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 eyeEye: silk gutThread: black silkTag: purple metallic tinsel, blue floss, silver oval tinsel, purple floss, silver metallic tinsel, yellow floss, blue floss with silver metallic over yellow […]
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 […]
Gear Review: fishpond’s Lodgepole Fishing Satchel
It’s nice to know that as fly-fishing gear progresses there’s still some equipment designed to remind us that we’re part of a rich history. That said, the Lodgepole is a classy gear bag. Though the satchel is definitely worthy of a nostalgic day on the water with a bamboo or glass rod, it’s also comfortable […]
Gear Review: The Allen Icon II
Testers enjoyed the feel of Allen’s Icon II. Across the board, the testers noted the rod has a very balanced feel in the hand and that the rod loaded effortlessly. The Icon II has a seamless feel when transferring energy from the rod to the line. Testers also noted that the rod definitely finds its […]
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 […]
Gear Review: Loon Outdoors Rogue Mitten Scissor Clamps
The Fly Fusion team tested the Rogue Mitten Scissor Clamps through the summer in various trouty situations. The Rogues performed extremely well through the entire test period. Testers specifically noted how much they appreciated the way the Rogue felt in their hands. The handles have a textured padded coating that keeps them from slipping when […]
MFC Launches Lucent Wrap
Columbia Falls, MT — October 11, 2017— Montana Fly Company is announcing a significant expansion to its fly-tying materials business with the introduction of MFC Lucent Wrap. Lucent Wrap is an extremely versatile material offering fly creations endless opportunity. The translucent synthetic fiber is expertly barred through MFC’s exclusive Fusion Dying process. It won’t bleed and […]
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 […]
Adding to the Fly Arsenal: The Floating Evil Weevil
Looking for a versatile dry-fly pattern to tie during the colder months? The Floating Evil Weevil is a fly that imitates a number of insects trout love to snack on. Jeremy Davies, frequent Fly Fusion contributor says, “One of my favourite parachute patterns is the Floating Evil Weevil because it can be kept high and […]
The Fly Angler’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maybe what looking deep into the fly angler’s hierarchy of needs will do though is help anglers realize they are not alone in their passions and idiosyncrasies, that they may be misguided and lost in their pursuit, but in the words of the band Blue Rodeo, “If we are lost, then we are lost together.”
Bugs in Three Dimensions
Think of a stream or lake as a big sandwich. There is the slice of bread on top – the surface, the slice of bread on the bottom – the substrate, and the filling in between – the water column.
Gear Review: Orvis Waterproof Sling Pack
Through the summer, Fly Fusion staff tested out the Orvis Waterproof Sling Pack and had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the gear bag. Waterproof zippers have the potential to be stiff and sticky. However, because of the system Orvis uses, the zipper is relatively smooth for a watertight system. It’s a double-layered zipper with the […]