Fly patterns
The Frenchie was created by one of the best anglers I know, Lance Egan. The similarities to a Pheasant Tail nymph are definitely there, but this particular fly will outproduce just about any other fly from my experience ... Read More
From the October/November 2016 newlsetter by Patrick Welch During the cold dark winter of 2002 in Valdez, Alaska, I was looking for a pattern to fish the interior lakes near Chitina. When the ice goes out in May, the rainbows in these lakes can be very aggressive. If you haven't had something to eat for six months, you would be hungry too. After some experimentation, I ended up with an attractor pattern that seemed to be very effective in these lakes. After three years of experimentation, I completed what I call the Pumpkin Bugger, basically a wooly bugger with a ... Read More
A non-traditional fly tying material is making waves across the nation. The fly is made from a fuzzy strand cut from a cheap mop and tied to a hook. Several colors are available including salmon pink and fluorescent green. The mop fly originated with a visit about 10 years ago to a North Carolina dollar store that sold a chartreuse mop with thick microfiber nubs. "I just saw that thing and thought it would work," says Jim Estes, a 72-year-old retiree. He cut off some pieces and tied them to hooks weighed down with metal beads. Trout devoured them. The ... Read More
Fly, Notes and Photos by Jake Villock Used by Permission From the June/July 2016 newsletter Hook: TMC C200BL 12-16 Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead - size to Match Hook Rib 1: Mirage Tinsel - Small Rib 2: Ultra Wire - Small Body: Pheasant Tail - Yellow, Natural, Orange Splitback: Goose Biot - Yellow, Orange Shellback: Holo Tinsel - Black - Large Thorax: SLF (Synthetic Living Fibers) - Nymph Thorax Collar: SLF - Nymph Thorax Here is a great variation of an awesome fly that I have used all over the US. After hearing about it multiple times, I decided to tie a ... Read More
From the May/June 2016 Newsletter Fly, Notes and Photos by Charlie Craven and Greg Garcia Used by Permission Hook: TMC 100SP-BL #14-18 Bead: Green Glass Seed Bead 15/0 size Thread: 10/0 olive to secure the bead, then 8/0 Black for the rest of the fly Abdomen: Black Superfine Dubbing Underwing: Pearl Krystal Flash, Red Krystal Flash and Pearl Mirage Strands Overwing: Bleached Elk Hair Hackle: Grizzly Dyed Brown Rooster Saddle or Neck Hackle The MDC is a stroke of genius and is becoming a hugely popular pattern. The addition of the small glass seed bead at the bend ... Read More
From February-March 2016 newsletter Fly, Notes and Photos by Steve Schalla Used by Permission Hook: TMC 100 #12-18 Thread: Uni-thread Black 8/0 Body: Peacock Herl Tag: Gold Mylar Tinsel Rear Hackle: Brown hackle (Hen for wet fly, Rooster for dry fly) Front Hackle: White hackle, 1-2 sizes larger than Rear hackle (Hen for wet fly, Rooster for dry fly) This pattern can be used on both river and lake. In small sizes it can work as a midge cluster pattern and, in larger sizes, it might be considered an attractor pattern. Devised in Idaho on the Malad River by guide ... Read More
From the January 2016 newsletter Fly, Notes and Photos by Jerry Burton Used by Permission Hook: Size 12 or 14, 2x heavy Thread: Black 6/0 Body: Thin strip of foam that is wrapped around the hook Back: 1/4 inch wide strip of foam that is twice as long as the hook Legs: rubber leg material, 2 pieces On top: A round yellow (or other color) piece of sticky back foam cut with a single hole paper punch As we settle into winter it's that time of the year when we can sit with our fly tying vises and create with fur, ... Read More
From the September-October 2015 newsletter Fly of the Month - Hot Spot Gold Bead Pheasant Tail Fly, Notes and Photos by Philip Rowley Used by Permission Hook: Daiichi 1120, 1250, 1560, #16-#10 Thread: MFC 8/0 or UTC 70 Hot Red, Orange or Chartreuse Underbody: Uni Stretch, Hot Orange Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers Rib: Fine Copper Wire Body: Pheasant Tail Fibers Wing Case: Pheasant Tail Fibers and Mirage Opal Mylar Thorax: Peacock Herl Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers Bead: Gold (Brass or Tungsten) Tying Note: Coat wing case with a UV resin such as Loon's UV Clear Fly Finish-Thick In the early ... Read More