Midges on the Mind
The Griffith’s Gnat is likely the most popular midge pattern, but for fly anglers who appreciate variety, the Stuck Shuck Midge is another pattern diminutive pattern that’s sure to produce huge results. Stuck Shuck Midge (photo a recipe provided by Scott Erickson) Hook: Daiichi 1640, #20 Thread: Black, 45 denier Shuck: Opalescent twisted Mylar Abdomen: Working thread […]
Friday Fly By…Mike Schmidt
The great thing about big streamers is that, because of their bulk, it doesn’t take too long to fill up an average sized fly box. The tough thing about streamers is that it’s easy to lose a bunch over the course of the day. Here’s the Junk Yard Dog to help deal with the loss. […]
Friday Fly by…Skip Morris
Every fly angler who’s ever cast to a persnickety trout knows you can never have too many mayfly patterns, so here’s a proven performer just in case you find yourself at your bench this weekend. Morris May Light Recipe (by Skip Morris) HOOK: Light wire standard length to 1X long, sizes 20 to 10. THREAD: […]
Friday Fly By…Richard Pulaski
One of the deepest philosophical questions in fly fishing: Can a fly-angler’s box contain too many Chernobyl patterns. Just in case you fall on the “it’s not possible” side of the debate, here’s the recipe for the juicy looking Beavertail Chernobyl. Beavertail Chernobyl Recipe: Hook:Dai-Riki 730, #8 Thread: Uni-Thread, 6/0 yellow Adhesive: Liquid Krazy Glue, […]
The Zoo Cougar: A Slick Minnow Pattern
Jake Ruthven is a talented young tier out of Colorado and has developed a creative take on the Zoo Cougar. If you’re looking to stock up your streamer box this winter in preparation for estuary fishing for sea-run trout in the spring, be sure to give this innovative pattern a try. Zoo Cougar Recipe: Hook: […]
Celebrate Halloween Masked Bandit Style
Not much for dressing up and heading out on the town? You might want to consider celebrating Halloween night by hunkering down in your den and tying Reece’s Masked Bandit. It’s a small steamer that’s super attractive to big trout. Check out the tying video here. Recipe: Hook: Gamakatsu octopus #4 Thread: 6/0 matched to […]
The Royal Vulture
The Royal Vulture, originally featured in volume 9 issue 4 of Fly Fusion. Tied by our good friend Colin Callbeck. Royal Vulture Recipe Hook: Partridge 3/0 Bartlet blind eye Eye: silk gut Thread: black silk Tag: purple metallic tinsel, blue floss, silver oval tinsel, purple floss, silver metallic tinsel, yellow floss, blue floss with silver […]
Steelhead Candy: Tying the Micro GP
by Dana Sturn (photo Aaron Goodis) When it comes to fly tying, I’m pretty lazy, and get bored quickly. A good tying session might yield three or four flies; rarely do I tie a half-dozen at one sitting. So my version of the Micro GP is an exercise in economy: What’s the minimum in materials […]
Friday Fly By Jeremy Davies
The Catatonic Leech Regular contributor and innovative tier Jeremy Davies says, “This might be the easiest fly I have ever tied except for the San Juan Wire Worm, and on lakes it is one of the most effective flies to fish. The standard Catatonic Leech is tied almost entirely of marabou (my preference is Wapsi […]
Adding to the Fly Arsenal: The High and Dry Caddis
Regular Fly Fusion contributor and innovative tier, Jeremy Davies, is always searching for ways to develop new patterns using synthetic materials. He says, “One style of fly that I use to mimic both standard and October caddis is Jeremy’s High & Dry Caddis, which has an antron wing, foam body, grizzly or brown hackle, and […]