Discover the Spiral Spook: Innovation in Topwater Fly Fishing

Join Marvin Cash on The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast as he interviews Chase Smith, inventor of the innovative Spiral Spook fly pattern. Chase bridges conventional and fly fishing by adapting the classic walk-the-dog action into a deadly topwater fly for bass and other predator species.

Expert Design Insights from Chase Smith

Chase shares his journey from conventional fishing to creating one of fly fishing's most unique topwater patterns. Learn how he solved critical design challenges including weight distribution, foam construction and hook positioning to achieve authentic spook action on a fly rod.

What You'll Learn

Discover the precise retrieve technique required for walking the fly—short, sharp strips just three inches long with rod tip on the water. Chase reveals why leader material matters, explaining why soft monofilament outperforms fluorocarbon and stiff materials. Get the complete leader formula: 2 feet of 50-pound to 2 feet of 35-40 pound, finishing with 2 feet of 20-pound soft mono.

Advanced Tying Techniques

Chase breaks down the complete construction process, from embedding weights in foam bodies to creating the signature spiral wrap. Learn about material selection including EVA foam, Gorilla Glue clear coating and wide-gap offset hooks that dramatically improved hookup ratios. Understand the precision required—weight placement within millimeters affects the entire action.

Topwater Strategies for Predator Species

Get Chase's preferred setup: 55-millimeter bone-colored spooks on 6-7 weight rods with floating lines with aggressive tapers. Discover why smaller sizes catch more fish and how to adapt the pattern for varying conditions. Chase shares his 90% commitment to bone color and explains the strategic advantage of downsizing.

Master the Walk-the-Dog Retrieve

The most common mistake anglers make is stripping too long. Chase emphasizes the critical importance of short, sharp strips—just a wrist flick of three inches. Learn how to initiate the walk with fast strips then vary tempo for different actions. Understand why loop knots are essential and how tippet diameter affects glide.

Ready to add this deadly topwater pattern to your predator fly arsenal? Tune in for Chase's expert insights on creating and fishing one of fly fishing's most innovative surface patterns.

Sponsors

Thanks to Schultz Outfitters, TroutRoutes and OnX Fish Midwest for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.

Related Content

S6, Ep 124 - Fly Tying with Chase Smith

BONUS - Tying the Circus Peanut: Streamer Secrets and Fishing Strategies with Russ Maddin

S6, Ep 101 - The Chocklett Factory: Fly Fishing Travels, Conservation and New Ventures

S4, Ep 4 - Matt O'Neal of Savage Flies

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Helpful Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction

09:16 The Design Process

15:33 Evolution of the Fly

21:26 Common Mistakes to Avoid

27:00 Mastering the Action

32:49 Upcoming Projects