The great thing about fly tying is that it encourages creativity, skill and thought. All you need to do is look at countless variations of well-known flies like the wooly bugger or a host of wet fly…
Recently a good friend had asked me what I preferred — synthetic or natural materials — when constructing my favorite fly pattern bodies. As I thought more about this question, I would have to say…
When I think about the most successful flies I have used over the years for smallmouth and largemouth bass, trout, pike and panfish, I realize that marabou is, in most cases, a common denominator. In…
Throughout the many years that I have been tying flies or teaching tying classes, I have been asked a plethora of questions regarding what types of materials I use and why. One specific question that…
Seeing as fly tying season is in full swing, I think it is a good idea to take a closer look at one of the most important components of a fly: the hook. In most cases people don't pay any attention…
Ask two fly tiers of equal skill levels to tie the same bucktail pattern and you're very likely going to see two subtly different versions. One will be fuller and, at first blush, perhaps a little…
The Caddis Poopah is an extraordinary fly pattern designed with simplicity and functionality in mind. Looking at this pattern from a basic construction stand point, the fly is most certainly not…
The Madam X is a versatile hopper pattern developed by author, guide and fly tyer Doug Swisher to trick resident trout of the Bitterroot River in Southwestern Montana. Although the Madam X was…
With so many different carp/sucker flies on the market, how does an individual find their way through the endless flash and feathers to the perfect fly?
First and foremost let's get the idea out…
For the final part to this fly proportion series we are going to take a closer look at streamer flies. Unlike the other fly styles discussed earlier, there are many different tying variations (with…
When I look back at the personal advances I’ve made in my fly tying over the last few years, one thing stands out: good tools really make a difference.
A whip finishing tool comes in handy for those…
The third part to this blog series on fly proportions has to deal with dry flies. Out of all the different patterns a fly tier has to play with, dry flies have to be the most standardized. The dry…
