Currently browsing… fly tying
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Matt Callies’ Hare’s Ear Nymph
The good old Hare's Ear ... every fly box has a few (or should, by God). Of late, I'm seeing a lot of folks at the vise adding their own little touches of goodness to this venerable patterns, but Matt Callies, who ties for Loon Outdoors, has produced what has quickly become my favorite. Generally…
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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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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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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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Birds, books and flies
Birding has become a distraction for one shut-in Alaska angler
Whiling away the coronavirus pandemic in Alaska I had a realization the other day while wandering my neighborhood bike path with the pooch, eyes scanning trees for the flutter of wings and ears waiting for the jubilant spring song of rambling birds. I am unintentionally prepared for this quarantine. After a pleasant trip south of the border, I returned to new norms of social distancing and a more or less…
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Spring Fly Showdown: The finals
The Elk-hair Caddis and the Adams face off for dry-fly bragging rights
Two classic dry flies square off for all the marbles Twenty flies, two weeks and some intriguing matchups all come to a head today as the Elk-hair Caddis and the Adams face off in the championship match of the TU-Loon Outdoors Spring Fly Showdown. And it's a big day for interested anglers, fly tiers and…