New
Zealand is probably best known for the Matuku style of
lures that are named after a local bittern, the Matuku
which the first fly of the genre was tied from.
Kiwi feathers were also used. However, as time
went by the Kiwi and Matuku became endangered birds and
the use of their feathers is now banned. Somehow
over the years, the name has been changed to "Matuka".
Even New Zealanders often refer to the style by this
name, however the original was "Matuku" and thus the
style should remain thus named. Other winging
materials include rabbit strip and split turkey or
grouse tail quills.
Five
patterns, recipes, pictures and history follow:
Hope's Silver
-- A Canterbury lure designed to imitate a small smelt (Inanga--
pronounced "eenana") that ran into the coastal rivers of
that province. Also tied with a black wing and
grizzle hackle (Hope's Dark) for night fishing and a red
body (Hope's Red)l
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Hope's Silver |
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Photo by Peter Frailey
Hook: Mustad 3666, size 2
to size 10
Thread: Black
Tail: Grizzly hackle fibers
Body: White wool or chenille
Rib: Silver oval tinsel
Lateral Line: Blue embroidery yarn
Wing: 2 sets of grizzle hackle
Overwing: Peacock sword
Hackle: Cream |
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Tiger Ross
-- One of the "classic" icon New Zealand lures.
Also called "Taupo Tiger". This was the first fly
I caught a trout on and I still have that particular fly
30 years on. Imitates a small smelt that swims in
Lake Taupo. Also tied with green, red, and silver
body. Because of its personal history for me, I
have always like the yellow body. The best effect
is with a faded yellow colour. I have a patch of
foam on the dashboard of my car. I put the
completed flies in this foam and leave them there for
around eight weeks. The sun will fade out the
flies nicely. On Lake Taupo itself, commercial
guides do the same in their boats, pinning the flies to
some sunny spot in the wheel house.
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Tiger Ross |
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Photo by Peter Frailey
Hook:
Mustad 3666, size 2 to size 10
Thread: Red
Tail: Red hackle fibers
Rib: Gold oval tinsel
Body: Yellow chenille
Wing: Two sets of Badger hackle
Hackle: Badger
Head: Red |
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Green Rabbit
-- If I had one lure to fish with in the North Island, it would be
an Orange Rabbit. Imitates the smelt wonderfully and countless
fish fall to it. In the South Island, the green body is
favoured. I used to poo-poo that until I moved here and
discovered very quickly that South Island sea run browns prefer
green body over any other colour. Another rabbit fly that works
very well on 'bows for some strange reason is a Yellow Terror:
An all-yellow fly but with red thread/head and red hackle fibre
tail. This style of Matuku lure is probably over 70 years old.
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Green Rabbit |
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Photo by Peter Frailey
Hook: Mustad 3666, Size 1/0 to
size 14
Thread: Black
Tail: Red or orange hackle fibres
Body: Green seal fur, mohair, wool or
chenille
Rib: Gold or silver oval tinsel
Wing: Natural gray rabbit fur strip
Collar: Pale blue dun (optional) |
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Olive Rabbit -- A
modern version of the Rabbit Matuku. Not shown here, but
usually with yellow and black painted eyes in the front. You'll
find the big sizes are very popular on the Rotorua Lakes
, where they are hauled behind drifting boats. A mate of mine uses a lumo green
body after dark or during low light conditions and gets lots of
fish.
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Olive Rabbit |
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Photo by Peter Frailey
Hook: Mustad 3666, Size 2/0 to
size 8
Thread: Black
Tail: Red sparse marabou
Body: Olive Estaz chenille
Rib: Gold or silver oval tinsel
Wing: Olive rabbit fur strip
Overwing: Green flashabou
Collar: Olive hen |
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John's Bully -- This is
mine. A work in progress for about 10 years. This is
about version 6. Probably getting to the final version now. I
also tie it in black and brown or combinations thereof. I now
tie them like this one, which is upside down. The hook is
pierced through the back of the rabbit strip.
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John's Bully |
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Photo by Peter Frailey
Hook: Sizes 8 to 4,
straight eye
Thread: Black
Eyes: Yellow/black dumbell
Tail: Olive dyed chickabou
Body: Olive green Estaz chenille
Rib: Gold oval tinsel
Gills: One turn red Estaz chenille
Wing: Olive rabbit fur strip
Hackle: Olive chickabou
Head: Olive chenille |
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