The Toad Fly in Conway, Arkansas recently produced their first fly tying video. Jordan Cases shows you how to tie his Gold Digger. Check it out!
Monthly Archives: April 2014
Stu Apte Tarpon Fly
Ted Patlen submitted this original Stu Apte fly from his collections to The Flybrary. Ted is an amazing fly tyer in his own right and the winner of seven fly-tying world championships. It’s wonderful that he had this in his collection. If you haven’t visited The Flybrary, you should. The photography is beautiful, showing some gorgeous flies. All the photos were taken by Tim Geist.
Hook: Gamakatsu SC-15, size 3/0.
Thread: Bright orange Flat Waxed Nylon
Wing: One pair of wide, bright orange hackle feathers on the inside, with one pair of wide, bright yellow hackle feathers on the outside. Tie the feathers so they splay out.
Collar: One bright orange and one bright yellow hackle wrapped in front of the wing.
Head: Built up with tying thread, then coated with clear head cement or five-minute epoxy.
Tying note: This fly features splayed wings of three or four pairs of hackles tied at the hook bend to reduce fouling. It can be tied in a variety of colors.
Filed under Saltwater
Lafkas Modern Deceiver – Alex Lafkas
Another masterpiece from the vise of our irrepressible northern friend & colleague Alex Lafkas. Alex spends his winters on the White River chasing trophy brown trout with the Ozark Fly Fisher crew, while the rest of the year he guides on the rivers around Grayling Michigan.
The Modern Deceiver is a fish catcher with a salacious action, courtesy of 4 shanks and carefully selected materials. And yes eyes are dispensed with.
Try this one in your favorite colors, eyes or not, and toss it for big brown trout or any baitfish eating predator.
Video produced by the incomparable Brian & Jennifer Wise from Fly Fishing The Ozarks www.flyfishingtheozarks.com in conjunction with Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher www.theozarkflyfisher.com we aim for this series to have the hottest patterns, the finest tutorials and the most fun.
Tail
Articulated Fish Spine 20mm
Tail: 4 Hackle Feathers paired
Flashabou Mirage
Polar Chenille Olive & Yellow
Large Bucktail Yellow & Olive
Body 1
Articulated Fish Spine 20mm
Polar Chenille Olive & Yellow
Large Bucktail Yellow & Olive
Body 2
Articulated Fish Spine 20mm
Polar Chenille Olive & Yellow
Large Bucktail Yellow & Olive
Body 3
Articulated Fish Spine 20mm
Polar Chenille Olive & Yellow
Large Bucktail Yellow & Olive
Head
Hook Gamakatsu 4/0 Round Bend Worm Hook
Articulation 60lb Fluorocarbon or Mono
Lead Wire .025
Lead Wire .030
Large Bucktail Yellow & Olive
Peacock Herl
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Filed under Streamers
Tungsten Torpedo
Tightline Production’s latest video is on Kevin Compton’s Tungsten Torpedo. Kevin is the owner of Performance Flies. Check them out for fly tying materials.
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Filed under nymphs, Trout flies
Tying a Female Adams Comparadun
I bet this is a killer pattern and it gives me a chance to once again post a video from Davie McPhail, which I haven’t done in a long time.
Hook: Size 16 Dry Fly
Thread: Uni-8/0 Grey
Tail: Whiting Coq de Leon and natural Brown Fibres
Egg Sack: Yellow Dry Fly Dubbing
Body: Natural Rabbit and Mole Fur Mixed
Wing: Carbou and dyed Brown Deer Hair
Filed under Trout flies
Brian Wise Video: Matt Grajewski’s Nut Butter
The first video in the Matt Grajewski Series brings his Nut Butter. Sized right, this fly can chase any predatory fish in the world. Pike, Musky, Trout…..
Recipe:
Rear Hook – Gamakatsu B10s #2
Tail – Schlappen
Rear Body/Tail – Marabou
Hackle #1 – Polar Chenille
Hackle #2 – Schlappen
Body – Ice Wing Fiber (or estaz, etc)
Rubber-Legs
Middle Hook – Gamakatus B10s #1
Filler – Marabou
Hackle #1 – Polar Chenille
Hackle #2 – Schlappen
Body – Ice Wing Fiber
Rubber Legs
Front Hook – Gamakatsu B10s #1/0
Eyes – I-Balz
Filler – Marabou
Hackle #1 Polar Chenille
Hackle #2 Schlappen
Body – Ice Wing Fiber
Head – Craft Fur Brush
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Filed under Brian Wise, Muskie, Pike, Step by Step, Trout flies
Eggie Special
UPDATE: Go here for update on this post: http://www.frankenfly.com/eggie-special-the-real-pattern/
The Eggie Special is a classic Michigan dry fly that was designed by a Grayling, Michigan fly fishing legend, Eggie Bugby. This fly is known throughout the area, but intricate details have been difficult to solidify. Tom Deschaine of MichiganDryFlies.net has been working to try and figure out information about the fly for years. Just the other day, I noticed that fly fisherman and former guide, Robert Woodland, posted a photo of the Eggie Special tied by the late Bob Smock, a legendary fly tyer from Grayling. I asked Robert if he could describe the materials of the fly, which he did. The wings are the only thing we are not sure about. Bob Smock may have used hackle tips from his brother’s chickens and Eggie’s version was created somewhere between the 30’s and 50’s, so Tom had this to say about that.
Plymouth Rock (Grizzly), the Rhode Island Red (brown) and the Leghorn (white). That’s all they had … that is why most of our patterns are tied with Grizzly and Brown. These were the only chickens they had because they are the best layers and eating chickens. They raised them in their back yard for food and eggs … the hackle was just extra.
Robert stated Eggie was more concerned about tying to catch fish, not fisherman. With all of that said, the pattern is primarily intact.
I think it’s important to try and save information about these old patterns so they are not lost forever. Sometimes it is very difficult to gather information on certain old patterns because the details have been lost somewhere along the way.
Tom has officially posted the Eggie Special on MichiganDryFlies.net and you can find it in his list of fly patterns.
The Grumpy Muppet – Mike Schmidt
Mike has posted a step-by-step of a new streamer, The Grumpy Muppet, on his website, Anglers Choice Flies. This fly was previously named The Dirty Fonzy, but Mike also explains the name change. Go and check it out!
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Filed under Streamers
