This pattern might not impress Frank Sawyer and Al Troth—originators of the slim, elegant Pheasant Tail Nymphs most of us use—but the proof is in the pudding, and the hotspot. . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Hotspot Pheasant Tail Nymph
fly-tying recipes
Video: How to Tie the Stonefly Creeper
Preston Jennings lived in Brooklyn, New York, and spent a lot of time fly fishing in the Catskills. His 1935 A Book of Trout Flies is considered one of the first serious attempts to connect the science . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie Mike’s Honey Ant
Mike Lawson’s Honey Ant is easy to tie and very effective.
One summer afternoon, we had a reception on the back lawn here at Orvis HQ, and we were treated to a massive flying-ant hatch. Bugs were flying into people’s hair, eyes, and ears, and it was kind of frustrating to be in the middle of a conversation and have to be digging ants out of your collar. But fly fishermen know that trout love ants, and a lot of folks began. . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the CDC Micro Caddis
For those times when you just can’t tell what the fish are feeding on, it’s good to have something small and buggy to tie on. This great Micro Caddis from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions is . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the BWO Improved Sparkle Dun
Craig Mathews’s Sparkle Dun needs no introduction, as its popularity across the country is well established. As winter begins to turn to spring, hatches of blue-winged olives offer some of the . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Griffith’s Gnat Emerger
The Griffith’s Gnat is a venerable pattern named for one of the founders of Trout Unlimited, George Griffith. (Our friends at Tightline Productions showed you how to tie this fly years ago.) At some point, Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies in . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Poison Tung
If you’re looking for a great winter midge pattern with magical powers, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions has got one for you. His Poison Tung is a variation on Charlie Craven’s. . .
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 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 . . .
Read More