Old Mickey Finn
Rummaging through some old folders this evening, I came across a handful of fly illustrations that I had thought lost. The small stack of pen-and-ink pieces were originally used in a Scientific Anglers book project many years ago (when I was still in college), and then subsequently in a few Federation of Fly Fishers casting newsletters.
Some of the drawings look perhaps a bit dated, but a few of them still play fairly well (even with the low resolution of Web images). I figure that I can give them a bit of a “re-birth” here at FF&W, starting with the Mickey Finn shown above. I’ll be tossing up a few more as we go through June.
(Update) Got an email basically saying, “Nice Mickey Finn. How about a story, like the trout and salmon stuff you posted?” Okay then, each fly that I’ll be putting up does indeed have a backstory, including the Mickey Finn. So, here goes…
The Mickey Finn illustration came about for two reasons: 1) When hired to do the original book job, I was told that one of the illustrations should be “A classic streamer, like a Mickey Finn, or Black-Nose Dace.” (Do any FF&W readers still fish a Black-Nose Dace? Haven’t tied one years, sadly.) And 2) I love the Mickey Finn.
I grew up tying various Finn patterns, some with bucktail, some with craft fur, some with jungle cock “eyes” (or plastic jungle cock eyes, which was about as attractive as it sounds), and so forth. I fussed over my tinsel technique, fumed over too long/short/thick/thin wings, and agonized over painted eyes (hey, when you’re eight, those things can be trouble). Despite my youthful frustrations, I still tied Mickey Finns, over and over.
I fished them, too, and some of my early streamer successes came thanks to the Mickey Finn (and yes, thanks to the Black-Nose Dace, as well). Brooks, browns, and rainbows all nodded their approval, and although I eventually moved on to more modern streamer designs, the Mickey Finn remained bright in my memory. So, when the time came to draw a classic, it was first on my list.
If you’ve never fished a Mickey Finn, you might find it worth the time to buy or tie one (I still like to go “old school,” with bucktail, wrapped tinsel and a painted eye). I suggest finding a beaver pond filled with brookies and spending an hour or two casting wherever you please. A few strips on the line may be all that you need to rekindle the magic that accompanies uncomplicated angling and the eagerness of speckled trout—thanks to the Mickey Finn.
Hey Jason!
What a beautiful drawing!
When I began flyfishing 15 or some years ago, I began flytying at the same time and I remember that one of the first patterns that caught my eye was the Mickey Finn! I still tie and fish them – it’s go-to fly for me, especially when flyfishing the salt for searun browns – particularly in Novemeber the fly seems to take it’s share. I too use bucktail and silvertinsel, but I exclude the painted eyes.
And yes, even the Black Nose Dace has a place in my flybox. A very sparsely dressed version is killing in May along the Danish shorelines. I tie it with pearl tinsel for the body – otherwise as the original – with bucktail. I have on a few occasions added an epoxy head and eyes, and that version does well too, and looks really good!
I moved over to more modern designs many years ago, but these two classic streamers have always been in my box, and always will be. I ven tie a Mickey Finn tubefly Scandinavian style for seatrout and salmon when the rivers are flooding. I’ll send a picture!
Lars
Lars—A fellow Finn and Dace aesthete? And a Viking aesthete at that? And we’re both under the age of 40-ish? What are the chances?! ;-)
I have not caught a sea-run on a Finn myself, but at least you are keeping the pattern’s legacy alive and well in that arena…
I don’t know how many Finns and Dace I tied in my younger years (and that includes a pile of variations), but I burned through boxes of those old, paper-wrapped Mustad streamer hooks (you know the ones, I’m sure).
I’d love to see your MF tube fly. I’ve been thinking about modernized variations myself, and perhaps I’ll tie a few updates, as well…
Edit: Did I hear correctly that there is a fresh, new Viking lass that has made a recent appearance in this world?
Hi Jason!
Just had a look in the picture archive and in the boxes as well, and it turns out there are none of my modern, Scandinavian Mickey Finns in there – so it seems I’ll have to make some and photograph them in turn – will probably do so tonight!
I’ll shoot one of my Daces as well – I really to love the original version, but it just looks so good and “fishy” with a small epoxyhead with eyes.
And indeed, on the morning of May 29th, we had yet another lovely and gorgeous little Viking girl :-)
Lars