The Purple Haze–invented by Bitterroot guide Andy Carlson almost two decades ago–has become a staple pattern for many Western anglers. Six years ago, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions showed us how to tie the standard version of the fly, but . . .
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Video: How to Tie the Dedeaux Snake
Here’s another “guide-fly” lesson from Alvin Dedeaux of All Water Guides. (Or, as he calls them, “super easy to tie, down and dirty, quick and easy, fish-catching guide flies.”) As Alvin says, he doesn’t want to create flies that are complicated or take a long time . . .
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 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 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 Hotspot Pheasant Tail Nymph
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 MoreBook Excerpt: How to Tie the Deer Hair Sedge
In 2013, I became a big fan of fly-fisherman and writer Bob Wyatt. His book, What Trout Want: The Educated Trout and Other Myths first seduced me with great writing, then convinced me. . .
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 DPD Nymph
In this week’s video from Tightline Productions, Tim shares a great generalist nymph that’s designed to imitate a wide range of insects and to sink very quickly through the water column. The DPD . . .
Read MoreClassic Video: How to Tie the Chernobyl Ant
Last week, I went up on my favorite native-brookie stream at lunchtime and had a blast dropping a Chernobyl Ant into pockets and pools. The trout were eager, hammering the fly even when it . . .
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