Fly patterns
by Mike Hogue, used by permission from http://www.eflytyer.com/patterns/chaos.html I had been attending the FFF National Conclave and I was determined to see and fish a few of the really great spots. I went into Blue Ribbon flies and talked with Craig Mathews, one of the owners of Blue Ribbon. I asked Craig what flies he suggested and he said that the Chaos Hopper was one of the best flies he had been using all summer. Some time later the Chaos Hopper appeared in the Flies of the West which is a book of patterns put together by Schollmeyer and Leeson ... Read More
Pattern, Notes and Photograph by Hans Weilenmann Used by permission Hook: Tiemco 102Y #11 - #17 (or equivalent dry fly hook) Thread: Brown 6/0 Body/hackle: CDC feather Wing/head: Fine tipped deer hair Every fly fisherman has to believe in something. For me enticing fish to take a fly hinges on the concept of "triggers." Offer a fish the appropriate positive triggers and it is more likely to think "food!" Based on this philosophy, I designed the CDC & Elk, which has become my staple dry fly, in 1992. In this pattern, I combine the proven wing silhouette and buoyancy ... Read More
Pattern, Notes and Photograph by John Simonson Used by permission Hook: Size #14 Mustad 3906, forward third bent upward Thread: Brown, size 8/0 Tail: Small amount of zelon and woodduck flank barbs Body: (bottom two-thirds of hook) Pheasant tail Ribbing: Brown thread Collar: Brown dubbing (Australian Opossum) at 2/3 bend location Hackle: Cream (upper third of hook) - trimmed flush on bottom Wings/Shuck: Antron fibers, white Head: Light brown or salmon This winter I have been thinking a lot about the silhouette of an emerging mayfly as it tries to escape it's nymphal shuck. One pattern I have used ... Read More
Pattern, Photograph and Notes by Arthur Greenwood This pattern originated in Scotland, first tied by one Donald Watson of Inverness. It is not known what Mr Watson was attempting to imitate but what we do know is that it works! Like many successful flies, it migrated and was adopted by Irish fly-dressers in the late 19th century. The Irish school of fly-dressing, both then and now, prefers a rough bodied wet fly; one which, when held to the light, has a kind of 'halo' effect around it. Originally tied with a floss silk body, the Irish substituted seal's fur which ... Read More
Fly and photo by Hans Weilenmann Used by permission Hook: Kamasan B175 #14 Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black Rib: Polar Flash, gold, graduated Body: Turkey barbs, black Wing: Turkey slip, black, folded Veiling: Llama mix, olive - very sparse Head: Ostrich, black, twisted around tying thread More flies by Hans are at http://www.flytierspage.com/hweilenmann/hweilenmann.htm (October-November 2012 newsletter) ... Read More
Pattern and Photograph by Hans Weilenmann Used by permission Hook: Size #14 Kamasan B175 or Mustad 3906 or Daiichi 1550 Bead: Cyclops Eyes 5/64", brown olive Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black Collar: Pine squirrel guard hair, dyed dark brown Body: Argentinean hare, dark brown More flies by Hans are at http://www.flytierspage.com/hweilenmann/hweilenmann.htm ... Read More
Pattern, Notes and Photograph by John Nicholls Used by permission I have been fly fishing for nearly 40 years, and have had articles and flies published both in local, European and American magazines, books and websites. I am extremely interested in fly history and old flies, so I collect old flies and am in the process of planning and researching a book on early New Zealand wet flies and Soft Hackles. This fly has been a staple fly for the Canterbury (mid South Island) High Country of New Zealand since at least the 1930's. I have included instructions for tying ... Read More
Photograph and Notes by Tim Barker Used by permission HOOK: Daiichi 1250, or TMC 206 BL, #18-#20, TMC 200R, #18-#22 THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White RIB: Lagartun, x-Fine, Copper WINGLETS: Mirage Opal Tinsel, SM THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Brown BEAD # 1.: Black Tungsten, sized to hook BEAD # 2.: Killer Caddis, Diamond, 15/0 So I wanted to play around with a new Midge pattern for late Fall and Winter Fly Fishing on two of the tail waters we visit when the snow flies in the Eastern Sierras and it's time for a hand numbing experience... This pattern comes from the Spirit River collection of flies for 2012...I do not ... Read More