Blog
We show a dubbing mix that we like for wings on small midges.
Tying Stalcup's Mayfly Emerger Fishing Fly
The brilliance of some fly designs are defined by the fact that a generic recipe/format can be used to tie a wide range of very specific flies
Using the same basic materials – thread, antron, a quill body, and a bit of dubbing – many different (and very specific) bugs can be tied. What a pattern.
Tying a Micro Flex Crab Fishing Fly
Using smaller flex tubing and smaller chenille the flex crab can be tied down to a size 8
Tying Cat's Caddis Larva...The Green Cheeseburger
Another beautifully simple pattern from guide Cat Toy
Known as “the Cheeseburger Caddis” because of how well it entices fish on tailwaters as well as freestones, during all seasons
Tying Cat's Matchstick Midge
Another one of guide Cat Toy's go-to patterns that has proven itself day in and day out on all types of water and across all seasons
There are over 10,000 midge species. After putting samples under a microscope, Cat created this fly to mimic the lighter shades...from tan to yellowish.
CAT TOY, FLY DESIGNER & GUIDE
Cat grew up in Mammoth Lakes, CA and now chases trout all over Colorado.
Cat has a zest for the outdoors....fishing, skiing, mountaineering, and racing motocross. She caught her first trout fly fishing at the Frying Pan River.
Tying a Flex Crab Fishing Fly
The flex crab is one of the most innovative crab patterns in recent years.
An all-white version allows you to make almost any color combo. While this looks like an intimidating fly, it is very fun and straight forward.
Tying a Jiggy Gs Fry Fishing Fly
Jigged streamers -- if you haven't tried them -- are deadly
This simple fly of chickabou will entice fish that might look past a big streamer but are looking for a meal bigger than a size 22 equivalent.
Tying an Articulated Sparkle Minnow Streamer Fishing Fly
The Sparkle Minnow (single hook) and the Articulated Sparkle Minnow (two hooks) is a favorite among guides in Colorado and Wyoming. The fly has few materials and could easily be named the Ice Minnow given that 90% of the fly is made with Ice Dubbing.
The key to this fly is mastering the dubbing loop used for the body and underbelly. There are three methods that can be used to make the dubbing loops…
Tying a Foam Spinner Trico Fishing Fly
This is a highly visible, and durable, spinner pattern.
We show a trico version, but this pattern can be tied in many different colors.
Tying a Vis A Dun Trico Fishing Fly
Don't be afraid to fish a bigger Tricos during the early weeks, but be willing to adjust smaller as the weeks progress.
Here’s a pattern that can be tied all the way down to 24, floats well in all sizes, and is visible.
Tying a Hi Viz Foam Beetle Fishing Fly
When a Hopper won’t entice fish, a Beetle is needed
Here’s a version that incorporates many components….legs, wings, hi-vis.
Tying an Amy's Ant Fishing Fly
A classic western fly from master Jack Dennis
A combination of the Chernobyl Ant and Jack’s Amy’s Special (a stonefly imitation)...a fly that will always work!
Tying a Chernobyl Wog Fishing Fly
This might be the most exciting way to fly fish for salmon....
There are numerous styles of wogs, ranging from spun deer hair to cork. Here is a foam version that is simple to tie.
Tying a Hareball Leech Fishing Fly
A classic staple for Steelhead and Salmon. This is a simple pattern that uses two materials.
The design is all about the way rabbit hair moves in the water. If you’re headed north, have plenty of these at the ready in bright and dark colors.
Tying a PMD Split Back Perdigon Fishing Fly
Some of our best sellers are split back nymphs...both the BWO and PMD versions are fish catchers.
Here’s our attempt to put the PMD version into a perdigon style fly.
Tying a Rusty Spinner Fishing Fly
Overcoming two challenges associated with fishing and tying spinners.
Addressing visibility and slim abdomens for spinner fishing flies.
Tying a GFA (Micro) Hopper Fishing Fly
Later in the season fish can be just as willing to take a hopper as they are in July or August, but a smaller fly just might turn more heads.
his pattern is simple to tie; more importantly, it looks great down to a size 16 or 18. It floats well and can be tied in countless color variations.
Tying a Stubby Chubby Yellow Sally Fishing Fly
This is the smaller cousin of the Chubby Chernobyl
The Stubby can be tied to imitate smaller insects. The Yellow Sally is an example. The Stubby is still buoyant enough to support a smaller dropper.
Tying a Bellycrawl Carp Fishing Fly
This is one of the OG carp flies from Mr Kolanda that was on the leading edge of what is now the ongoing movement to design purpose-built flies for carp.
We’ve adjusted several materials and techniques, but only because of material availability and ease of tying. Check out the inverting bead method!
Tying an Furmisky-inspired Extended Foam Body Green Drake Fishing Fly
Green Drakes are big and trout key on them heavily during the summer.
his Furmisky inspired dry is one of our favorite flies for this hatch because it floats well, it can support a modest dropper, and it is visible.
Tying a Jiggy Soft Hackle Green Drake Emerger Fishing Fly
The Green Drake Hatch where we live is a hatch that is marked on many calendars.
An emerger like a soft hackle fished as a dropper an hour or so before the main event is a good idea.
Tying a Yellow Sally Soft Hackle Fishing Fly
Dry Flies get all the headlines, but Emergers are often the unsung heroes...
If the fish aren't eating as eagerly as you expect while fishing a dry, tie on a fly like this soft hackle behind a big, bushy Drake or Chernobyl.
Tying a Messy Sally Fishing Fly
The Yellow Sally hatch is both prolific and drawn out. Yet, we often overlook it because of PMDs, Drakes, Golden Stones, and Caddis.
If you’re fishing during these hatches without as much success as you’d expect, try a yellow sally. Here's a chaotic mess of Yellow Sally Dry.
Tying the Psycho Prince Rubberleg
The psycho prince is a producer for everything from trout to bass to steelhead.
We like the addition of rubberlegs. We offer a few alternative materials, but otherwise don’t have much to add on this modern classic.
Tying a Callibaetis Cruncher Fishing Fly
Fishing BC lakes for Kamloops rainbows is a bucket list item for us.
n general, there are several important categories of bugs for lakes. The Cruncher is a favorite callibaetis pattern.
Tying the Double Chubby Chernobyl Fishing Fly with Two Layer Foam and Chubb Dub
Chubby Chernobyl is one of today’s most popular flies. The newest iteration, the DOUBLE chubby, incorporates several improvements
Two Layer Foam, improved dubbing, and a mixed wing improve an already productive fly.
Tying a Jiggy "BM" Damsel Nymph Fishing Fly
Got the run off blues? How about a jiggy damsel nymph fishing fly?
This fly incorporates aspects of Gary Borger’s classic damsel nymph and Mr Mayer’s more recent mini leech damsel...two stillwater jedis.
Tying the Madam X Salmonfly Fishing Fly
A traditional adult stonefly dry fly
The Madam X can be tied in numerous colors, including Salmonfly
Tying the Improved Madam X Foam Salmonfly Fishing Fly
Most fly design is evolutionary, attempting to solve a specific problem or adapt an existing fly to a specific situation
Here's an attempt to improve the floatability of a classic Madam X