Fly of the Month

July 2002
by Rich Johnson

Fly of the Month: Freakazoid

Notes: They say that öa Rose by any other name is still a Roseö; and if thatÆs true then the Freakaziod is a simply a Woolly Bugger. But when I heard of, and saw the Freakaziod I knew that this was an Alaskan Salmon pattern that had to make Fly of the Month. The Freakazoid came from the creative mind of Tom Cloninger at Three Rivers Fly Shop in Wasilla. The story of the creation is that Tom decided to see what would happen if he took the three most effective colors on salmon flies and incorporated them into one of the most effective pattern styles. The results are a fly that the Chum salmon can't seem to keeps they're lips off. (Chum salmon are also known as Dog salmon for some obscure reason.) Chums are an underrated game fish that are aggressive to a fly and put up a heck of a (dog) fight. Here in south-central the Susitna drainage receives a run of Chums and they can be caught in July and August. Although, I do want to warn you that late in the season they are (dog) ugly and have a mouth full of teeth you'll need to avoid.

Previous Flies

June 2002 Fat Freddie
May 2002 Spanko Sculpin
Apr 2002 Articulated Water Rat
Mar 2002 Double Bunny
Feb 2002 Gold Creek Special
Jan 2002 Half Back
Dec 2001 Martin River Smolt
Oct 2001 Purple Performer
Sept 2001 Muddler Minnow
Aug 2001 Globug
July 2001 McFly Egg
June 2001 Chenille Egg
May 2001 Reggie Miller
April 2001 Sportsman Special
March 2001 Tube Flies
Febuary 2001 2020
January 2001 Ninety Three
December 2000 Dean River Lantern
November 2000 Black Stone Nymph
October 2000 HL Variant
September 2000 Steelhead Caddis
August 2000 Stealth
July 2000 Sockeye Orange
June 2000 Fred the Red
May 2000 Prince Nymph
April 2000: Dahlberg Diver

March 2000: Super Prawn!
Febuary 2000: Midge Larva/Pupa
January 2000: Scud
December 1999: Sockeye Fry
November 1999: Not available
October 1999: Pin Head Muddler
September 1999: Signal Light
August 1999: Pink Pollywog
July 1999 : Leonard Shrimp
June 1999 : Delong Lake Special (parachute)
May 1999 : Beady-eye Nymph
April 1999 : General Practitioner
March 1999 : Sculpin (woolhead bunny)
February 1999 : Popsicle
January 1999 : Nuclic Bunny
December 1998: Alaska Mary Ann
November 1998: Niukluk Smolt
October 1998: Sea Flea
September 1998: Frank's Fly
August 1998: Sparkle Shrimp
July 1998: Flashfly
June 1998: Comet
May 1998: Everglow
April 1998: Battle Creek Special
March 1998: Pearl Marabou Smolt
February 1998: Crystal Egg Wooly Bugger
January 1998 : Tangle Lakes Teaser
December 1997: Bead-Head Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle


July 2002 by Rich Johnson Fly of the Month: Freakazoid Notes: They say that öa Rose by any other name is still a Roseö; and if thatÆs true then the Freakaziod is a simply a Woolly Bugger. But when I heard of, and saw the Freakaziod I knew that this was an Alaskan Salmon pattern that had to make Fly of the Month. The Freakazoid came from the creative mind of Tom Cloninger at Three Rivers Fly Shop in Wasilla. The story of the creation is that Tom decided to see what would happen if he took the three most effective colors on salmon flies and incorporated them into one of the most effective pattern styles. The results are a fly that the Chum salmon can't seem to keeps they're lips off. (Chum salmon are also known as Dog salmon for some obscure reason.) Chums are an underrated game fish that are aggressive to a fly and put up a heck of a (dog) fight. Here in south-central the Susitna drainage receives a run of Chums and they can be caught in July and August. Although, I do want to warn you that late in the season they are (dog) ugly and have a mouth full of teeth you'll need to avoid.
	Hook: Mustad 3407 (cadium) or 34007 (stainless); or similar Thread: 3/0, Hot Pink Weight: .030 lead wraps Tail: Marabou plumes, Hot (Baby) Pink Body: Chenille, Cerise Hackle: Saddle, Chartreuse (palmered)
	1) Because of the strength of these fish the fly is tied on a ring eyed extra strong hook instead of the traditional streamer hook used for most Woolly Buggers.
	2) Lead the hook shank from above the hook point to just back from the eye. Lock down with your thread, and bring the thread back to the bend of the hook.
	3) Tie in a full tail; IÆm using two marabou plumes. Clip the excess and tie down behind the lead wraps.
	4) Tie in the chenille on the side of the shank. Using a full and webby saddle hackle tie it in by its tip on the top of the shank slightly in front of the chenille tie in spot. .
	5) Bring the chenille forward and tie off. Make sure that your first wrap of chenille covers the tie in spot of the hackle.
	6) Palmer the hackle forward. Try to get at least one extra wrap of hackle in front of the body before tying off.
	7) Build a fairly large head with the thread and whip finish. Shudder just a bit at the color combination and then go out and catch a Dog

July 2002 by Rich Johnson

July 2002
by Rich Johnson