Currently browsing… fly tying
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The RS2
For you masochistic anglers out there who actually enjoy fishing tiny emerger patterns, this one's for you. (And, yes, on occasion, I'm one of you. Insert face-palm emoji here). The RS2, which stands for Rim's Semblance 2, is one of the most effective small emerger flies ever crafted—it can be absolutely deadly in the fall…
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Icy Hot Jig
Winter flies that work dependably often don't look like anything found naturally in the water. For instance, I do really well using a size 12 Prince Nymph here in eastern Idaho, where winter fishing is doable on a few local rivers, like the Bear and the Henry's Fork. I suppose the Prince might be a…
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Loon Ergo fly-tying tools
Good fly-tying tools are hard to find. Often, you get exactly what you pay for. Scissors that fall apart or quickly dull. Bobbins that slice thin thread in the middle of a pattern. You know, predictably cheap stuff. But not Loon Outdoors products. I've been using Loon tying tools for a couple of years now,…
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Making your own hackle-folding tool
Tying in hackle that faces rearward can be a bit tricky at times, particularly if you're using small hackle and small hooks. But, for some patterns—many small soft-hackle recipes come to mind immediately—this is a necessary step in tying the fly. https://youtu.be/XNvXP0bIgL0 Above, Tim Flagler shares a great tip for crafting a tool that will…
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Shenk’s Minnow
As baitfish imitations go, Shenk's Minnow might be the most fun to tie. While other patterns, like Norm Zeigler's Schminnow, might actually be a little easier to craft, no other simple baitfish patterns calls for baby-blanket yarn in order to put it together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGQ7VHFsFM Above, Tim Flagler ties the Shenk's Minnow with his own variations…
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Tying in the dreaded bucktail
The bucktail wing is one of the elementary ingredients in a number of popular flies, from Clousers to Coachmen ... even some caddis patterns call for bucktail. But, man, can it be hard to work with or what? I've always struggled with bucktail—I either lash it too tightly to the hook shank, which makes it…
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Tying quill bodies
If flies were measured by their appearance, quill-bodied mayfly patterns would take Best in Show honors every single time. Sleek yet buggy, streamlined, yet high-floating, quill-bodied flies are stylish and functional. https://youtu.be/4dpdMZmfRYM Tim Flagler shows us how to tie the perfect quill-bodied fly. But they can be a bear to tie, especially if you've never…