How to Tie a Baby-Duck Imitation for Toothy Predators

Producer: Fly Fish Food

Are you looking for a project fly, something that might eat up a whole rainy evening at your tying desk? Then look no further! Cheech from Fly Fish Food—a fly shop in Orem, Utah—walks you through the many steps to create an articulated imitation of a baby duck designed to attract big predators, such as pike, largemouth bass, and big pickerel. Here’s how Cheech describes it:

This is a fly that I have wanted to spend some time designing, and I have gone over it in my head a million times, but I never really had a great reason to put it on paper. I had the opportunity to fish Wollaston Lake in Canada with our buddies from Hareline Dubbin’, so I decided it was time to bring it to life. The Mousey McMouseface is the first in this series of topwater flies designed so the line is tied under the head, which makes for a unique action on the water. In its testing mission in Canada, the Ducky McDuckface caught a 43-inch northern pike! Feel free to size down to match sizes for bass or trout, but this size is designed for toothy predators.

Ducky McDuckface
Rear of Body
Shank: Fish-Skull Next Generation Articulated Shanks – 35mm
Thread: Brown, 210-denier or 3/0.
Underbody: Gold Grizzly Black Barred Fulling Mill Big Game Rabbit Zonker Strip.
Back: Black Fly Tying Foam, 6mm.
Adhesive #1: Superglue
Body: Golden Olive Pearl Fulling Mill Changer Brush, short.
Sides: Gold Grizzly Black Barred Fulling Mill Big Game Rabbit Zonker Strips.
Bumper: Dubbing from zonker strip.

Front of Body
Hook: Gamakatsu B10S, 4/0.
Thread: Brown, 210-denier or 3/0.
Connector: Black articulation wire (here, Senyo Intruder Trailer Hook Wire).
Underbody: Gold Grizzly Black Barred Fulling Mill Big Game Rabbit Zonker Strip.
Rear Body: Golden Olive Pearl Fulling Mill Changer Brush, short.
Legs: Black Kiley’s Exo Skin.
Back: Black Fly Tying Foam, 6mm.
Adhesive #2: Superglue
Front Body: Golden Olive Pearl Fulling Mill Changer Brush, short.
Sides: Gold Grizzly Black Barred Fulling Mill Big Game Rabbit Zonker Strips.
Head: Black Double Barrel Popper Body, large.
Glue base: Dubbing from zonker strip.
Adhesive #3: Superglue
Indicator tab: Yellow foam, 2mm.
Adhesive #4: Superglue.
Eyes: Thick UV resin.
Coating: Loon Soft Head.
Tools: Wire cutters, bodkin, lighter