Fly tying | Page 22

For the longest time, pheasant tail legs on my nymphs were a mystery to me. I couldn't, for the life of me, see how on earth tiers made them work. I always ended up with a clogged hook eye or something that was completely off kilter. Video of Pheasant Tail LegsThen a few years ago…

As Tim Flagler notes in the video below, for many anglers, the early black stonefly represents the beginning of the spring bug season. Midges are still prominent in most American trout streams, and should still be in every fly box, but the bigger stones are starting to show up, and the trout are taking note.…

Here's some good advice from professional fly tier Tim Flagler: Wash your hands before you tie. Not only can dirt and grime get into the prints of your fingers, but they can discolor bright materials and reduce sensitivity.Video of Prepping Your Hands for TyingAlso, and I think this is just as important, Flagler recommends taking…

Loon's Matt Callies ties some great flies, and he's really good at making it look easy. I've got a saltwater trip coming up, so I've been watching the Loon fly-tying series for some baitfish pattern ideas, and I haven't been disappointed. Video of Basic DeceiverAbove, Matt ties the Basic Deceiver, a super-simple pattern that predatory…

Don't get any untoward ideas. This fly gets its name from all the wood duck materials used in the tying process, and not from, well, anything else. And, it's a great wet attractor pattern for all kinds of mayflies, ranging from green drakes to sulphers. Video of Major WoodyAs Tim Flagler shows above, it's also…

For new fly tiers and even for some of us seasoned at the vise, tying the perfect head on any fly can be a real challenge. Oversized heads look weird, mess with the balance of a fly and and make it tough to change flies quickly on the water. Video of Neat HeadsIn the video…

Blue-winged Olives might be the fly fisher's best friend in the mayfly world. No, they're not big. They're not terribly enticing to tie a the vise. But, damn, on any blustery day, they could show up and quickly move up the menu for feeding trout. I love to fish the South Fork of the Snake…