Musky Fly Tying With Signature Tyer Joe Goodspeed | the Musky Commander

If you are interested in musky fly fishing and talking fly tying and design, this video is for you. We sat down with Signature Tyer Joe Goodspeed to talk musky theory and learn to tie his top musky fly pattern—the Musky Commander. Not only does Joe demonstrate how to tie the Musky Commander, but Joe also shares tons of insight into fly design, musky behavior, and big fish theory. This is easily the most in-depth fly-tying video we have ever put out. In this video, Joe Goodspeed talks about what makes the Musky Commander so successful and how it continues to fool large adult muskies in pressured waters time and time again. From where you need to be fishing, to fly selection and presentation, Joe shares his advice based on his musky fishing experience over the years. Joe knows big, late-season muskies on the fly, so tune in and take notes! No matter how experienced you are at chasing muskies and other large predatory fish, we are certain there is something in this video for you. Throughout much of the video, Joe delves into musky behavior and offers perspectives on musky fishing that aren't often discussed. It's no secret that Joe does things a little differently than most anglers, and what he has to show for it is no joke. Joe walks us through the steps on how to tie the fly and discusses how each material has been thoughtfully chosen to serve a purpose throughout the fly design process. Joe's Musky Commander fly has been refined over the last decade and is largely characterized by its streamlined head shape, using Goop glue. Not only is the Musky Commander easier to cast all day than bulkier musky patterns, but Joe explains how his pattern not only looks, but feels more realistic to large, adult muskies, which triggers more bites. Creating lifelike forage imitations of fallfish, walleye, and suckers isn't easy, but Joe has put in the time and effort. Not only does the Musky Commander platform catch big fish, but it holds up to big muskies on the fly. When done right, his flies can withstand the brutal blow from 20+ adult muskies—not every musky fly pattern can tout that. Joe Goodspeed has been working in the fly fishing industry since 2008. First, he was a fly line producer, and now he's a fly rod developer. He's responsible for designing some of the best euro nymphing rods available on the market today. Joe is an exceptional subsurface fly angler—whether that be nymphs or streamers—and has an incredibly analytical mind when it comes to fly design. Every single component of his flies is added with intention, and there's nothing extra. Plus, he designs his flies to be durable so that you can catch fish after fish without them taking too much wear. Joe's Mini Cray is one of his most well-known patterns, but he has several others that you absolutely should test out on the water, including the Stunt Mouse and ESP caddis. Check out Joe's Signature Patterns here: https://www.fullingmill.com/Products-... Do you like tying musky flies like Bufords, Game Changers, and Bulkhead decievers? Check out our range of fly tying materials here: https://www.fullingmill.com/Products-... Make sure to subscribe to our channel to see more videos like this: https://www.youtube.com/c/FullingMill... And, follow us on Instagram:   / fulling_mill   00:00:00 Introduction to Joe Goodspeed's Musky Commander 00:02:51 Joe starts tying the tail section 00:12:42 Starting the front section and creating the connection 00:16:43 Planning the front section, discussing musky fly design 00:20:30 Tying in bucktail to build body 00:21:57 How and why to use foam in your musky flies 00:28:10 Tying in foam 00:33:35 Discussing color scheme 00:37:22 Where to find big, late-season muskies 00:42:14 Tying in more bucktail 00:47:01 The importance of keel weight and swim style 00:56:44 Tying in dumbbell eyes for keel 01:00:19 Using Estaz Chenile to build a foundation for the head 01:01:29 Adding more bucktail 01:07:17 Tracking musky eats and keeping records 01:08:56 Modifying the eye of the shank with pliers 01:09:53 Head design and fly durability 01:12:23 Adding synthetic accents to the head 01:17:02 What the muskies feel, and why Joe doesn't use rattles 01:24:35 Being reactive to musky feedback 01:27:28 Making the fly head and spinning wool 01:37:43 Head shape: How it benefits you, and catches more muskies 01:42:12 Trimming the spun wool head 01:45:21 Adding a dubbing veil over the wool 01:54:22 Reviewing productive musky flies 01:55:46 Adding a blood red accent under the chin 01:59:39 Joe prepares and explains his hook and split ring system 02:15:52 Glueing the head of the Musky Commander 02:25:55 Adding baitfish eyes and setting the fly to dry