Shrimp Flies

A dubbing brush is really just a customized pipe cleaner. Instead of a synthetic core like chenille, the two wires that make up the core sandwich a variety of different materials that can be palmered around the hook shank. By customizing your own brushes, you can match the other materials you are tying with exactly, as well as blend several colors, providing youwith more lifelike patterns Read More

So much you learn about catching fish is about being versatile  and being able to adapt your fly to match or mimic a specific prey item in a specific situation is paramount.  A small modification is sometimes all you need to trigger a strike. I can’t think of a more versatile tool for fly tying or in-the-field alterations than permanent markers. Read More

Although there are a rainbow of colors available in almost every material, I often find myself searching for a specific shade or a slightly different hue in a certain material that just doesn’t exist on the shelves of my local fly shop or even online.Dying the materials at home is cheap and easy and allows me to continuously modify a material’s color, taking custom creations one step further. Read More

If you have ever used 5 minute epoxy while tying flies, you know that that’s the shortest five minus of your life!   I can’t tell you how many perfectly good flies have ended up in the bottom of trash can thanks to terrible smelling stuff . Thanks to the birth of UV adhesives,  I am glad those days are over. The numerous types of UV-cured acrylics on the market today provide a faster, easier, and cleaner alternative to epoxy. Read More

Fur, hair, and feathers are the original saltwater tying materials, however there are hundreds of different synthetic materials to choose from today.  Both have their pro’s and con’s, but it is important to take in to consideration the size of the flies you are trying to create when you are putting together your shopping list.  When it comes to synthetics, think about the profile you want to create.  I like thicker more coarse materials for larger 4-6 inch baitfish flies, and thinner more pliable materials for 1-3 inch baitfish flies.  The length of the material,  and  translucency  also need to be considered when making your selection. Read More

Although thread diameter seems like a minuscule thing, the size and shape of your thread can make a big difference in the way your flies look and fish. Heavier, stronger threads with multiple filaments or higher denier are common when creating larger, more durable saltwater flies, but is 210 denier  necessary?  As you tie more, and you become accustom to the amount of thread pressure you need to apply for a given material you will find that lighter threads will produce tidier  looking flies with more uniform heads. Read More

There seems to be a direct correlation between materials that really move and look great in the water and the propensity to become fouled. Rabbit strips, fox, Finnish raccoon, or any material that is used in a strip with the hide still attached gets waterlogged and tends to wrap itself around the bend of the hook. Read More