Fly Tying Inventory
Mosquito
A traditional Catskill-style dry fly with a distinctively banded body that imitates the segmented appearance of a mosquito. This pattern uses simple materials — primarily grizzly hackle and moose mane — making it an excellent fly for beginners while remaining highly effective. Originally created for stillwater and alpine lake fishing, it works equally well on flowing water. The all-grizzly hackle and striped body give it a unique, buggy appearance.
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Materials
Standard dry fly hook (Mustad 94840, TMC 100), sizes 12-20
Black 8/0 or 6/0
Grizzly hackle fibers
Moose mane (one light, one dark strand wound together for banded effect)
Grizzly hackle tips, upright
Grizzly dry fly hackle
How to Tie the Mosquito
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook and start black thread, wrapping a base to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a sparse tail of grizzly hackle fibers.
- 3
Step 3
Select one light and one dark moose mane hair. Tie both in at the bend.
The contrasting moose mane creates the distinctive banded 'mosquito' body.
- 4
Step 4
Wind both moose mane hairs forward together to create the banded body. Tie off at the 2/3 point.
- 5
Step 5
Optionally tie in grizzly hackle tips as upright wings.
- 6
Step 6
Wind grizzly hackle to form a dense collar, 4-5 turns.
- 7
Step 7
Build a small thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoKm4qCw08I
Credit: Traditional Catskill pattern, origins in early American fly tying