The Gartside Gurgler in Action

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UNI Products Fly Tiers Corner

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SALTWATER

October 2026

By Adam Hortenberry

The water barely dimples at first—a small twitch, a soft gurgle, then suddenly the surface disappears in a flash of fins and spray. That moment is why anglers keep a Gartside Gurgler nearby. Simple, buoyant, and full of life, this foam-bodied fly has a way of turning quiet water into something electric.

Jack Gartside was a New England legend whose fly-fishing career spanned more than 50 years. He received his first fly-tying lesson in 1956 from Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams, a name that carries special weight for baseball fans. Gartside passed away in 2009, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Fly-Fishing Hall of Fame.

Jack Gartside on the water.

Search his name, or look up “Jack Gartside fly fishing,” and you will find interviews, stories, tying notes, and plenty of examples of the patterns that made him such an influential figure. One of my favorite fly shops, The Bear’s Den, has long carried Gartside flies and books, which speaks to how much his work still matters to anglers today. If you have not read some of Jack’s material, consider visiting The Bear’s Den website and picking up a book. They average about $20 and are well worth it.

I chose the Gurgler for this article because it is one of the most versatile fly patterns around. With slight changes in color, size, and materials, it can imitate shrimp, glass minnows, whitebait, crabs, and countless other types of forage. That flexibility is what makes the pattern so useful, fun to fish, and interesting to tie. My two favorites are the classic Gurgler & The Flatwing.

In my experience, and from talking with other anglers, the Gurgler shines when you do not need—or want—the heavy noise of a loud popping bug. The flatwing Gurgler is my favorite version, probably because of its profile and the way it swims. It has a subtle surface push, just enough commotion to get attention without overdoing it. I also fish it in freshwater with immense success for a variety of species—sized accordingly, of course.

A wonderful place to throw the Gurgler is in an estuary or a calmer stretch of water where fish look up. I love twitching it across the surface and watching the explosions happen. Anglers also tie squid-style Gurglers and fish them in rips for striped bass. When bass chase through the waves and blow up on a surface fly, it is about as exciting as fly fishing gets.

That is the real charm of the Gartside Gurgler: it is not complicated, flashy, or fussy, but it flat-out works. Whether skating across a quiet estuary, twitched over nervous bait, or working through moving water for striped bass, it brings the take to the surface where every strike feels bigger. Tie a few, fish them with confidence, and be ready—because when a fish commits to a Gurgler, subtlety ends in a hurry.

Classic Gurgler Recipe

Hook – Size 2 Gamakatsu sl11-3h, Ahrex Salt streamer or equivalen

Thread – Fine Mono or UTC 140 white.

Tail – white bucktail- Crinkly fiber

Flash – between 3 to 5 strands pearl Flashabou.

Body – pearl estaz or large cactus chenille pearl & White 2-3mm Craft foam and a small three” length of either large pearl tinsel or Flashabou or bills body braid pearl for top of foam.

Tying instructions