-
Fly tying: Early Euro Black Stone
As Tim Flagler notes in the video below, for many anglers, the early black stonefly represents the beginning of the spring bug season. Midges are still prominent in most American trout streams, and should still be in every fly box, but the bigger stones are starting to show up, and the trout are taking note.…
-
Fly tying: Wash your hands
Here's some good advice from professional fly tier Tim Flagler: Wash your hands before you tie. Not only can dirt and grime get into the prints of your fingers, but they can discolor bright materials and reduce sensitivity.Video of Prepping Your Hands for TyingAlso, and I think this is just as important, Flagler recommends taking…
-
Trout Tips: Floating fly boxes
Foam fly boxes float. If you want to see your flies again, make sure fly box floats, too. Several years ago, I was steelhead fishing on Idaho's Salmon River. I'd spent the week leading up to the trip tying flies and gearing up. Steelhead on the Salmon were—and still are—a fish that came calling on…
-
Fly tying: The Basic Deceiver
Loon's Matt Callies ties some great flies, and he's really good at making it look easy. I've got a saltwater trip coming up, so I've been watching the Loon fly-tying series for some baitfish pattern ideas, and I haven't been disappointed. Video of Basic DeceiverAbove, Matt ties the Basic Deceiver, a super-simple pattern that predatory…
-
Trout Tips: Turn over rocks
When I was a kid fishing with my grandfather on bigger water, the first thing he always did was flip over rocks as we walked along the river. He'd give each rock a good look, and he'd point out squiggly little bugs to me and my brothers and cousins. "See that?" he'd ask, pointing to…
-
Fly Tying: Major Woody
Don't get any untoward ideas. This fly gets its name from all the wood duck materials used in the tying process, and not from, well, anything else. And, it's a great wet attractor pattern for all kinds of mayflies, ranging from green drakes to sulphers. Video of Major WoodyAs Tim Flagler shows above, it's also…
-
Fly tying: Neat heads
For new fly tiers and even for some of us seasoned at the vise, tying the perfect head on any fly can be a real challenge. Oversized heads look weird, mess with the balance of a fly and and make it tough to change flies quickly on the water. Video of Neat HeadsIn the video…
Category