Currently browsing… fly tying
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The Chuck Caddis
Watch as Tim Flagler ties the simple, yet elegant, Chuck Caddis
It's that time of year on a lot of western trout streams — the annual "Mother's Day" caddis hatches are upon us, and it's time to start throwing dry flies at hungry trout. Caddis patterns come in all shapes and sizes — some are a little more artsy and impressionistic, and others appear more practical…
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Shiney Hiney Caddis Pupa
Tying the Shiney Hiney Caddis Pupa
The caddisfly life cycle is an important one for trout anglers. Caddis, in every stage of their lives, make up a significant portion of the average trout's diet. But, in recent years, I've take to fishing less with patterns that imitate the adult bugs — Orvis' Tom Rosenbauer pointed out to me that bigger trout…
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Atherton No. 2 Nymph
Tying the Atherton No. 2 Nymph
Well-known fly pattern creator John Atherton wasn't much for literal imitation when it came to tying his flies. Instead, he was the discipline's answer to impressionist painters—nothing looks exactly right in an Atherton creation, but nothing looks too out of place, either. Thankfully, trout often seem to look at flies the same we tend to…
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Birds, books and flies
Birding has become a distraction for one shut-in Alaska angler
Whiling away the coronavirus pandemic in Alaska I had a realization the other day while wandering my neighborhood bike path with the pooch, eyes scanning trees for the flutter of wings and ears waiting for the jubilant spring song of rambling birds. I am unintentionally prepared for this quarantine. After a pleasant trip south of the border, I returned to new norms of social distancing and a more or less…
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Spring Fly Showdown: The finals
The Elk-hair Caddis and the Adams face off for dry-fly bragging rights
Two classic dry flies square off for all the marbles Twenty flies, two weeks and some intriguing matchups all come to a head today as the Elk-hair Caddis and the Adams face off in the championship match of the TU-Loon Outdoors Spring Fly Showdown. And it's a big day for interested anglers, fly tiers and…
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Spring Fly Showdown: The final four
The Prince Nymph squares off with the Elk-hair Caddis, and the Adams goes up against the Woolly Bugger
The first-ever TU-Loon Outdoors Spring Fly Showdown comes down to four much-loved fly patterns that likely have homes in fly boxes all over the world. Two classic dry-fly patterns, an old-school, yet still-beloved nymph and likely the best streamer pattern ever tied. Game 1: Elk-hair caddis vs. Prince Nymph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O24oZLeiEYo Tying the Elk-hair Caddis. Like…
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Spring Fly Showdown: The Prince Nymph vs. the RS2
The Prince Nymph vs. the RS2
The TU-Loon Spring Fly Showdown is down to the final eight flies, including the two classics featured in this matchup. Today, one of the best attractor nymph patterns ever tied goes up against the a tricky emerger that's especially adept at fooling picky trout. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfAFJvbgWTk Tying the Prince Nymph. The Prince Nymph might be a…