fly tying

A collection of 19 posts

salmonflies

Improving the Salmonfly Dry Fly

We walk through tying a modified 64 Impala fly pattern and clarify how to customize this recipe to match the hatch beyond the original

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sculpin Featured

Phantom Sculpins of the South Platte

Why would a trout eat a sculpin fly in a river without sculpin?

fly tying

3 Under Appreciated Fly Tying Materials for Trout

Fly Tying: I want to highlight some under-appreciated materials that look incredible

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streamers

Match the Hatch: Streamers

Fly fishing: We all know about the bugs... but what about the baitfish?

runoff

Weird Flies That Work: Polar Shrimp

Fly fishing: An unexpected pattern to be treasured by a Rocky Mountain trout angler

Lakes

The Elephant in the River

Fly fishing: We're all going to have to deal with river overcrowding at some point in the future, if not already.

fly tying

The Unforgivable Sins of Fly Tying

Fly tying: Do you know the unforgivable sins of fly tying?

fly design

What Makes a Fly a Classic?

Fly tying: You may have heard that there are no original stories anymore, or that movies are all remakes... the same is true for flies

stillwater

Why Don't We See More Chartreuse in Stillwater Trout Flies?

Fly fishing lakes: Do you recall any chartreuse flies for trout when shopping at your average fly shop?

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terrestrials

The Colorful World of Grasshoppers

Fly tying: What are the best colors for tying and fishing grasshoppers. Check out our breakdown.

fly tying

Weird Flies That Work: Slovakian Super Heavy Nymph

Fly tying: Slovak Super Heavy nymphs are not messing around when it comes to getting deep.

fly tying

Weird Flies That Work: Super-X

Fly tying: Developed for the South Fork of the Snake River below Palisades Reservoir in Southeastern Idaho, the Super-X kind of has a cult following

essential reads

End of the Year Round Up: Best of 2020

Our best fly fishing articles from 2020: mysis, salmonflies, and tippet rings

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fly tying

Adding Triggers to Fly Patterns: Subliminal Messaging for Trout

Fly tying: We might carry a lot of patterns, but if none match the searching terms outlined by trout, then what good are they?

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wet flies

Why Swinging Soft Hackles Works

It might be the oldest trick in the trout fly fishers playbook. Yet many people still don’t really know why swinging soft hackles work. It's hardly a natural presentation...

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colorado

Catch and Release: How do fish respond to fishing pressure?

By practicing catch and release (C&R) we actively alter our favorite C&R rivers and lakes and influence the dynamics of the fishery. Lets explore how...

trout

Black-wing Emergers

Fly Tying: Discussing a nondescript pattern listed in Umpqua’s catalog often past over piles and piles of peridgons.

Lakes

Where to Start with Stillwater Flies

Our best stillwater fly patterns, condensed into a convenient to read word cloud. Pheasant tails and leeches go a long way.

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Rivers

Down But Not Out: Runoff

6 favorites for fishing when the rivers are running high, and dirty. Sometimes you need to think outside the box.