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Midnight Mullet Streamer Step-by-Step:
While preparing for a visit to the Florida Keys in September of 2023, I stumbled across a pair of patterns by Umpqua Fly Designer, Mike Conner. The first, referenced in Steve Kantner’s Backcountry Flies, was a smaller baitfish imitation designed to be fished around dock lights for Snook, Tarpon and Seatrout. While interesting in its own right, it was an up-sized version known as the Midnight Mullet that really caught my attention.
4-6 inches of little more than flash and feather, this pattern Is not only effective around dock lights when mullet were present, but can also hold its own as a pattern for targeting snook in the surf (and presumably warmwater predators as well).
Whipping up a half dozen for use on that aforementioned Keys trip, I never got a chance to put them to use as I foolishly left a box containing at least three dozen flies somewhere on the side of the road in the middle keys.
Now six months later, I find myself whipping up a new batch as return to South Florida is less than three weeks away.
Sharpies or Midnight Mullet Streamer Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
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Tips and Tricks
- Color Selection – While this pattern is generally in shades of white/silver (flash), I’ve also begun tying black versions of this fly. While White/Silver may prove more effective in clear water, don’t overlook darker variants in murky water or low light conditions.
- Weed Guard – Although, I did not include one in the example above, the addition of a weed guard isn’t a bad idea for this fly. Not only will it allow you to fish near structure without the risk of snags, but it will also prevent the tail from fouling around the bend of the hook.
Proof of Concept
While this fly was originally designed for targeting snook and other saltwater species, my first attempts with this fly have been limited to pre-spawn largemouth nearer to home. Though the bite in my backyard test pond has remained surprisingly slow thus far in 2024, the Midnight Mullet proved its worth as a handful of small, chunky largemouth came to hand during a 30-minute test run.
Tight Line!
Chris
Species Caught on the Midnight Mullet to Date:
- Largemouth Bass
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When and where are you coming to south Florida? I’ve got a great spot that I’ve been hitting recently and nailed some of the largest Peas and Largemouths I’ve ever gotten also some snook in this lake I’ve been working on for a while.
Hi Reid,
I’ll be flying into FLL early on 3/23 and back out the evening of 3/25. The plan is to split time between the urban canals/lakes in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami and the Tamiami Trail. Would you mind shooting me an email at thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com . I’d love to pick your brain on south FL fishing and see if we could possibly find time to meet up.
Chris