After a super mild winter, I am expecting an extended summer of good smallmouth fishing! Of course, my favorite way to catch them is on a Zudbubbler. The only thing that matches a surface explosion from a smallmouth in my book is the take from a swung fly fall steelhead... at least on my home river (Michigan's Muskegon River). BoneYard Fly Gear is now offering 5 colors in pre-cut Zudbubbler bodies... green, red, blue, yellow and now black... all excellent colors for our bronzeback friends.
http://www.boneyardflygear.com/flygear.html
Check your local fly shop to see if they have them in stock... if they don't, please let them know that you want them! We also sell direct to you if your flyshop doesn't stock them, but we want you to support your local fly shop whenever possible please. Zudbubbler's are fun and easy to tie, but if you would rather just buy the completed Zudbubbler, I would be happy to tie some up for you... just email your request to me at  matt@mattzudweg.com .
Cost per popper is $8, minimum order of 6 poppers.
Life is short, get out and enjoy God's creation and share it with others. Be Blessed! - Z

The new BYFG boat?

I wish this was my boat... but it actually belongs to a couple that are fond of my logo and asked if I could design the new logo for their transom using our logo fish. Don't try this at home.

A chapter ends, a new one begins

Last spring did me in.... I was cold and wet so much of the time and my hands hurt like crazy. You see, long before I became a steelhead guide I did something really stupid.... well, many things actually, but one that would forever change my life. I don't remember all the circumstances, but I was mad and decided I would run off to the woods to vent. The trouble was, it was a cold day in the middle of a Michigan winter and I ran off in such a hurry that I didn't grab a coat, gloves, hat.... nothing. I was about 13 at the time and my emotions got the better of me. After a couple hours in the woods shivering, my hands white as the snow and feeling very strange I arrived back in the house and ran them under hot water until the blood flowed again.... yes, that was painful. To my naive mind, this seemed logical. I later found out that this would affect my circulation from that point on.
Eventually I went to a specialist because my hands would loose circulation really easy after that incident and I was diagnosed with Reynaud's disease. Reynaud's was not a threat to my life the Doctor told me, but it would mean a lifetime of being very careful not to let my hands lose circulation, which could cause permanent damage. With Reynaud's, the blood vessels in my fingers had become hyper sensative to cold, and to protect my core temperature, my hands would shut down blood flow at even the mildest of cold temps. With no known cure, I became reliant on warm mittens and hand warmers when in the cold to make sure the blood flow wasn't shut off.
When I began guiding in 2003, I was only going to guide for trout and bass and I was not even interested in cold weather guiding. Somewhere in my quest for more trout and bass trips I realized I was going to need to guide for steelhead like the rest of the guides... and so I did.... and I loved it. Since then, I have spent more and more days on the river during the cold months than my hands would allow and I have suffered the consequences. Although I adore steelhead... especially when we can catch them on a swung fly, I have decided that even they are not worth the risk of losing my hands. After waking up 3-4 times each night with my arms completely asleep and needing to get up and shake the blood flow back in them I knew what I had to do. This was last spring, and my November calender was already nearly booked full, so I couldn't just quit then. I made the committment to finish the fall swung fly trips and then I would go back to my art studio for my families income.
The thing with guiding is, it gets in your blood. I started guiding because I couldn't shake the urge, and after 8 years, I still can't. From now on I'm just going to have to get my fix in warmer weather, guiding for trout and smallmouth bass as I have done for the last 8 years. Steelhead trips were going to be sacrificed. I am sad, because I have truly enjoyed steelhead, especially in the fall, but I also know my limitations and realize my hands are made for much more than guiding.
I appreciate so much the people that took the time to teach me the ropes of being a good steelhead guide. I will always cherish the days hunting for chrome, and look forward to many more days hunting trophy trout and smallmouth bass, whether here in Michigan or some other beautiful river.
The rumors are true... my family and I are trying to move to Eastern Tennessee after falling in love with the South Holston River, but a few things are currently holding us back. As of now, I will still be guiding for trout and smallmouth bass on my home water the Muskegon River during the 2012 season. May through August. If you would like to book a trip with me you can still do so through Feenstra Guide Service or by calling me at 231-206-7660. I would love to show you the great trout and bass fishing the Muskegon has to offer next summer! With the massive run of salmon this fall, there should be huge amounts of salmon parr to fatten up the trout in spring. I expect the trout fishing next summer to be awesome!

Zuddy's Chewy Streamer (chewbaca)

The Chewbaca Streamer is definitely my most requested tutorial. I do well with this streamer pattern on my home river in early to late May for big brown trout, and sometimes rainbows as well. I have heard many stories from other fisherman telling me how Chewbaca made the day on their home river too, which is always music to my ears. I nearly always fish it on a 250 grain sinking line with a short (3ft.) flourocarbon leader of 6-8 lb. test. It is simple to tie and fun to fish. As with most streamer fishing for trout, strip it fast and eratic, working the rod tip for even more action. Many times, trout will chase it all the way to the boat before grabbing it.... making for some really exciting takes!

Step 1: Place a Daiichi # 2461 size 4 streamer hook in your vise. Sometimes I even use a size 2. Attach your thread and wind it to the bend of the hook, even with the barb. For thread, I really like the GSP 100 in white. Tie in an olive barred white zonker strip as shown.

Step 2: Dub a short body of olive Ice Dub or Senyo's Laser Dub.

Step 3: Tie off the remnant of the zonker on top of the dubbed body and clip off the excess. Many times I will top the fly with a dozen or so strands of copper flashabou the same length as the zonker strip before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Clip off a clump of Australian Possum from a hide and tie it in tightly as shown. Advance thread to in front of the clump.

Step 5: Tie in a large mallard flank collar (usually 4 or 5 wraps around) and wind thread tightly against the A.P. clump so the flank splays out well.

Step 6: Tie in another clump of Australian Possum, this one a little thicker than the first. Whip finish. Now go catch a toad!

For really select complete Australian Possum hides visit http://www.swingabigfly.com/

Matt Zudweg is a full time guide for Feenstra Guide Service on Michigan's Muskegon River, and also owns http://www.boneyardflygear.com/

Zuddy's Wicked Leech of the Midwest

When I first began swinging flies for Steelhead, I had no idea what I was doing. In fact, looking back on it now I wouldn't even call it swinging. At that time, I would simply rig a heavy sink tip with a big bunny streamer such as a "mad pup" and back troll through a run, just like I had seen the plug fishermen do. Simple as it was, it worked. It wasn't until I began working for Kevin Feenstra, that I truly began "swinging flies" for Steelhead. The added "swing" made this style of fishing way more fun and effective. Although swinging for Steelhead is one of the most challenging ways to hook them, the take is so awesome that it's very hard to go back to any other form of catching them. If you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend that you do. Even if it's on a single hand rod, the experience is one you won't forget. For more information on swinging for Steelhead I recommend Kevin's latest dvd available at http://www.swingabigfly.com/
The pattern below is one I used much of the fall season this year. It has become one of my go to patterns. I hope you will give it a try.

Step 1: Place a Daiichi 2461 Size 2 hook in your vise and attach dumbell eyes about 1/8" behind the hook eye. Wind thread to the back of the hook, even with the hook point.

Step 2: Attach a black micro rabbit strip securely to the top of the hook and wind thread forward, leaving about 1/4" before the dumbell eyes. Trim the rabbit strip so it is 1 1/2" behind the hook.

Step 3: Wind the rabbit strip forward until it reaches the thread, and tie it off, trimming the excess.

Step 4: Attach a large yellow mallard flank by the tip and trim off excess.

Step 5: Dub some pink, or hot pink Laser Dub, or Ice Dub onto the thread and wind losely up to the dumbell eyes.

Step 6: Palmer the mallard flank through the dubbing and tie off.

Step 7: Attach a large amount of Black Rainbow Polar Flash just behind the dumbell eyes, leaving it about an inch longer than the rabbit strip.

Step 8: Fold the Polar Flash over the eyes and tie the remnant to the underside of the hook. Trim it the same length as the top fibers of Polar Flash.

Step 9: Advance the thread ahead of the dumbell eyes and tie in a clump of Hot Yellow Ice Dub or Laser Dub, as you would a vail on an egg fly. That's it!

Good Luck Swinging for Steelhead!

"The Zudbubbler"

In my world, one of the best things about a warm summer is the explosive strike from a Smallmouth or Largemouth Bass to my popper. I love fishing poppers for bass, it's nearly as exciting to me as big brown trout on dry flies. The instructions below will guide you through tying my favorite popper "The Zudbubbler". When tied properly, this is one effective and durable bug. Nearly any color combination is possible, but my favorites include combinations of yellow, green, black and orange.

Step 1: Purchase some soft foam floor panels. I usually find them at Home Depot, etc. They're made for kid's rooms, they're inexpensive, and one 2'x2' panel will tie hundreds of poppers!

Step 2: Cut the foam into strips (using a razor blade) that are about 3/4" wide (this will actually be the length of the popper body). From the strip, cut bodies that are about 1/2" wide at the front, tapering to about 3/8" wide at the rear. You can see from the photo, the foam I buy has a cool texture on one side... I make this the bottom, because the texture traps air bubble's under the popper.

Step 3: Using a razor blade, trim the top of the body to a downward taper as shown.

Step 4: Using a good size bodkin, poke a hole near the bottom of the body, from front center to rear center.

Step 5: Slide the body onto a size 3/0 #2720 Daiichi Stinger hook. (do not use glue yet). Secure 3/0 Uni-Thread to the hook just behind the popper body and wind back up the hook to just behind the body.

Step 6: Secure a marabou feather on top of the hook. Color of your choice.

Step 7: Secure one barred rubber leg (folded over) to each side of the hook. Color of your choice.

Step 8: Secure a hackle feather (black schlappen shown) by the tip, then dub some Ice Dub or Senyo's Laser Dub onto the thread and wind forward leaving the right amount of room for the popper body. The color of the dubbing is not critical, although I prefer olive or black.

Step 9: Wind the hackle forward over the dubbing and secure, then wind the thread forward to the hook eye, (cover the hook completely, as this thread will be a good base for the glue used to attach the body securely to the hook). Whip finish.

Step 10: Apply a generous amount of Zap a Gap CA glue to the thread and slide the body in place. Attach doll eyes and rubber legs as shown. As you can see, I also add spots using a green or black sharpie and a red lip (with a red sharpie). Not necessary, but it looks cool:)

Many times, I will also lightly stroke a sharpie on the textured underside of the popper body, hitting just the high spots... this helps break up the solid color from the fish's point of view.

Captain Matt Zudweg guides for Feenstra Guide Service on Michigan's Muskegon River and also owns BoneYard Fly Gear. Check out his product line at http://www.boneyardflygear.com/

Zuddy's Iso Bugger

Isonychia Mayflies are abundant on my home river and the trout have been especially keyed in on them this season, as our normal Gray Drake spinner falls have been practically non-existent. This has easily become my most productive wet fly for late spring/early summer trout. I fish it using a traditional wet fly swing and give it short twitches during the entire swing. I have also found that using a poly leader (super fast sinking) makes it even more effective.

Step 1: Place a Daiichi #1110 size 12 hook in your vise, wind uni-thread 6/0 light yellow thread so it is even with the hook point. Tie in a small clump of peacock or peacock black IceDub.

Step 2: Fold the forward clump back and tie it off.

Step 3: Fold one strand of Fashabou glow in the dark yellow #6952 over the thread and tie down so it is even with the hook point and on top of the hook.

Step 4: Tie in one small brown hackle feather (with barbs no longer than 1/2") by the tip.

Step 5: Dub some peacock or peacock black IceDub onto the thread and wind forward, stopping about 1/16" behind the hook eye.

Step 6: Palmer the hackle feather forward through the body and tie off.

Step 7: Bring the Flashabou strand forward on top of the hook and tie it off behind the hook eye.

Step 8: Dub a very small amount of yellow IceDub onto the thread and form a small head (especially effective while suckers are spawning).... Or, as in the very top photo, add small bead chain eyes to the underside of the hook. Whip finish. Now get off your computer and go fishing!!