• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
231-228-7135
Hawkins Outfitters - Northern Michigan Fly Fishing and Wingshooting
  • Flyfishing
    • Trout
      • Michigan Trout Fishing
      • Night Fishing for Trout
    • Steelhead
      • Fly Fishing for Fall Steelhead
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Carp
    • Salmon
    • Pike
  • Wingshooting
    • Upland Hunting – Grouse and Woodcock
    • Waterfowl Hunting – Ducks and Geese
    • Spring Turkey Hunting
  • Travel
    • Garden River
    • Fly Fishing Patagonia, Argentina
    • Puerto Rico Tarpon Fishing
    • Dorado Fly Fishing
    • Belize Fly Fishing
  • Fly Patterns
    • Streamers Patterns
      • The Closer
      • Parr None – Salmon Parr Streamer
      • Hawkins Little Rascal
      • Mad Pup
      • Flash Monkey Fly Pattern
      • Triple Double
    • Dry Flies
      • Hendrickson Emerger
      • Hendrickson MayFly
      • Sulphur Dun
      • Sulphur Spinner
      • Damsel Fly Pattern
    • Steelhead Swing Patterns
      • Purple Traitor Sculpin
    • Nymphs – Steelhead, Trout, & Carp
      • Alevin Salmon Pattern
      • Fry and Eggs
      • Rabbit Wiggle Nymph
      • Black Stone Fly Nymph
      • Wet Skunk
      • Carp Crayfish Fly
  • River Reports
    • Manistee River Trout Fishing
    • Manistee River Fishing Report – Below Tippy Dam
    • Pere Marquette
    • Boardman River
    • Grand Traverse Bay
    • Garden River
  • Hunting Reports
    • Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Report
    • Waterfowl Hunting Report
  • Resources
    • Fly Fishing Schools
    • Videos
    • Articles
      • Fly Fishing Traverse City
      • Dry Fly Fishing
      • Streamer fishing
      • Winter Fly Fishing
      • Kids Fly Fishing
    • Newsletter
    • Manistee River Maps
    • Used Gear
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Guides
      • Chuck Hawkins
      • Chris Butz
      • Matt Barthels
      • David Tropf
      • Russ Maddin
    • Booking a Trip
    • Testimonal’s
    • Contact Us
  • Menu
Northern Michigan Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing for Steelhead
smallmouth bass on the fly

Wet Skunk

Michigan Girdle Bug

I’m sure, like many when I say my first Wet Skunk, I thought to myself really this fly?  This fly will catch trout?  Now I’m on the other side of the fence.  Certainly I’m a believer. I will not be on a trout stream in Michigan without a Wet Skunk (Girdle Bug). From Early Spring streamer trips to middle of the summer hopper trips, I always have my Wet Skunk box.  The simple stonefliesanswer to the question that I hear the most, What does it imitate?  My response is FOOD!

As you walk or float down the river early in the season, and you see Stonefly shucks it’s time to fish a Wet Skunk.  If your looking to match the hatch, the wet skunk is a perfect stonefly searching pattern.  I like to tie the pattern in a variety of colors, black/white, brown/yellow, and olive/tan.  However, the pattern shown below in copper/white is one of my better producers due to the many Medium Brown stoneflies in the Manistee River. This pattern is also extremely effective on the Pine River, in black with white legs.

We fish this pattern on a floating line, with a longer leader, twitching the fly close to structure and drop-offs.  Great pattern to have in your box on those bright sunny days.

Jon Ray

wet skunk fly pattern

Wet Skunk Material List

  • Size 4-10 Streamer Hook / Wet Fly Hook
  • White Kiptail / Calftail
  • New Age Chenille, Amberstone, Medium
  • Medium Round Rubber Legs
  • Bug Collar  – Size 7/32
wet skunk

Slide your Bug Collar onto your Diiachi 2220 size 6 hook

wet skunk

Start your 6/0 Brown Thread and create a base

wet skunk

Tie down a small clump of Kiptail, about 1/2 the length of the hook shank

wet skunk

Tie in your chenille at the Bug Collar and wrap over it to the rear of the hook to create a base so the body has an equal taper

wet skunk

Wrap your chenille about 3 wraps forward and secure it down with a thread wrap or two

wet skunk

Tie in your 1st set of rubber legs

wet skunk

Continue wrapping your chenille forward on the Wet Skunk, about 3 more wraps

wet skunk

Repeat the rubber leg step and wrap your chenille forward

wet skunk

Whip finish and trim your chenille. Your Wet Skunk is almost finished!

Trim your rubber legs to the desired length, and your Wet Skunk is ready to fish.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail

Book a Fly Fishing Trip

231-228-7135

River Reports

  • Manistee River Trout Fishing
  • Manistee River Below Tippy
  • Pere Marquette
  • Boardman River
  • Grand Traverse Bay
  • Garden River

Hunting Reports

  • Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Report
  • Waterfowl Hunting Report

Hawkins Outfitters Instagram

Follow Us on Instagram

Hawkins Outfitters Blog

  • Spring Steelhead, Times have changed January 27, 2023
  • Trout Unlimited Manistee River Habitat Project October 26, 2022
  • Basic Spring Turkey Hunting Gear January 21, 2022
  • The Tug is the Drug, Swinging Flies for Steelhead December 14, 2021
  • 2021 Upland and Waterfowl Report December 9, 2021

Subscribe and Follow Us on YouTube

© 2015-2020 Hawkins Outfitters all rights reserved.

Scroll to top