I discovered this archaic pattern in the book Simple Flies by Morgan Lyle. The story goes that Frank Sawyer, the same guy that developed the venerable Pheasant Tail Nymph, created this fly, too. Mr. Sawyer was the caretaker, or River Keeper as they are known in the United Kingdom, of the River Avon. One of …
Although synthetic materials have certainly grown in popularity in recent years, some of the best materials for tying flies are and always will be natural feathers and fur. Pheasant tails are a prime example. Not only is this the primary ingredient for its namesake, the Pheasant Tail Nymph, but it’s a major component of countless …
How to Clean and Preserve Natural Feathers and Furs for Fly Tying Read More »
A fly fishing buddy said aloud; “that’s a hard head,” and I was flattered! His comment was not directed toward me, but rather the fly I handed him. Head cement is one of those incidental components that is often taken for granted, but perhaps it shouldn’t be. Why is quality head cement important when finishing …
The origin of the “Blood Dot Egg” leads many people to misunderstand the concept of this fly. The confusion comes from the assumption that the egg is named for a blood-red dot included in the egg. The origin and communication of its name might unfortunately continue well into fly-fishing’s future. The Blood Dot Egg …
https://youtu.be/SUJZJ2gEUXE The Sexy Walt is an incredibly easy fly to tie, even for beginners. The past few years, the Sexy Walt and its variations have become my go-to patterns and my confidence flies. If trout aren’t hitting some version of a Sexy Walt, then they’re usually just not hitting! Below is a quick video demonstrating …
Watch: How to Tie the Sexy Walt, Rainbow Dubbed Walt, and CDC Walt Read More »
The term “guide flies” describes flies that can save the day and put fish in the net but are ridiculously quick and easy to tie. The Mop Fly fits the bill on all accounts. What is a Mop Fly? A Mop Fly is a very basic design that incorporates strands of microfiber tied to the …
The old joke is that lures are meant to catch fishermen, not fish. Flashy, bright colors and intricate, realistic designs cause us to cough up the coin in hopes that we’ve found the next great thing. In some ways, UV materials have been that next great thing in the fly fishing industry over the …
Squirmy Wormy flies catch fish. Period. They’re not fancy. They’re not sophisticated. Heck, I know a good handful of fly fishermen who won’t even admit to using them. Squirmy Wormy flies are like that nerdy kid on the playground who isn’t cool at all, but he’s always drafted first because he can kick the crap …
When fishing for fall trout or Steelhead, an assortment of egg patterns deserves a place in every fly box. Eggs make up a huge part of the diets of these fish this time of year. At times, trout and Steelhead will gorge on them almost to the exclusion of everything else. Luckily for anglers, …
Once mid-May rolls around, I change up my tandem rigs a little bit. Rather than use an egg pattern as the point fly, I prefer the simple but effective Walt’s Worm or Sexy Walt. And if I had to choose just one, I’d take the Sexy Walt tied on a jig-style hook with a silver …
