Fly Tying
How to tie a Wingless Wickhams
The Wingless Wickhams is a marvellous general pattern that deserves a place in any position on a 3 fly cast whilst fishing loch style in a drifting boat. That old adage “Bright day, Bright fly” seems to ring true with this pattern. When trout are feeding on Sedge Pupa or Buzzers just subsurface it can be very effective. It’s even worth a cast towards the end of the season when trout are on the pin fry. There are many variants, some of which use Fl. Foss for the tail instead of the cock hackle fibres, such as the “Red Assed Wickhams” ...
How to tie a Willie Gunn
This salmon fly is named after the Head Keeper on the River Brora on the Sutherland Estate in Scotland. This is a fairly recent creation that can be tied on Salmon Single or Double hooks and various density tubes, even micro tubes that can be fished hitched and fast in the surface. A truly versatile fly for any time during the salmon season. ...
How to tie a Mini Surf Candy
This saltwater baitfish pattern originated from USA tier Bob Popovics', the Surf Candy started life being tied from natural materials such as Polar Bear hair and Bucktail and experiments with epoxy resins. With the advent of modern synthetic fibres such as Ultra Hair and Super Hair the fly is now much easier to tie and much more durable. Not only is this Mini version of use in saltwater but it can be used for freshwater predators such as Pike, Perch, Zander and Black Bass. ...
How to tie a Peeping Caddis
This fly is a slight variation of the well known Dutch tier Hans van Klinken’s Leadhead Nymph. The difference is in the method of representing the caddis head emerging from its case, this one uses a short piece of Fl. Pink suede chenille instead of Hans’s Fl. Lime green wool wound as a butt. An excellent river pattern for Trout, Grayling and even Chub. With the Fl. Pink it is very effective if the river is coloured up....
How to tie an Ice Maiden Tube
As an alternative to the White Wing fished at dusk or when the water is very cold this fly excels. Make sure that the wing is tied not too heavily to allow the pearl Mylar body to shine through. Make sure you use good quality fine straight Bucktail, course thick Bucktail is inclined to flair out when tied in firmly rather than lay alongside the tube body. ...
How to tie a Dabbler
This Irish wet fly took the Irish competition scene by storm in the early 1990’s. It was conceived by Donald McClarn of Co. Down as a hatching Mayfly pattern for use on the Irish Loughs. Its success has travelled far and wide and works well stripped fast in a good rolling wave on either a floating or sinking line. ...
How to tie a Crazy Charlie
This fly was originally called the “Nasty Charlie” and it should be in every saltwater fly fisher’s collection when targeting Bonefish. The key to the success of the Crazy Charlie is the way the it fishes hook point up because the dumbbell eyes tied on top of the hook shank ensure the fly always lands that way up. Fished in long slow strips with a pause in between the fly will kick up small puffs of sand which imitate a fleeing crab or shrimp. ...
How to tie a Woolly Bugger
The Woolly Bugger could be regarded as a lure fisherman’s “Nymph” as it can be fished fast as an attractor in stillwater’s or slowly in a river allowing the sinuous marabou tail to undulate in the current maybe imitating a leech. Tied in gaudy pinks and purples it can be deadly for King Salmon. The black version listed here but with the addition of a couple of turns of pink or orange chenille behind the eye turns it into an Egg Sucking Leech. ...
How to tie a Superglue Buzzer
Midge pupa can form a large part of the trout’s diet so it pays to carry some good imitations with you. The Superglue buzzer is a very realistic offering both in lack of bulk and slim quick sinking profile. This is achieved by using tying thread for the body rather than floss or fur and applying a thin layer of Superglue and varnish to the finished fly to give it a distinct sheen. It makes an excellent midge pupa offering when trout are following the naturals up to the surface from the lake bed....- Make your flies irresistible
- How to secure fly tying thread to the hook shank
- How to use a whip finish tool
- Introduction to the basic tools of fly tying
- Fur and Skin preparation for Fly Tying
- Download fly tying patterns from Steve Thornton online!
- Beginners Fly Tying Course - Fly 1 - The Shipmans Buzzer
- Beginners Fly Tying Course - The Basics - Part 2!
- Beginners Fly Tying series launched today!
- Tubes and coneheads
