“Balanced” patterns feature some extra weight beyond the hook eye, to balance-out the weight of the hook. The result is a pattern that hangs horizontally in the water, like a real baitfish or leech. Check out this great video featuring Canadian stillwater . . .
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How to Tie Steve Cobb’s Thanksgiving Turkey Fly

The author’s original pattern went viral on social media a few years ago.
All photos by Steve Cobb
Steve Cobb’s Santa Fly has been a favorite on this blog for a few years now, and he was kind enough to show us how to tie it a couple years ago. That post was such a big hit that I asked . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Golden Retrieverish
This week’s great fly-tying video from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions shows you how to tie a simple yet effective streamer pattern based on the original Golden Retriever, created by Virginia tier Jim Finn. Like the original Woolly Bugger, Finn’s fly . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Junk Yard Dog Streamer
Stripping monster streamers for big trout is an increasingly popular game, but some of those articulated concoctions are unwieldy to cast, especially after they get wet. But Mike Schmidt’s. . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the BPS Spent Caddis

The man behind the BPS Spent Caddis, Dennis Komatsu, passed away in 2012, and he seems to have been a fairly private man who stayed out of the spotlight. However, he was well known for. . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Crackleback

I clearly remember the first time I saw a Crackleback. I was guiding on Alaska’s Lake Creek, and my clients were a nice couple from Missouri. I took them to a stretch of river where I knew . . .
Read MoreVideos: Patterns to Match the Mayfly Life Cycle
Written by: Pete Shanafelt, Bighorn Angler

A “mixed bag” of spring nymphs for fishing the Bighorn.
Photo courtesy Bighorn Angler
Sorting through the many mayfly fly patterns on the market today can be confusing, as there are a plethora of “bin appeal” patterns and not so many with real “trout appeal.” The patterns listed. . .
Read MorePro Tips: How to Tie and Fish the Versatile DDH Leech
Written by: Stu Thompson

Stu Thompson with one of the many species caught on his DDH Leech.
Photo courtesy Stu Thompson
Fly tiers have come already come up with some truly amazing patterns that catch fish Consistently, such as the Mickey Finn, Muddler Minnow, Humpy, Adams, Dahlberg’s Diver, Lefty’s Deceiver, . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the SBR Hendrickson Nymph

In this week’s great video from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, he shows you how to tie a cool Hendrickson-nymph pattern that imitates the naturals in his wester-New Jersey streams. (SBR . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie the Craft-Fur Clouser Minnow

Bob Clouser’s minnow pattern was originally developed for smallmouth bass, but it has become a fly-box staple for anglers chasing saltwater species, warmwater big game, and even trout. The . . .
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