Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Pheasant Tail Cruncher



Pheasant Tail Cruncher

Hook - Mustad 3399, 3906 or equivalent
Thread - Black
Tail - Furnace hackle fibers
Rib - Fine gold wire
Abdomen - Pheasant tail fibers
Thorax - Peacock herl
Hackle - Furnace hackle (2 wraps)

Ebb's Rusty Ford


Ebb's Rusty Ford


Hook – Nymph style
Thread – Brown
Bead – Amber glass bead
Tail – Pheasant tail
Ribbing – Copper wire
Body – Copper tinsel
Wing case – Copper tinsel
Thorax – Hare’s Ear
Legs – Root beer crystal flash

Red Holographic Cormorant



Red Holographic Cormorant

Hook - Nymph/wet style
Thread - Black
Body - Red holographic tinsel
Wing - Dyed black marabou

Monday, December 30, 2019

Egan's Red Dart


Egan's Red Dart

Bead - Gold slotted tungsten
Hook - Jig style
Weight - Non-lead wire
Thread - Red
Tail - Red hackle fibers
Ribbing - Pearl tinsel
Counter-rib - 6X mono
Body - Peacock ice dub
Hackle - Furnace
Thorax/hot spot - UV pink ice dub

Barney Google


Barney Google

Hook - Nymph style
Thread - Your favorite color
Beads - Red twisted together with copper wire
Body - Tying thread overwrapped with clear zip lock baggie strip
Throat - Grizzly hackle fibers

Reference - Fly Dressing Innovations - Richard Walker

Caterpillar



Caterpillar

Hook - Mustad 9671, 9672 or equivalent
Thread - Black
Hackle - Grizzly
Body - Black-Brown-Black chenille

Honey Ant



Honey Ant

Hook - Dry fly style
Thread - Black
Aft segment - Amber/honey color fringe bead
Hackle - Dyed black
Front segment - Black thread

Thunder Purple


Thunder Purple
Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread - Black
Tip – Flat gold tinsel
Tag - Yellow uni stretch
Tail - Golden pheasant crest
Rib - Oval gold tinsel
Body - Black uni stretch
Throat – Dyed orange hen topped by dyed purple hen
Wing - Moose body hair

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Yellow Bellied Mattress Thrasher


Yellow Bellied Mattress Thrasher

Hook - 2XL dry fly style
Thread - Black
Body - Black dubbing
Wing - Deer hair
Thorax - Yellow dubbing
Hackle - Grizzly trimmed flush at the bottom

STP Frogs


STP Frogs
Swimming Topwater Popping

Hook - Tiemco 8089 or equivalent
Thread - Flat waxed nylon
Body - Closed cell foam cut with the STP Frog® Foam Body Cutter from River Road Creations or use pre-spotted Frog Foam® material
Legs - Centipede rubber legs
Eyes - Self-adhesive eyes



Friday, December 27, 2019

Star Fly


Star Fly

Hook - Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread - Black
Tip - Oval silver Tinsel
Tail - Grizzly hackle fibers
Butt - Fluorescent green uni-stretch or floss
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - Embossed silver tinsel
Wing - Dyed black squirrel tail
Hackle - Grizzly

Reference - Fish Flies Volume Two - Terry Hellekson

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Bradshaw's Fancy


Bradshaw's Fancy

Hook - Mustad 3399, 3906 or equivalent
Thread - Black or red
Tag - Red floss or substitute
Body - Peacock herl
Hackle - Grey cock hackle
Peak - Red floss or substitute

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Bi-color Nymph

During a recent clean up of my external hard drive that holds my fly fishing and fly tying files that I have collected from many years of web surfing, I came upon a .PDF file of a pheasant tail nymph tied by a British fly tyer named Alan Bithell.. So I have decided to make this fly a new arrticle for this blog with a step by step tying instructions.


Hook: Nymph Style
Thread: Color to match body
Tail & Overbody: Pheasant Tail
Rib: Fine Copper Wire
Abdomen &amp: Thorax: Dubbing*


Tie in the pheasant tail fibers with the tips facing forward. The Pheasant tail should be about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hook shank long. Eventually these fibers will be pulled back to the hook bend and will make the back of the fly.


Pull the butt ends of the pheasant tail fibers forward and tie down behind the hook eye.


Pull the butt ends back towards the the hook bend and tie down. 
This is now the built up thorax area of the fly.


Trim off the butt ends of the pheasant tail fibers.


Tie in the copper wire and wrap the thread to the bend of the hook. 
Dub the thread with your favorite dubbing.


Dub the abdomen of the fly.


Dub the thorax with a darker color or use the same color as the abdomen. 
Your choice. Tie off the thread behind the hook eye and trim it off.


Pull the pheasant tail fibers from the eye of the hook back to the bend of the hook and bind down with the copper wire.


Spiral wrap the copper wire forward and stop behind the thorax. 
Add a couple of half hitches or whip finish the wire and trim off the excess wire.


Top View


Side View


TYING TIP: When tying this fly, experiment with different colors of pheasant tail and/or different colors of dubbing. Use gold wire instead of copper or use the Ultra wire that comes in a rainbow of colors.


All Black Pheasant Tail


Natural Hares Ear

Autumn Gold



Autumn Gold

Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6h
Thread – Black
Tail – Dyed hot orange hackle fibers
Ribbing – Oval gold tinsel
Body – Gold seal, goat, dubbing or yarn
Hackle - Dyed hot orange hackle
Wing – White polar bear or calf tail

Tie the Autumn Gold with black thread on a No. 4-6 steelhead hook. For the tail, employ hot orange hackle fibers. Build the body with gold seal or goat and rib with gold tinsel. For the wing, use white polar bear or calf tail. Finish with a hot orange hackle. The classic pattern calls for jungle cock eyes, but they are considered optional for the steelhead tie.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Cutthroat


Cutthroat

Hook – Single salmon
Thread – Black
Tail - Dyed black hackle fibers
Body – Claret dubbing
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down or as a throat
Wing – White bucktail

Cutthroat No. 2

Hook – Single salmon
Thread - Red
Tip - Oval silver tinsel
Tail - Scarlet red hackle barbs
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - Dubbed with yellow rabbit fur
Hackle - Scarlet red tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing - Red bucktail tied over the body, with an over wing of white bucktail

Cutthroat, Red

Hook – Single salmon
Thread – Black
Tail - Dyed black hackle fibers
Body – Red dubbing
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down or as a throat
Wing – White bucktail

Cutthroat, Yellow 

Hook – Single salmon
Thread - Red. 
Tail - Scarlet red hackle barbs. 
Body Hackle - Yellow tied palmer-style over the body. 
Body - Dubbed with yellow rabbit fur. 
Hackle - Scarlet red tied on as a collar and tied back. 
Wing - White bucktail tied over the body.

The yellow and red Cutthroat patterns are used frequently in the Puget Sound area. Although many were originally tied for sea-run cutthroat, some have been adapted for steelhead and are tied in larger sizes.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson


Curt's Special


Curt's Special

Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H – Size 2-6
Thread – Black
Tail - Dyed yellow hackle fibers
Butt - Dark orange chenille
Body – Embossed silver tinsel
Hackle – Dyed orange tied on as a collar and tied back and down or as a throat
Wing – Natural brown bucktail

Reference - Fish Flies Volume Two - Terry Helleckson

Silver Bell


Silver Bell

Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H – Size 2-6
Thread – Red
Tail - White calf tail
Butt - Peacock herl
Body – Embossed silver tinsel
Hackle – Dyed red tied on as a collar and tied back and down or as a throat
Wing – Dyed red calf tail

Reference - Fish Flies Volume Two - Terry Helleckson

Oso Special



Oso Special

Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H – Size 2-6
Thread – Black
Tail – Fluorescent orange floss
Body – Rear 3/4, fluorescent orange chenille and the front 1/4, black chenille
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down or as a throat
Wing – Moose body hair

Reference - Fish Flies - Volume Two - Terry Hellekson

Flirt


Flirt

Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H – Size 2-6
Thread – Black
Tip - Flat silver tinsel
Tail – Dyed purple hackle fibers
Body – Fluorescent orange floss with 2 turns of fluorescent orange chenille at the front
Hackle – Dyed purple tied on as a collar and tied back and down or as a throat
Wing – Natural brown bucktail

Friday, December 20, 2019

Del Cooper



Del Cooper

Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H – Size 4-6
Thread – Black
Tip -Flat silver tinsel
Tail – Dyed red hackle fibers
Ribbing – Flat silver tinsel
Body – Dubbed with #30 purple lamb’s wool
Hackle – Dyed red tied on as a collar and tied back
Wing – White bucktail tied over the body

Developed by Mike Kennedy of Lake Oswego, Oregon

Tying note: This pattern call for “#30 lamb’s wool”. In Terry Hellickson’s book, the only reference to the numbers indicated is for a material called “Seal Brite”. I have no idea if this dubbing is still available, but I substituted Uni Yarn for the body material.

Reference – Fish Flies Volume Two – Terry Hellekson

Witch


Witch

Hook – Single salmon
Thread – Black
Tail – Dyed black hackle fibers
Ribbing – Oval gold tinsel
Body – Dubbed with #6 yellow lamb’s wool
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing – Gray squirrel tail tied over the body

Witch, Black

Hook – Single salmon
Thread – Black
Tail – Dyed red hackle fibers
Ribbing – Oval silver tinsel
Body – Dubbed with #1 black lamb’s wool
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing – Dyed black squirrel tail tied over the body

Witch, Orange

Hook – Single salmon
Thread – Black
Tail – Dyed black hackle fibers
Ribbing – Oval gold tinsel
Body – Dubbed with #9 orange lamb’s wool
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing – Dyed orange fox squirrel tail tied over the body

Witch, Purple

Hook –Single salmon
Thread – Black
Tail – Dyed purple hackle fibers
Ribbing – Oval silver tinsel
Body – Dubbed with #30 purple lamb’s wool
Hackle – Dyed black tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing – Dyed purple gray squirrel tail tied over the body

The original Witch pattern was a product of Mike Kennedy of Lake Oswego, Oregon.
The other three patterns listed wee devised later by tyers in southern Oregon.

Tying note: These 4 patterns call for “lamb’s wool” in certain colors. In Terry Hellickson’s book, the only reference to the numbers indicated is for a material called “Seal Brite”. I have no idea if this dubbing is still available, but I substituted Uni Yarn for the body material.

Reference – Fish Flies Volume Two – Terry Hellekson


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Ive's Green



Ive's Green

Category - Steelhead

Hook - Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread - Red
Tail - Dyed red hackle fibers
Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel
Body - Fluorescent green chenille
Hackle - Grizzly tied on as a collar
Wing - Dyed red bucktail

Reference - Fish Flies Vol 2 - Terry Hellekson

Monday, December 16, 2019

Swift River


Swift River

Hook - Daiichi 2370
Thread - Black
Tail - Golden pheasant tippets
Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel
Body - Bright green wool or uni-yarn
Throat - Dyed red hackle fibers
Wing - Brown over white bucktail

Reference - Forgotten Flies - Schmookler and Sils

Yellow Poric


Yellow Poric

Hook - Daiichi 2370
Thread - Black
Tag - Flat gold tinsel
Tail - Slip of dyed red goose, duck quill or hackle fibers
Body - Peacock herl twisted around a thread core for reinforcement
Wing - Dyed red and yellow bucktail, mixed

Reference - Forgotten Flies - Schmookler and Sils

Gardwin


Gardwin

Hook - Mustad L87-3665A
Thread - Black
Tail - Dyed red hackle tips
Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel
Body - Yellow uni-yarn
Throat - Dyed yellow hackle fibers
Wing - Light brown bucktail

Forgotten Flies - Schmookler and Sils

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Muley Chicken


Muley Chicken

Hook - Long nymph style
Thread - Black
Tail and Body - Deer body hair crisscrossed with tying thread
Collar - Dark hen hackle
Wing - Deer hair

Ugly, simple and effective. It’s a good pattern for the beginning fly tier to gain experience with deer hair. It’s a non-descript pattern that works as well in rivers as it does in lakes and ponds. And it can be fished wet or dry.
In still waters, cast and retrieve the Muley Chicken subsurface for crappie, bluegill and perch, or wind-drift it for trout. On the river, fish it with a tight line, down and across, or float it as a small stonefly imitation.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Bjorn's Clearwater Crusher


Bjorn's Clearwater Crusher


Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread – Orange
Tag – Green flashabou
Tail – Golden pheasant tippets
Ribbing – Silver wire or oval tinsel
Body – Peacock ice dub or peacock herl
Wing – Sparse mallard or substitute
Hackle – Brown hen

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Sword Fighter



Sword Fighter

Hook - Daiichi 2051 #5 Alec Jackson
Thread – Purple
Tag – Flat gold tinsel and chartreuse floss
Tail – Fuchsia or red dyed golden pheasant tippets
Ribbing – Sliver wire
Body – Black dubbing or uni yarn
Hackle – Dyed purple hackle
Wing – Peacock sword fibers

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Pritchard's Western Angler


Prichard's Western Angler

Category - Summer Steelhead

Hook - Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread - Black
Tail - Dyed red calftail 
Body - Black chenille
Rib - Oval gold tinsel
Throat - Dyed purple hackle fibers
Wing - White polar bear or substitute (i used white bucktail)
Topping - Small bunch of dyed orange calftail, shorter than the wing

This variation of the Skunk (which see), was originated by Wayne Orzel for the Kalama River in Washington

    Monday, December 9, 2019

    Father Charles



    Father Charles

    Category - Saltwater/Sea-Run Cutthroat

    Hook - Single Salmon

    Thread - Chartreuse

    Body - Gold Bill's body braid

    Throat - White Calf or Bucktail

    Underwing - Yellow/Chartreuse Calf or Bucktail

    Overwing - Fluorescent Red/Red Calf or Bucktail

    Sunday, December 8, 2019

    Thunderflash



    Thunderflash

    Category - Atlantic Salmon / Steelhead / Trout / Seatrout

    Hook - Double salmon style
    Body - Tight turns of oval gold tinsel
    Hackle - Three turns of dyed orange hackle
    Wing - Dyed black squirrel tail, sparse
    Overwing - 6 or so fibers of pearl krystal flash extending beyond squirrel tail

    Saturday, December 7, 2019

    Red Phantom Streamer


    Red Phantom Streamer
    Casting & Trolling

    Hook – Streamer style
    Head – Black bead with white eye and black pupil
    Thread – Black
    Tail – Dyed red hackle fibers
    Ribbing – Flat silver tinsel
    Body – Red uni yarn
    Wing – White marabou

    Created by E.H. “Polly” Rosborough

    Forgotten Flies – Schmookler & Sills

    Wind River Witch



    Wind River Witch

    Category: Steelhead

    Hook - Gamakatsu T10-6H
    Thread - Black
    Tail - Lady Amherst tippet
    Body - Fluorescent yellow-green yarn
    Ribbing - Flat gold tinsel
    Throat - Dyed black hackle fibers
    Wing - Sparse white bucktail or calf tail
    UV Resin

    Super Renegade (aka Hooligan)


    Super Renagade 
    (aka Hooligan)

    Fly type – Wet/attractor

    Hook – Mustad 9672 – size 4-8
    Thread – Black
    Rear hackle – Soft grizzly
    Rear body – White, brown or yellow chenille
    Middle hackle – Soft brown
    Front body – Peacock herl
    Front hackle – Soft white, dun or grizzly

    Thursday, December 5, 2019

    Coal Car



    Coal Car 
    (Kaufmann)

    Category – Steelhead

    Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H
    Thread - Black
    Tail - Black hackle fibers
    Body - 1/4 Fluorescent orange floss/yarn; 1/4 Fluorescent red floss/yarn; 1/2 Black chenille
    Rib - Fine Oval silver tinsel
    Collar - Soft black hackle
    Wing - A few strands of black krystal flash with black squirrel tail over

    Tuesday, December 3, 2019

    Freight Train


    Freight Train

    Category - Steelhead

    Hook – Gamakatsu T10-6H
    Thread - Black
    Tail - Purple hackle fibers
    Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
    Body - Rear 1/4 fluorescent orange floss, Second 1/4 red fluorescent floss, Front 1/2 Black chenille  
    Throat - Purple hackle
    Wing - White calf tail

    Monday, December 2, 2019

    Hackle Folding Tool

    Below is Tim Flaglers version of a simple hackle folding tool for laid back collars on a variety of flies


    I no longer play guitar so I have no picks laying around the house

    So I improvised with a bread bag plastic closure (follow the directions in the video to use the tool)



    Note: There are multiple ways of folding hackle (most tyers will never need to do this), the above is just 1 more way

    Forward thinkers should be able to come up with other pieces of plastic could be used

    It even comes with a specially designed hole to provide convenient storage on your bobbin rest



    Heres a couple more ideas for the bread bag plastic closure

    You can modify the hackle folding tool to include a hole & slit for a "hackle guard" 
    and a hole for a "bullet head tool"