Tip 1

Use the Hook as a Measuring Device

One of the hallmarks of an accomplished tier is that all his flies display similar proportions. The hook is a handy tool for measuring the components of a fly. Use the overall length of the hook, the length of the shank, the width of the gap, the distance between the tip of the point and tip of the barb, and so on to measure the length of the tail, the height of the wings, and other parts of a pattern. All your flies will look alike, and when you change hook sizes, you’ll easily maintain the same relative proportions.

Tip 2

De-barb the Hook Before Tying the Fly

Do you subscribe to the catch-and-release ethic? In order to facilitate releasing your fish quickly and unharmed, you should use barbless hooks. While the vast majority of hooks are properly tempered and can withstand considerable abuse, sometimes a hook will snap when you are mashing down the barb using a pliers or hemostat; this problem is more common with fine-wire dry fly hooks. If you plan on “fishing barbless,” remove the hook barb before tying the fly; if the hook does break—a rare but not impossible occurrence—you will not waste time or materials tying a fly you will never use.

Tip 3

Adjust Your Bobbin to Accommodate Extrafine Thread

If you tie dry flies using size 8/0 (70 denier) or finer nylon thread, first reduce the tension on your bobbin. Did you even know that a standard thread bobbin is adjustable? It’s very simple to do: slightly bend out the legs of the bobbin to reduce the pressure on the sides of the thread spool. The bobbin should apply only enough pressure to the sides of the spool so that when you release the thread, the tool hangs from the hook without dropping to your bench top, but not so much pressure that you continually break the thread when tying the fly.

Tip 4

Spinners Are Important

In addition to tying imitations of newly emerging mayflies, be sure to make a few spinners. Spinners are the egg-laying stage of these insects. A spinner is far less complicated to tie than a dun imitation. A splayed tail of hackle fibers, a dubbed body, and a sparse piece of polypropylene yarn tied perpendicular to the hook shank yield a fly that matches the outline of almost any real spinner. Fly tying expert Dennis Potter added a small piece of bright yellow yarn to the top of this spinner to make it easy to see on the water.

Tip 5

Save Money Using Variant Hackle

Quality hackles are some of the most expensive ingredients in tying dry flies. A premium cape (a cape is the skin from the neck of a chicken that contains hackles) can easily cost $50 or more. And, if you tie a wide variety of patterns, you’ll need capes in an assortment of colors. But there is a way to use high-quality hackles at a more affordable price. Ask for “variant” colored hackle capes at your local fly shop. If the shopkeeper isn’t familiar with the term, ask to see his selection of grade 3 capes; these are often variants. The feathers on a variant cape contain various shading or speckling; they will not be one uniform color. Because of the uneven shading, these capes are not considered grade 1 or grade 2. The individual feathers on a variant cape, however, are still ideal for tying flies. And, because few insects are solid colors, variant hackles probably yield more realistic-looking flies.

The post 9 Tips for Tying Better Dry Flies appeared first on Fly Tyer.

BY THE EDITORS

A Great Vise for Any Level of Tying

Priced as an entry-level vise (right now, our friends at J. Stockard are selling it for $140), the HMH ST Vise is a high-quality tool fit for all tying. Although slightly scaled down in size compared to most pro-level vises, it has all the features and quality of those high-priced tools. If you’re looking for your first vise or a compact model for traveling, the impressive HMH ST Vise is a great option. www.hmhvises.com

Dr. Slick Prism Scissors Are Cutting Edge

We all know that Dr. Slick makes some of the finest fly tying scissors and angling accessories in the world. Dr. Slick is upping its game with its new line of Prism Scissors. These tools feature a titanium nitride coating that creates a harder blade surface, making them ideal for working with synthetic materials. Each finish is a unique swirl of red, green, blue, and orange, so no two scissors are the same. Dr. Slick Prism Scissors come in three useful sizes. ($19 to $21 depending upon the model.) www.drslick.com

Premium Rod Storage from Filson

Whether you’re taking a last-minute day trip or you plan to be away from home for a couple of weeks, the key is being organized. Filson’s Rugged Twill Compact Rod Case ($375) is ideal for assembling together a couple of four-piece rods, matching reels, plus fly boxes so you’re always ready to go. The stylish Rugged Twill Compact Rod Case is water repellent, resists abrasions, and features an attractive bridle-leather strap. www.filson.com

Redington Behemoth Reel Offers Big Advantages

The Redington Behemoth Reel isn’t the most expensive fly reel on the market (this 5/6-weight version set our editor back only $109), but it offers all the advantages of its higher-priced counterparts. The Behemoth features an adjustable carbon-fiber drag and a large arbor, it can be quickly changed from right- to left-hand retrieve, and it comes in five attractive colors. Redington is so confident in the Behemoth Reel that it includes a lifetime warranty. www.redington.com

Kona Fishhooks

We opened a parcel from Flymen Fishing Company containing a couple dozen packages of Kona Fly Fishing Hooks. These hooks had perfect finishes, were extremely sharp, and came in a variety of useful shapes and sizes. What to do? We tied some flies using an assortment of them and went fishing. It turned out they are also very strong. Keep an eye out for Kona hooks (about $7.50 to $8.75 per package depending upon the exact hooks you buy) wherever you find Flymen Fishing Company products. www.flymenfishingcompany.com

Get a Grip with Frogg Toggs Hard-Case Boot Studs

Our editor was wearing wading boots with soles designed to give him good footing, but he was still slipping too much, making fishing unsafe. The solution? He added screw-in Frogg Toggs Hard-Case Boot Studs ($8.50) to the soles of his boots. It took only about five minutes per boot, and he reports excellent results. The steel studs are very durable, they have all remained in the soles of his boots, and he is now wading with complete confidence. www.froggtoggs.com

The post GEAR: Editor’s Picks appeared first on Fly Tyer.

Enjoy!

(from Orvis)

This week, the main part of the podcast is a long interview with Dave Klausmeyer, editor of Fly Tyer Magazine. He talks about his Golden Rules of Fly Tying and then also gives his 10 Cannot-Do-Without natural and synthetic materials. If you keep count, you will find that Klausmeyer is even worse at addition than I am.

In The Fly Box, we ramble from fishing soft hackles to checking fly lines and backing for damage. There are also a couple questions about finding big rainbow trout feeding in still, shallow water. And we have a couple great lists of suggestions from listeners—one on ways to carry a second rod when wading; the other on “suggestions for a novice from a kinda novice.” If I keep getting great responses like this from listeners, I can let them take over the whole podcast.

Click here to listen

The post A Throwback Orvis Podcast with Dave Klausmeyer appeared first on Fly Tyer.

Tying flies is a pastime, but take it seriously and it will grow into a passion. And like all passions, the more we learn, the more we realize what we do not know, so we pose even more questions. What ingredient can we substitute for some hard-to-find material? Do we really need to use head cement? Is it okay to tie a fly using mostly synthetic materials, and if we do, at what point does a fly become a lure? And, if we cast a slithering worm using a fly rod, are we bait or fly fishing? Or, if we cast a heavily weighted pattern, such as a large Clouser Minnow, with ultra-light spinning tackle, are we spin or fly fishing?

With experience at the vise and lots of time on the water, we ask increasingly complex questions. We learn, we grow, and we become more proficient at the tying bench. Our flies become more lifelike and durable, and we catch more fish. And we uncover even more questions.

I have tied flies for close to five decades, I’ve edited this magazine for twenty-five years, and I have written a dozen fly tying books. And you know what? I am still filled with awe and wonder for our craft, and I still have a lot of questions.

Regardless of your years of experience or proficiency at the vise, I know you have questions, too. You read Fly Tyer magazine, and I know you have questions; due to space constraints, no article can resolve every question about a fly or tying method. Here is your chance to ask questions about the flies and tying techniques you discover in this magazine. In fact, ask any fly tying or fishing questions you like. Our crack team of authors will tackle your queries, and we’ll publish their responses in future issues of this magazine.

Let me start with a philosophical question that actually has legal ramifications: what, exactly, is fly fishing? What if I do cast that worm with a fly rod, or a hefty Clouser with spinning tackle? Is fly fishing about the fly, the method of presentation, or both?

Send your questions about fly tying and fishing—and even life—to flytyermagazine@gmail.com. And, if you think you can answer my question—what is fly fishing?— let me know.

– David Klausmeyer

The post Ask Fly Tyer appeared first on Fly Tyer.

Many years ago, I sold advertising space for this magazine, and Bill was one of my clients. I’d bump into him at the annual fly fishing industry trade show, and we’d talk about chickens, feathers, hunting, college football, our favorite brands of bourbon, and then eventually business. “I don’t know,” he’d say in his gruff why-don’t-you-get-away-from-me voice. “What’s this going to cost me?” We would haggle some more, and he’d eventually spit out, “I don’t know—I’m just a chicken farmer.” Then Bill would hold out his hand, we’d shake, and he would walk away. The deal was made.

It was recently announced that Bob and Nelda Borden, the founders of Hareline Dubbin, of Monroe, Oregon, have retired, and Bill has acquired their business. Now Bill Keough is more than just a chicken farmer. Bill and dairy farmer/businessman Ale Riedstra will head the new company, which will be known as Hareline Dubbin LLC.

Bill Keough, who has been a member of the fly fishing industry for almost 40 years, developed a genetic strain of hackle used by fly tiers around the world. Hareline Dubbin, which was founded in 1981 as a home-based business offering just 12 colors of rabbit dubbing, operates an 18,000-square foot facility producing thousands of fly tying products including threads, dubbing materials, chenille, feathers, hair, tinsel, beads, eyes, hooks, and tools. The merger of the two companies seemed natural: they already shared many of the same customers, and now they are planning to expand their dealer base.

“The transition has been seamless and the entire Oregon-based staff is staying on board,” Bill said about the new business. “Marcos Vergara continues as operations manager while Darian Hyde and Tracy Peterson will man the order-desk phones. Everyone, from the people in the warehouse to those packaging the orders, have worked to keep the day-to-day operations on task and the orders flowing out the door as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

It’s great to see Hareline Dubbin continue and its fine staff working. It’s also a wonderful sign that someone with Bill’s vast experience sees the potential for opportunity and growth in the fly tying industry. We wish all of them good luck for a long and profitable future.

(Personal note to Bill: Don’t let this attention go to your head. In my heart, you’re still just a chicken farmer.)

The post Chicken Feathers and More appeared first on Fly Tyer.

THE INTERNATIONAL FLY TYING SYMPOSIUM will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary this November. That’s a quarter of a century. It’s hard to believe!

And I am pleased to report that the International Fly Tying Symposium is still going strong, and this year’s event promises to be one of the biggest ever.

On November 21 and 22, the best amateur and professional fly tiers will gather at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey, to swap their latest patterns and share new tying techniques. Whatever type of flies you tie—trout, bass, pike, salmon, saltwater, and more—you will learn a lot.

And don’t forget to make your shopping list. Several vendors set up mini fly shops chockfull of hooks, feathers, furs, and much more. The International Fly Tying Symposium is also a great place to find rare and unusual materials fit for dressing your fanciest patterns.

This year, Symposium promotor Chuck Furimsky is introducing a new live fly-tying contest. In this timed event, tiers will create original patterns using materials provided to them. This fun contest will take place in the lobby of the convention center at 4 PM on Saturday, and all tiers are welcome to participate, including you!

“Regal is providing all of the vises used in the competition,” Furimsky said. “Keough Hackle, Wapsi Fly, and Partridge of Redditch are providing all of the materials and hooks. These companies are really enthusiastic about this contest. And all of the  participants will get to keep their materials, which are valued at approximately $50. The winner of the competition will receive a Regal vise valued at $250.”

In addition to the contest sponsors, Chuck has lined up a great panel of judges.

“Bob Clouser, Enrico Puglisi, Bob Popovics, and Gary Borger—all well-known tiers—will be the judges,” he said.

But the International Fly Tying Symposium will be more than just a potpourri of hooks and hackle. Steinway’s demonstration pianist, Joe Augustine, from the University of Akron, will return to entertain the crowd during the Saturday night banquet and awards ceremony. This fun evening event is open to everyone attending the Symposium, so you will have more opportunities to chat with your favorite tiers over cocktails and a good dinner.

Furimsky says this will be the largest Symposium since the first gathering in 1990.

“This is twenty-five years,” he reflected. “That’s hard to believe. But tiers still come from across North America and from overseas to tie flies and to learn. And there’s great fellowship among the tiers. Everyone has such a good time.”

For more information about the International Fly Tying Symposium, go to www.internationalflytyingsymposium.com, or contact info@flyfishingshow.com.

The post The International Fly Tying Symposium appeared first on Fly Tyer.

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION: What’s in your fly box?

What are your favorite patterns? I suspect some are your own creations, but I’ll also bet you carry flies designed by other tiers. And if you are an experienced tier, I know you occasionally make alterations to well-known patterns to meet the unique fishing conditions on your local waters.

This leads to another interesting question: Who has made the most important contributions to your development as a fly tier? Whose patterns do you tie and use? Whose books occupy the most space in your fly tying library? Do you prefer a brand of tying tools or materials over all others?

Four years ago, we introduced the Fly Tyer magazine Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize those people and companies who have made major contributions to the craft of fly tying. These individuals are designing the flies we all tie. We read their books and articles, watch their instructional videos, and attend their classes. We have their products on our tying benches. They are making fly tying a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for all of us.

For example, Gary Borger received the Fly Tyer Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive record of books and articles, original patterns, and as an instructor. John Barr received the Lifetime Achievement Award for developing the Copper John series of patterns; they are the best-selling flies in the world. Dr. Tom Whiting, of world-renowned Whiting Farms, received his Lifetime Achievement Award for the development of genetic fly tying hackle. And Al and Gretchen Beatty received this prestigious recognition for their extensive record of publications and fly tying classes, as well as their important contributions to coldwater fisheries conservation.

Bob Popovics received the Fly Tyer Lifetime Achievement Award for developing the Surf Candy series of saltwater imitations; these flies helped usher in the revolution of using synthetic materials and forever changed the way we think about fly tying. Craig Mathews is a leading pattern designer, owns a major fly shop called Blue Ribbon Flies, and helped found One Percent for the Planet, an important conservation effort; he also received our award. And our own Jay “Fishy” Fullum won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his unique patterns, publications, artwork, and classes.

These are just a few of the people who have received the Fly Tyer Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the next issue of this magazine, we will announce the winners of the Fly Tyer Lifetime Achievement Award for 2016, and we need your help. We would like to know who you think is deserving of this special recognition. Please submit your nomination no later than December 30. Submit the name of the person, and tell us how he or she has helped you become a better tier or made other contributions to fly tying. Send your nomination to flytyermagazine@gmail.com, or mail it to Fly Tyer magazine, P.O. Box 8, Steuben, ME 04680.

So, what’s in your fly box?

The post Cast Your Vote appeared first on Fly Tyer.