Colorado fly-fishing legend Pat Dorsey designed the Black Beauty Midge to mimic what he saw on the water. As quoted in Ed Engle’s Tying Small Flies, Dorsey said, “I came up with the the Black Beauty one day after . . .
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Step-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 MoreHow 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 Whistle Pig Jig
Most fly tiers prize a pattern that’s easy to tie, requires few materials, and catches fish. The Whistle Pig Jig checks every box. With just a single material for the tails, body, and collar, it’s a pattern that you can crank out . . .
Video: How to Hand Whip-Finish
Here’s another in the series of videos called “One-Minute Fly-Tying Tips and Techniques” from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions. Each video teaches a single tying skill, from the most basic to the advanced. Ultimately, . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Attach Dumbbell Eyes
Dumbell eyes add weight to a streamer pattern, plus they allow the fly to ride hook-upward and impart a jigging motion when you strip line. The problem is that they also tend to rotate around . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Accurately Measure Materials
Many fly-tying recipes call for a tail or a wing that is as long as the shank of the hook. But how do you ensure that you’ve got the proper measurement? In this video, Tim explains how hold the . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Make Distribution Wraps
Some patterns, such as the Bird’s Nest, call for hackle fibers all the way around the body, which can be a pain. But Tim has a great trick that makes the process ridiculously easy. It’s all in how you prepare the feather and then tie it in. Try it out, and your . . .
Read MoreVideo: Barbed vs. Barbless Hooks
Although there are places where regulations require barbless hooks, the decision of whether to go barbed or barbless is usually left to the angler. In this video, Tim Flagler discusses the pros . . .
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. . .
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