so the loop is sticking out above the nail!!!! Be sure to pinch the barb of the hook, makes it BLUEGILL and HUMAN EAR FRIENDLY!!!!!!

Center and epoxy!!!!!!! Once the epoxy has cured decorations begin!!!! Several coats of Fingernail polish, and there is no end to the possibilities!!! Add 2 coats of clear polish!!!!!!

With this now you can add to the hook tails, feathers etc..... The spoon is not heavy but is bulky and does catch and twist while casting!!! But Bill has the solution with the use of a barrel swivel between the leader and the tippet!!!!!
This is a good read,  and will help with the setup!!!!! Fished on a full sink line will get you to the depth need to locate BLUEGILL!!!!!! 

 http://bigbluegill.com/group/northamericanspoonchuckers/forum/topic... 

   Just a new twist on an old idea but the target is the same CATCH BIG BLUEGILL!!!!! Bill has explained the setup in his discussions and now with these fixed up in your style Flyrodders can have a spoon experiance!!!!! Thank You BILL "MUSKY" MODICA, for the TECHNIQUE and hereby dub this one the
McMUSKIE Spoon Fly, or The McMODICA Spoon fly!!!!!!

[Tony Livingston]

That is awesomely creative. Good thinking Greg.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Nice imagination Greg....pretty cool looking designs....I betcha gills would hit them!