Recent comments

Shaku Hunter film comment

'The shaku hunter' is a beautifully filmed, well edited, and absolutely charming film with delightful scenes and accompanying music. A relaxing and peaceful film to watch. Congratulations to all those involved.

It will come

Thomas (and others seeking links in this section).

When we get the section up and running fully, we will strive to have links to all relevant tools and materials, so that you can find and maybe purchase them. For now this section is still work in progress.

Martin

Thanks ....

Thanks ....
We are happy with my son!

ken et eliott Dreamfish

Where can I purchase the closed-end stacker in your video?

Wayne, love your videos and analysis. I have Googled my fingers and brain off looking for a closed-end stacker like the one shown in your video but no joy, can you please tell me where I can get one?

Laggie Hair Stacker

I treasure your detailed analyses of our hobby. I've have Googled my fingers off searching for a link to the "Laggie stacker" but no joy. Is Jordan Lagman still making them and if so, can you provide a link?
Many Thanks

So how do you see it ...

"So how do you see the stinkin thing when you cast it?" what are you tying with? I can recommend you well cured fly tying material that doesn't stink :)

This is a great fly pattern!

In Praise of Wayne Luallen

There are many clever and innovative fly tyers but only a very few good teachers and even fewer great teachers. Mr Luallen is clearly in the latter category. I've been tying for almost 60 years and stacking calf tail has plagued me to the point where I've given up and turned to poly yarn. I can't say Wayne made me love the stuff but the tail and I are now on a talking basis.

Intruders

What an interesting article - not a crazy idea at all. I have also made a couple of intruders for the coming sea-trout season, but I will also make a couple of your conversions. The Wet hen intruder I am sure will do great.

CRIB

OK, YOU WIN!

Brilliant Fly

I saw this pattern and tied it up for Baltic seatrout in the river and it worked brilliantly. The result was a 71cm hen fish in the dead of night. A brilliant pattern

requirement for a good fly vise

A fly vise must hold hooks without allowing them to slip or move, but not to exert so much pressure as to fracture or weaken the steel in the hook shank. A tiny rectangle cut from a piece of heavy paper - like a 3"X5" card - folded over the bend in the hook shank before inserting it into the jaws of the vise - will hold the hook ROCK SOLID with very little pressure from the vise jaws. This minimizes the chances of fracturing the hook steel with a high pressure, steel-on-steel, cam operated clamp. My old vise, a knock-off version of a Thompson A, will hold hooks from #22 to 2/0 as solidly as any $500 vise - and the hooks don't break in use. Art Flick recommended this move.

Petur Steingrimsson

Trying to locate Petur. Have not heard from him this year. Thank you.

Great idea!!!

That was a great idea. I bought a different brand from Amazon Canada. It's so much nicer to tie with that light. I'm getting older and my eyes are not what they once were, works awesome. Link below.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07FK98YSK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s…

Fly tying consistency

Epic article! Just my personal take on fly tying consistency: over-rated!!!!!
Only because the bugs I see on the tailwater rivers I fish are never consistent either. So, I never worry about consistency and end up the minor variations that I encounter.

Nice Article - Love the history

Never tried doubling the wire. Been using tungsten beads for additional weight instead of additional wire but now I'm curious. I prefer peacock herl as well. It has such dynamic light and color variations.

Thanks
-Kasey @ FoxTrick Flies

Great article

Fantastic article. I've only been tying Pike flies for a few years and this article opens up many new options for me. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!

Waders do not make you sink

The water that gets in your waders is no heavier that the water outside.

Other patterns

You mentioned that he used three patterns. What were the other two patterns?

Great article, nice drwings,

Great article, nice drwings, the last one interesting as potential tattoo idea. Thank you.

Comment to Blue Devil Variant tied by Davie McPhai

Its a beautiful tie and faster than Carrie Stevens' method. I thought her point in glueing the wing assemblies was to stiffen the front on the fly so as to mimic the way a baitfish swims - fixed in front with the back two thirds showing all the movement.

Comment to Blue Devil Variant tied by Davie McPhai

Beautiful tie there Davie, Always has been a joy to see another so talented tyer with such a talent in the arts of tying. My hat's off to you ! Kevin

Zug Bug Memories

Thanks, Davie, for revisiting this old classic. The first fly I ever cast some 60 years ago was a Zug Bug and while I was struggling to learn to fish and tie flies the Zug Bug and Hornberg were the only flies in my humble box. I will always have a special place in my heart for those classic flies.

Cool! What about fly rods?

Thanks for this great DIY post! I would love to try it. But what about fly rods without butts behind the reel seat? I would not feel comfortable positioning the reel *below* the bar. Seems like an adjustment to the recipe is needed. Any ideas? Maybe an additional set of bungees that loop behind the reel stem?

Green drake article

Very helpful and comprehensive article, complete with video links to fly tying of different life stages. Well worth a read, and book-marking this page.