Fly Tying Tips
This is the second installment of Feathers – Tip’s, Trick’s & Common Mistakes, which can be downloaded FREE from www.saltyflytying.com
Fly Tying Tips & Tricks – Working with Feathers Read More »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Summary:
FishBrain (www.fishbrain.com), the world’s fastest-growing app and social network for the world’s biggest hobby – sport fishing – Welcomes Joe Mahler and Drew Chicone to their panel of experts.
This is the first installment of Feathers – Tip’s, Trick’s & Common Mistakes, which can be downloaded FREE from www.saltyflytying.com
Flatten Your Thread
First and foremost, when you are working with feathers, you need to make sure your thread is flat! Fly tying thread is made up of multiple filaments or fibers that are twisted together. There are situations for using a tightly twisted or compressed thread, but this is definitely not one of them.
Compressed Thread
If you are a right-handed tier, with each wrap you are twisting the thread, and eventually it becomes round like a rope. For right-handed tiers, spinning the bobbin to the left will untwist it and cause the thread fibers to lay flat. Flattened thread has more surface area and is more efficient at gathering and locking materials in place. After every few wraps you make and before you add any new materials, it is very important that you spin your bobbin until your thread is flat.
Download my free eBook by clicking the icon to your right to read the rest of my tip’s, trick’s & common mistakes.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight
-Drew
Fly Tying Tips & Tricks – Fly Tying Thread Read More »
Drew Chicone here. Welcome to the Salty Fly Tying Blog!
My goal for this Blog is to share ideas related to saltwater pattern development, help you create more effective saltwater flies, and ultimately catch more fish.
After teaching fly tying for several years, I have come to the realization that feathers cause more confusion and frustration than any other material. For both beginning fly tiers and seasoned pros alike, keeping them secured strait and even on the hook is a onerous chore that can suck the fun right out of fly tying.
That being said, I figured it was a good place to start. Over the next few weeks I will do my best to explain the in’s and out’s of working with feathers and essential techniques needed to keep saddles from rolling. As always, you can stay tuned to this blog over the coming weeks as I share each of the tips from my eBook, or you can simply click the icon to your right and download it for free, today.
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
-Drew
Feathers – Fly Tying Tips, Tricks & Common Mistakes Read More »
Over the past few weeks I have given you the basics on the 8 proven pattens from my latest book “Redfish Flies”. Simply click on the link or icon above to download the 175 page pdf. of “Redfish Flies“, illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions for $14.99 or head over to www.saltyflytying.com to order your signed paperback version for $24.99.
The eight pattens outlined in Redfish Flies have been fine-tuned and rigorously tested on countless grass flats, oyster bars and mangrove shorelines. Tying and stocking your box with this proven assortment of flies will ensure you have the ammunition need to coax even the most refined redfish, and the insight provided in the interviews of the contributing guides and tying guru’s will help you understand what factors need to be consider to create your own productive redfish flies.
Buy Redfish Flies by Drew Chicone Read More »
=&0=&
The fly has remained basically the same over the years as I tie the fly. But like any good pattern, different variations have come along from other tiers. I have seen monofilament threaded through the claws to stiffen them, tailing added making it more of a slider, and many other improvements or changes for specific applications. My only change has been the addition of an orange “egg sac” of Finnish Raccoon around the tailing flash.
This is the ninth installment of Redfish Flies. To read the rest of the interview, and for the complete step-by-step instructions for tying this redfish fly and 7 more, download your copy of Redfish Flies at www.saltyflytying.com $14.99 or order your Signed Paperback version today ! $24.99 + Shipping.
In your opinion what makes the pattern so effective?
In my opinion the fly has remained so effective over the years is that it mimics many different crabs and other crustaceans, is easy to tie, easy to cast and fish, and it produces.
This 175 page downloadable pdf. is illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions, click the link, or icon to download your copy today. $14.99 Or order your signed paperback version at saltyflytying.com $24.99. Detailed instructions for tying Drew Chicone’s Kung Fu Blue Crab, Capt. Ron Ratliff’s Fiddle Sticks Crab, Capt. Daniel Andrews’s Pine Island Ice Tea, Drei Stroman’s Budagrassy Shrimp, Chris Kincaid’s Rump Shaker, Capt. Joe Costadura’s Grass Monkey, Bill Laminack’s Gulf Shrimp, and Don Reed’s Batman pattern.
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight!
-Drew
The Batman – Redfish Flies Read More »
=&0=&
Most of the materials choice was based on trying to achieve the most realistic appearance possible. Applying Epoxy over Monofilament as a base creates the perfect translucent appearance that matches live shrimp quite closely. Applying a little bit of appropriate colored marker over the monofilament bleeds in and creates nice life like blends of colors. The antennae and some of mouth parts are created from Kanekalon or Yak Hair. These materials are readily available, durable and cheap. The original eyes are made from 11/0 Glass Beads from Craft stores and coated in epoxy, much like many other crab and shrimp patterns. The EP Shrimp eyes will work if you do not have the time or materials to create your own.
This is the eighth installment of Redfish Flies. To read the rest of the interview, and for the complete step-by-step instructions for tying this redfish fly and 7 more, download your copy of Redfish Flies at www.saltyflytying.com $14.99 or order your Signed Paperback version today ! $24.99 + Shipping.
In your opinion what makes the pattern so effective?
A relatively slow sink rate with a hook riding up allows you to fish the fly over grass flats that are 2′ or more. This allows you to present a very accurate shrimp fly in to the exact places where redfish are looking for shrimp and crabs. The sight of a shrimp popping over the tops of sea grass is just something that few redfish can resist.
This 175 page downloadable pdf. is illustrated with ultra-hi resolution step-by-step instructions, click the link, or icon to download your copy today. $14.99 Or order your signed paperback version at saltyflytying.com $24.99. Detailed instructions for tying Drew Chicone’s Kung Fu Blue Crab, Capt. Ron Ratliff’s Fiddle Sticks Crab, Capt. Daniel Andrews’s Pine Island Ice Tea, Drei Stroman’s Budagrassy Shrimp, Chris Kincaid’s Rump Shaker, Capt. Joe Costadura’s Grass Monkey, Bill Laminack’s Gulf Shrimp, and Don Reed’s Batman pattern.
If you have questions or other topics in mind you would like explained, feel free to comment or send me an email.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight!
-Drew
The Gulf Shrimp – Redfish Flies Read More »
Pattern by Capt. Joe Costadura
The Grass Monkey – Redfish Flies Read More »
Why did you choose the materials you did and the techniques to apply them?
I really wanted this fly to give the impression of a shrimp scooting backwards out of the grass, as if it was fleeing from an approaching predator. The weight of the medium bead chain eyes on the front of the fly and the upraised angle of the craft fur in the tail make this fly move in small bounces when retrieved, just like a shrimp. The craft fur, Arctic fox body hair, and grizzly flutter legs mimic the appearance of the larger legs towards the front of a shrimp’s body and the EP wooly critter brush tapers down to mimic the appearance of the smaller legs towards the tail.
This is the sixth installment of Redfish Flies. To read the rest of the interview, and for the complete step-by-step instructions for tying this redfish fly and 7 more, download your copy of Redfish Flies at www.saltyflytying.com $14.99 or order your Signed Paperback version today ! $24.99 + Shipping.
How do you recommend fishing the fly?
Most of the time I am sight fishing so I try and get the fly directly in front of the fish, or cast and retrieve it where it would intercept the fish about 1’ in front of its face. Don’t be bashful; this fly makes a fairly stealthy water entry. Watch the redfish’s body language and you will be able to tell when the redfish first spots fly. He will usually do one of two things; charge forward and inhale the fly, or he will begin to follow with curiosity. If you get a fish that is following, try speeding up your retrieve to invoke him to charge and eat.
The Rump Shaker – Redfish Flies Read More »
It has been said that some flies are tied to catch fish and others to catch fishermen. The peculiar-looking Tuscan Bunny fly is most certainly the prior of the two.
If I had to choose just one fly for top water targets that typically take prey higher in the water column then my answer would unequivocally be the Tuscan bunny.
Chicone’s Tuscan Bunny Read More »
