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The Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
The venerable Pheasant Tail Nymph turns up in most fly boxes, as it should. It's a buggy pattern, and the iridescence of the peacock herl tied in as the bug's abdomen always seems to draw trout to this classic fly. Over the years, the patterns has evolved somewhat, thanks largely to the introduction of synthetic…
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Tying easy extended bodies
Tying an extended-body fly ... with ease
Over the years, I've tied lots of extended-body flies, but really with only marginal results. Usually, it requires twists of Antron, lots of head cement or UV resin and, frankly, a little luck. Until now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GogY7s8diks Above, watch as Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions ties a simple extended body for a fairly typical mayfly pattern…
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The Chuck Caddis
Watch as Tim Flagler ties the simple, yet elegant, Chuck Caddis
It's that time of year on a lot of western trout streams — the annual "Mother's Day" caddis hatches are upon us, and it's time to start throwing dry flies at hungry trout. Caddis patterns come in all shapes and sizes — some are a little more artsy and impressionistic, and others appear more practical…
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Prepping for high-country angling
For backcountry anglers, now is the time to make sure your gear is ready
One quick glance at the high peaks of the Caribous is all any backcountry trout angler in my neck of the woods needs to come to the realization that it’s going to be a while. Snow cornices still grace the tops of Red Ridge, and Fall Creek is running dirty. Getting up high to the…
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Shiney Hiney Caddis Pupa
Tying the Shiney Hiney Caddis Pupa
The caddisfly life cycle is an important one for trout anglers. Caddis, in every stage of their lives, make up a significant portion of the average trout's diet. But, in recent years, I've take to fishing less with patterns that imitate the adult bugs — Orvis' Tom Rosenbauer pointed out to me that bigger trout…
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Gila trout recovery on Mt. Graham
The effort to restore Gila trout in their native range continues to move forward
By Nate Rees Gila trout are one of the rarest trout species in the United States, making them a focus of Trout Unlimited’s restoration work on native, southwestern trout. They are only found in Arizona and New Mexico earning them a spot on the federal Endangered Species List in 1967. But they were re-classified as…
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Atherton No. 2 Nymph
Tying the Atherton No. 2 Nymph
Well-known fly pattern creator John Atherton wasn't much for literal imitation when it came to tying his flies. Instead, he was the discipline's answer to impressionist painters—nothing looks exactly right in an Atherton creation, but nothing looks too out of place, either. Thankfully, trout often seem to look at flies the same we tend to…
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