8 amazing trout, pike, bass and walleye flies most Canadians have never heard about

#5  GURGLER

Since debuting in the late 1980s, the Gurgler has become an essential saltwater surface fly, used all over North and Central America for everything from striped bass in the cold northeast to snook and peacock bass in the tropics. The high-floating foam-bucktail combination is tough, and it casts well (at least by big-fly standards). More importantly, the Gurgler splits the difference between noisy popping bugs and subtle sliders, filling a previously unrecognized niche. When moved gently, it gurgles and leaves a prominent wake; moved more sharply, it sputters and sprays.

Now one of my go-to flies for both small- and largemouth bass, the Gurgler is great for drift-twitching in rivers, and covering water in lakes. The fly’s originator, Jack Gartside, also claimed great success on stillwater trout by chugging an inch-and-a-half-long Gurgler along drop-offs and structure. The fly pictured here is the relatively unadorned saltwater version, which is my favourite. Popular variations include wiggly legs and a longer, more mobile feather or rabbit-strip tail. The colour is dealer’s choice, but I like mine bright so I can easily see the fly.

• HOOK: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger, Mustad 34007 or similar, size 2 to 1/0
• TAIL: Krystal Flash and/or Flashabou strands over bucktail
• BODY: Saddle hackle, synthetic hackle or both (pictured)
• SHELLBACK AND LIP: 2- or 3-mm-thick foam strip
• DIFFICULTY: Moderate

#6  HALF AND HALF

The Half and Half blends two of the greatest saltwater flies: the Clouser Deep Minnow and the Lefty’s Deceiver. Why play Dr. Moreau like this? Because a Clouser sinks and jigs, but its slender length is limited to the size of the bucktail, while the bulkier Deceiver swims seductively, but doesn’t sink.

Combine the two, however, and you’ve got a huge fly that swims deep or darts along the bottom in both lakes and rivers, even on a floating line. And with a sinking line, it will easily go 15 feet down.

The Half and Half is an easy tie, but there are a few things to remember. To ensure it moves correctly, the dumbbell eyes should be about one third of the way back from the front of the hook. And all big flies are much sturdier if you dab quick-drying superglue (I like Zap-a-Gap) on all the main tie-in spots. Like its progenitors, the Half and Half is entirely customizable—you can make it flashier and fatter, or duller and sleeker. As for colour, though, I suggest using black, white or something in between.

• HOOK: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger, Mustad 34007 or similar, size 1/0 to 3/0
• EYE: Medium or large dumbbell
• TAIL: Four or six saddle hackles, with a few Krystal Flash and/or Flashabou strands
• BELLY: Sparse bucktail, extending about half the length of the tail
• WING: Bucktail over sparse Krystal Flash, extending about half the length of the tail
• DIFFICULTY: Easy