Smelt are among the main forage species for many game fish that live in lake-and-river systems. Whether you’re casting for landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, or pike, you’ll want to have a few of these bright patterns in the box. Scott Currie of . . .
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Video: How to Tie the March Brown Emerger
Since it’s the first of March, it seems like a good time to start tying March Browns–even though these mayflies don’t start hatching until mid-May in some parts of the country. On a fishless evening on the Battenkill a few years ago, I had the opportunity to . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Adams Bugger
It sometimes seems as if there is no end to variations on the Woolly Bugger, and for good reason: they work. Previously, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions taught us how to . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the WD-40 Plus
Tim Flagler, of Tightline Productions, has already taught us how to tie a standard WD-40, a pattern invented in the early 1980s by guide Mark Engler as an emerging-midge imitation for use on . . .
Read MoreStep-by-Step: How to Tie the Perfect Santa Claus Fly
A couple of years ago, during the holidays, I scratched out a sketch of a fly that I thought might be a fun tie for the Christmas season. The first few Santas to come off the vise were so hideous . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Dynamite Balanced Leech
In this video, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions walks you through the steps for tying a balanced-leech version of a Squirmy Wormy. (He teaches you to tie the original here.) The pattern makes use of a relatively new material that . . .
Read MorePro Tips: 5 Flies for Winter Steelhead
It’s almost that time of year again, when dropping temperatures and shorter days begin to separate the casual anglers from the truly dedicated. Clearing out frozen guides every few casts isn’t for everyone, but rewards do await those hearty souls . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Red Fox Squirrel Nymph
Dave Whitlock–legendary angler, tier, author, and artist–passed away on Thanksgiving night, but he left a remarkable legacy in this sport we love. Among his well known patterns is what he called the Red Fox Squirrel-Hair Nymph, of which he wrote, . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Eggstasy Egg
Here’s a killer winter egg pattern that is a huge favorite of both well-known guide George Daniel and Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions because it is so effective. Like many such flies, the Eggstasy Egg can be tied in a variety of colors, color . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Icelandic Black Ghost
One of the great things about traveling to new destinations is that you often learn about fly patterns you’ve never seen before. On a recent trip to Iceland, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions had the opportunity to geek out on flies with the experienced . . .
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