The Mop Fly Fishing Lure - An Effective Bait That Was Banned From Many Tournaments

Many fishing lures aim to imitate natural forage like insects or baitfish, but few are as simple yet successful as the Mop Fly. This surprising fly features little more than a fuzzy chenille tail tied to a hook, yet it proved too effective for many fly fishing tournaments that banned its use. Its deceptive appearance and action clearly fooled many fish over the years. But could its talents also transfer to catching another popular freshwater species - crappie?

The Surprising Success of the Mop Fly

The Mop Fly truly lives up to its name, resembling nothing so much as a discarded cleaning implement. However, below the water its fuzzy fibers create intriguing movements that fish frequently mistook for injured or struggling prey. Time after time anglers discovered the mop fly outperformed far more elaborate patterns. Its low-maintenance construction also made it popular for its simplicity and durability.

Adapting the Mop Fly for Crappie

Noted crappie angler James Miller sought to determine if the mop fly's skills extended beyond its usual trout and salmon targets. In a video posted to his TikTok channel "Fishing with James," he details modifying the fly's design into a jig better suited for the structure-oriented crappie. Changes like adding flash and marabou feathers give it additional action to attract strikes.

Tying the Mop Crappie Jig

Miller begins by tying a strand of bright pink UV chenille to the jig hook for the fuzzy tail section. A strip of blue accent chenille is then added and folded back for "wing-like" flare. Finally, a marabou plume is tied high on the hook shank for enticing vibration. The simple yet effective design aims to trick crappie with movement like the original mop fly.

Does the Modified Mop Work for Crappie?

While the full effectiveness remains to be seen, the adapted mop fly concept shows promise for crappie. Its tugging tail action could trigger strikes from fish holding near structure. Miller plans future field tests to assess if the lure can fool crappie the way it did many tournament anglers previously. Amateur crappie anglers may want to experiment tying their own mop fly jigs to discover their potential.

FAQs

How did the original mop fly design perform so well?

The fuzzy chenille fibers created subtle movements in the water that fooled fish into striking it, likely mistaking it for injured prey. Its simple construction also proved highly durable for tournaments.

What changes did Miller make to the fly for crappie?

He added flash in the form of blue accent chenille and folding it back for more visible movement. A marabou plume was also tied high on the hook to create enticing vibration that crappie often strike.

Will the modified mop fly design really work for crappie?

Its effectiveness on crappie remains unknown until more field testing can be done. However, the adapted design aims to trigger strikes by generating movement close to structure where crappie typically hold.

What are the recommended steps for tying a mop crappie jig?

The video details the process of tying pink UV chenille for the tail, then adding blue accent chenille folded back. A marabou plume is tied high on the hook before trimming excess materials. Give it a try - it's a simple pattern to tie that could turn out to be a crappie catcher!