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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

DiscountFlies, September 24, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, September 24, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, September 18, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, September 14, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, September 04, 2024

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…

DiscountFlies, August 23, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, August 17, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, August 17, 2024

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.

DiscountrFlie, August 12, 2024

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!

DiscountFlies, August 12, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, August 05, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, August 02, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, July 27, 2024

Tying a Rusty Spinner Fishing Fly

Overcoming two challenges associated with fishing and tying spinners.

Addressing visibility and slim abdomens for spinner fishing flies.

DiscountFlies, July 27, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, July 25, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, July 25, 2024

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!

DiscountFlies, July 08, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, June 29, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, June 29, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, June 27, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, June 27, 2024

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.

DiscountFlies, May 31, 2024

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

DiscountFlies, May 27, 2024

Tying and Soft Hackle Hare's Ear Bead Head Fishing Fly

Hare’s ear is, without doubt, one of the very best materials for tying flies.

Combine Hare’s Ear, a bead, and a soft hackle and you have a winning combination for almost anywhere, anytime.

DiscountFlies, May 19, 2024

How to tie a Chubby Cicada Fishing Fly

Chubby Chernobyl style of fly is one of our go-to flies. Perfect for dry-dropper fishing or fishing solo, this style of fly can be adapted to many different big bugs – beetles, ants, hoppers, stones.

Here is a Cicada version.

DiscountFlies, May 13, 2024

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