Fly Tying Patterns: Magenta Maurauder

Ace of Spades - Fly Tying Pattern
  • Hook: B200 #8 - 12
  • Thread: Black 8/0
  • Tail: Magenta Flash Brite
  • Body: Magenta Glissen Gloss*
  • Over Wing: Magenta Flash Brite
  • Tied by D. Howard
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The Magenta Marauder is a pattern I first tied nearly 10 years ago when I began fly tying. Not having had any tuition and not really knowing anything about doing the job properly, I was just lashing synthetics to hooks with little thought of what I was to produce.

Then one day this pattern magically appeared on the hook and to my eyes it looked like a "real" lure! The proportions looked right and to be honest, I was quite proud of it. I took it along to the Branch's summer trip and during a none-too-productive afternoon for many, cleared up with my limit! It was then that I decided to give it a name and if memory serves me right, our Newsletter Editor & Programme Secretary at that time, Chris Knowles, came up with "Magenta Marauder" because it had been so effective. Now I realise that there is very little new under the sun, and that there may well have been similar patterns in use at the time I created it, but I do like to think of it as my little baby!

As time moved on, I used this pattern less and less, choosing instead to concentrate on nymphing. But when used, it became one of my "get out of jail" patterns. I have found it particularly effective in waters with heavy algae bloom and when fished static on a floating line, the easiest way to recover it is to gut the trout - takes are that positive!

I have tied the body with a material called *Glissen Gloss #8 by Maderia. I found it in HobbyCraft in the sewing department, but I guess that any similar colour Kristal Chennille would be just as effective. I have tried this pattern in silver but it doen't seem to be as successful - even late into the season when the trout are hard onto fry.