TYING TIPS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Originally prepared for Southeast Council Federation of Fly Fishers
FLY TYING MATERIALS
As a society we are constantly conditioned by the media, everything has
its own label.
This is true of fly tying as well. If a material is marketed and labeled
for Atlantic Salmon or Saltwater then that is what it is primarily used
for. This is a mistake. Whenever I look at fly tying materials, I pay no
attention to the label. Fly tying material is fly tying material and there
are no boundaries. The only constraints that are in place are the ones
that you, the fly tier, place on yourself.
Therefore, be open minded, explore and be creative with any material that you come across. During this seminar I will be doing some of this and I hope that these examples will inspire you the next time you sit down at the vise.
The first material I will be using is the Enrico Puglisi 3-D Fibers. This material is designed to be used to construct long saltwater streamers. One of the reasons that it works so well is that it sheds water. These are the same reasons that I use it for Dry Fly Extended Bodies and I also use it to tie caddis emergers. This is a great material and the colors are excellent. Some of them are solid colors and some of them are mixed, which is really good as many insects are mottled and of mixed, blended colors like this material.
Some my favorite colors are: EP Fibers 3-D #15 Tarpon Streamer, #16 Back Country, #13 Pinfish, #03 Brown, #20 Menhaden. Don’t let the names fool you. I also like the EP Fibers which come in 40 Plus colors, these are solid colors.
1. Olive Extended Body Drake
- Hooks: Tiemco 101 or Tiemco 2487
- Sizes: 10-20, 10-18
- Thread: 8/0 Olive Dun
- Extended Body: EP 3-D Fibers #15 Tarpon Streamer, twisted and folded
- Parachute Post: Dark Dun Antron Body Wool or Dark Dun Z-lon
- Thorax: Dubbed, Dark Olive Rabbit
- Hackle: Dark Dun or Grizzly dyed Yellow, tied parachute style
2. Olive Caddis Pupa, Soft Hackle
- Hooks: Tiemco 2487
- Sizes: 10-20
- Bead: Black, metal or plastic, Optional
- Body: EP 3-D Fibers #15 Tarpon Streamer, twisted and wrapped with a couple of trands of Black Krystal Flash.
- Thorax: EP 3-D Fibers #15 spun in a dubbing loop,
- Hackle: Mottled Natural Brown Hungarian Partridge Feather
Also you could tie this with Wings and Antennae.
SIMPLE FLIES - EASY & EFFECTIVE
When I am spending a lot of time fishing is when I like patterns that are easy to tie and very effective.
3. Olive/Green Soft Hackle
- Hooks: TMC 2487
- Sizes: 10-20
- Thread: 8/0 Olive Dun
- Body: Green Turkey Wing Fibers
- Thorax: Ice Dubbing, Chartreuse
- Hackle: Hungarian Back Feather, Dyed Olive
- Antennae: Wet Fly Hackle Stems, soft
The Antennae gives a more life-like look to the fly.
4. New Dubb Para Drake, Gray Olive
- Hooks: TMC 101
- Sizes: 14-18
- Thread: Lite Dun 12/0
- Body: Gray/Olive New Dubb, sear the tip
- Wingpost: Saap Wing Fiber, Fl Chartreuse
- Thorax: Dubbed, Olive Rabbit
- Hackle: Tied Parachute Style, Dark Dun
5. The Two Wing Caddis, Olive & Black
- Hooks: Tiemco 101
- Sizes: 12-22
- Thread: Olive Dun 8/0
- Bottom Wing: Olive CDC
- Top Wing: Slate Dun CDC
- Antennae: Soft Hen Hackle Stems
- Head: Black Dubbed Rabbit
Note: This pattern is easy and fast and can be tied in a number of color variations.
6. Easy Salty Shrimp Tan
- Hooks: Mustad 34007
- Sizes: 2-6
- Thread: Camel 6/0
- Eyes: Lead Dumb-bells, Painted Yellow with Black Centers
- Tails: Tan Ultra Hair, barred with a brown Marker
- Body: EP Tan Streamer brush with Rubber Legs
- Head: Dubbed, Ice Dub, Golden Brown
I tie an Olive Salty Shrimp that is also very effective.
EASY FOAM FLIES
7. Easy Foam Hopper, Yellow
- Hooks: Tiemco 101 or Dai Riki 930
- Sizes: 8-14, 2-12
- Thread: Brown 8/0
- Body: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam, Folded over a Needle
- Bullet Head: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam
- Wings: Natural Elk Hair, barred with a brown marker
- Head: Yellow Polar Dub
- Legs: One Pair of Red Rubber Legs, tied Madam X style
This pattern, with a color change or two, can also be configured to be a Stonefly Adult or Cricket.
8. Easy Surface Jitterbug
- Hooks: Dai Riki 930
- Sizes: 2-12
- Thread: Olive 6/0
- Tails: Yellow Marabou
- Shellback: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam, leave forward edge, shaped
- Body: Yellow Estaz
- Rubber Legs: Two sets of two Chartreuse Rubber
This is actually a modified pattern that was shown to me a couple of years ago here at the conclave. Since then I have used it in several different color combinations.
A NEW MATERIAL—DUSTER FLIES
Dusters are easy to find and cheap. I have found them in Wal-Mart and the Dollar Store and they come in several different colors. The material does not hold water and is very durable. I have tied a variety of saltwater flies over the past two years with this material and have had excellent results.
9. Salty Favorite, Chartreuse & White
White Tube or Clear Plastic, length as Desired
- Thread: White A
- Eyes: Lead eyes, Chartreuse with Black centers, the eyes are tied so the pattern will ride hook point up
- Tails:
- Bottom: White Material
Three strands of Silver Motion Mylar - Top: Chartreuse Material
- Bottom: White Material
- Collar: Chartreuse Body Fur
Red Body Fur, 1 Turn
White Body Fur - Head: White Estaz
This is a material that will have many uses. Buy some and see what you can do with it!