Fly Tying

The frustrating part about fly fishing and fly tying is that as you gain more experience and skill in both, you lose a little in physical abilities. You can't wade as much as you used to; your casting stroke might not be as crisp as it once was, but mostly it's about eyesight.

The Black Nose Dace is one of those special fly patterns that fly fisherman have favored for years on end. This streamer pattern was created by Art Flick in the early 1950s and works when nothing else will. Many large trout across the country get caught by this sultry streamer as it is swung near their feeding zone. Aside from its immediate attraction to fish, the Black Nose dace is also great searching pattern as anglers fishing the swing can cover large amounts of productive water over the course of a day.

The Beadhead Prince is a classic nymph pattern that will continue to be effective on streams and rivers for years to come. Created by Doug Prince, this special fly incorporates many flashy materials that fish just can't resist. The peacock herl used in the fly's body construction shimmers brightly when in the water, while the split tail and wing give the impression of a stonefly or mayfly nymph that has come free from the bottom.

Many years ago, my buddy and I were fishing a local brook trout river when, without much warning, fish started rising all around us. Suddenly, caddis flies were everywhere, bouncing over the water like little puppets held aloft by microscopic strings.

Fly tying as a whole is not a difficult process, but rather the development of several skills that require patience and practice. Throughout the early stages of your tying career, you'll discover many different techniques that add particular characteristics to the flies you create.

Caddis fly patterns are some of the most productive patterns that fly fisherman can try and imitate. The majority of a trout's respected diet is aquatic invertebrates and one of the most numerous aquatic invertebrates found in rivers and streams is the caddis nymph.

The Wired Caddis pattern best imitates emergent caddis's that are in the process of leaving their shucks to reach the surface. Using a Wired Caddis pattern tied in darker body tones like gold or copper could also pass for several aquatic worms or even small dragon/damselfly nymphs.

In fly fishing, the Adams fly is easily one of the most recognizable dry flies ever conjured from a vice. Originally designed by Len Halladay of Michigan in 1922, the Adams is as effective on today's streams as it was 80 years ago. The Adams design is a fantastic fly to match mayflies hatching on of your favorite trout waters.

A fly tying how-to guide with step by step instructions.

Of all the different fly styles and patterns available for bass, none is more exhilarating to fish than the Foam Bass Popper. Just the thought of a largemouth breaking the surface for a popper makes most fly anglers blush. And with the violent strikes and top-water explosions associated with these patterns, it's no wonder popping for bass is the preferred way to spend a summer afternoon.
 

Of all the various mayfly species (about 2,500 worldwide) that inhabit our rivers and lakes, most can be characterized as small, brown and living on or near the bottom during some point of their life cycle. The pheasant tail nymph, a classic fly pattern for fly fishing that's representative of a wide variety of aquatic insects on which trout feed, is a must-have fly for every serious angler's fly box.