Video: The Origins of the Woolly Bugger

If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of the world’s most popular fly, the now-out-of-print Fly Rod & Reel published a great interview with Fred Blessing, son of the late Russell Blessing, the man who first tied a Woolly Bugger way back in . . .

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Pro Tips: Top 5 Hopper-Dropper Combos

‘Tis the season for fishing hopper-dropper rigs in much of the country, as these meaty terrestrials offer the best bang for the buck for trout. But there are lots of hopper patterns and lots of nymphs to choose from. How do you know what to tie on? Curtis . . .

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Phil’s Top 6 Patterns for Spring Mayfly Hatches

While I have yet to see my first trout rise of 2023, I know it will happen soon—the photo above was taken on May 1 last year—and I’ve seen plenty of photos from other parts of the country where mayflies are already popping. The next six weeks should . . .

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Video: How to Tie a Sulphur Comparadun

The original Comparadun was created in the 1960s by famed tier and angler Al Caucci. Anglers were introduced to the pattern in the 1973 book Comparahatch, which Caucci wrote with Bob Nastasi. Ever since, the low-riding mayfly imitation has been . . .

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Video: How to Tie the Intruder Leech

In this great video, Tim walks you through the process of tying an Intruder-style Mini Leech. While the pattern may look complicated, none of the steps to create it is particularly difficult, and Tim’s instructions are easy to follow . . .

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Video: How to Tie the Hare’s Ear Wet Fly

The latest how-to video from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions is focused on a truly classic pattern, one that’s been around for well over a century. What trips up many tiers is making the matched pair of wings. Tim walks you through his process for . . .

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Video: How to Tie a Turbo Midge

Competition fly fishing requires patterns that are both effective and durable; you don’t want to waste fly-fishing time changing flies, after all. Chris Lee of North Carolina designed the Turbo Midge with. . .

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