Whiskey Creek Fly Fishing

Here is another video by Richard Strolis, tying the BWO Flymph.
Earlier this year, I was fishing during a very nice BWO hatch. The bugs were covering the water, it seemed like there were 20-30 flies per square foot on the water.  The fish were going nuts on this bountiful hatch. However, I was having a [...]

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One of my favorites to fish, but more to tell the story about the materials. The Tups Indispensable is a yellow wet fly. I’ve had good luck using these when PMDs or Yellow Sally naturals are about.
This was a very famous, and secretive, pattern in the early 1900’s in England. The recipe was a closely [...]

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This has become one of my favorite variations on a classic pattern. Or, is this a mashup of a couple of classic patterns?
This pattern contains the deadly 3-P’s: Pheasant Tail, Peacock, and Partridge. Through in a bead for good measure.
Orange PT Soft Hackle

Hook: Mustad 3906B,  12-18, with an appropriate bead
Body: Pheasant Tail, dyed orange
Rib: Hot [...]

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Here is a fun and easy pattern to tie. This works in smaller smaller sizes, down to 20, 22.  This one pictures is a size 18.
Flashy Starling

Hook: Standard Wet Fly hook, like Dai-Riki #070, size 16-22
Body: Several strands of peacock Krystal Flash
Rib: Small gold wire
Hackle: Starling body feathers

A small thorax would work on this pattern [...]

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Welcome to the Fly Days of August. Each day this month, I’ll post a fly pattern. Many will be my patterns, but some will be culled from the internets. All will catch fish.
The Blue Wing Olive Soft Hackle Emerger will kick things off. I had a banner day on Henry’s Fork last fall with this [...]

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The guys at FFOTW created a Star Wars themed fly swap. Here is my entry, the TK-421.  TK-421 is the most famous of all the Stormtroopers.
Materials:
Hook: Size 14 Wet Fly (Mustad 9671)
Thread: White 6/0
Body: 4 white glass beads, size 11/0 (craft store)
Thorax: Sparkle Dubbing, polar bear color (from Blue Ribbon Flies)
Hackle: Partridge soft-hackle
Start with putting [...]

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Another rainy weekend, and a trip to the craft store.
Bead Body Caddis Pupa
Hook: Size 14, curved pupa hook
Thread: Light Olive, 8/0
Body: Glass “seed beads” size 11/0,  4 beads
Antenna: 2 wood duck fibers
Thorax/Legs: Grey Ostrich

Bead Thorax Soft Hackle
I was thinking PMD emerger when tying this one.
Hook: size 14 wet fly
Thread: Light Olive, 8/0
Tail: Pheasant Tail
Body: Pheasant [...]

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Stormy Sunday, perfect for tying flies.
Tan Para Hopper
Hook: 3x long, size 12
Parachute post: white poly yarn
Body: Tan antron/hare’s ear blend
Wing: Turkey Tail fibers
Legs: Pheasant Tail fibers, knotted
Parachute Hackle: Grizzly
This was the first time I tied these. Knotting the pheasant tail started out as a pain, trying all types of tools (hackle pliers, hemostats, bobbin [...]

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Winona Fly Factory asked some great questions about using Pheasant feathers for soft hackles. I don’t have a lot of experience with using pheasant for hackling, I forgot there are other parts of the bird besides the tails.
Here are 3 soft hackle flies tied with body feathers of the pheasant. I don’t have any pheasant [...]

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Lets start with the hackles, where these fly patterns get their name. Most soft hackles are tied with game bird skins, like partridge, pheasant, quail, or starling. The individual fibers of these feathers are much more flexible and “bendy” than rooster hackles. This allows the soft hackles to move while being fish.  Many believe the [...]

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