The Dirty Rat, featured in the Federation of Fly Fisher’s Pattern Encyclopaedia by Bob Lay of Montana, is a testament to simplicity and effectiveness in fly tying. This pattern, known for its unassuming appearance yet remarkable performance, has earned its place as a reliable choice for anglers year-round. Read More »
Trev’s Bead Head is a fly fishing pattern that has gained widespread local acclaim, owing much of its success to the ingenuity of Trevor Ward, a seasoned angler and esteemed member of the Hunter Valley Fly Fishing Club. Affectionately known as the “Bass Whisperer” of Lake St Clair, Ward’s expertise and dedication to the craft are evident in the design of this highly effective fly. Read More »
Fed’s Extended Body Bass Fly, another creation by the Club’s fly tying guru Paul Fedeles, showcases an innovative approach to fly tying, incorporating the extended body technique popularised by Steve Garza of flytyingtex.com. This fly design boasts a meticulously crafted extended body, offering a lifelike appearance in the water, thereby enhancing its effectiveness in enticing bass. Read More »
The Apps Bloodworm is a highly potent fly for stillwater and reservoir fishing, crafted and refined by Peter Appleby, a renowned competition angler. This versatile fly excels when used in two main ways: firstly, as a ‘lure’ on an intermediate line, allowing for varied retrieval speeds; secondly, as a point fly in conjunction with a team of buzzers or nymphs above, ideally paired with a floating line. Read More »
Fed’s “Top Shelf” Hopper is a variant of a fly I found on the Drew Ross’s LooknFishy YouTube channel. The original version comes into two styles – single foam and double foam version for hopper/dropper rigs. Its been a really productive pattern for Drew in recent years.
The Bass Betty was developed by Darren Foster, a well-known bass whisperer from Hunter Valley Fly Fishing Club. Darren notes, “It’s not a Bass Bunny, it’s not a Yeti. Read More »
Developed by Charlie Card, a well-known guide on Utah’s Green River, Card’s Cicada is a simple but very effective pattern. The beauty of this fly, like all cicada patterns, is that it floats well aiding visibility, has some movement, and from underneath has a nice buggy profile, all key factors for trout. Read More »
The Hare’s Ear Nymph is certainly among the top five most common patterns for trout fishermen, as its buggy generalist look imitates all manner of aquatic insects. This tricked-out version, by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, adds all kinds of fish-attracting bells and whistles, such as a shiny wingcase, a large hackle, and a gaudy orange hot spot. Read More »
The Orange Beadhead Nymph with Legs has, as the name suggests, an orange bead head with a pheasant tail. The body is also pheasant tail, wrapped with fine copper wire (Paul uses speaker cable wire in this pattern). As an added twist this pattern also has the addition of rubber legs. Read More »
The Holy Grail stands as an excellent caddis emerger pattern, widely embraced by numerous experienced trout guides in the western regions.
This versatile fly exhibits a remarkable level of natural appeal and is forgiving in its performance, allowing for various fishing techniques such as dead drifting, swinging after the drift, or even stripping it behind a streamer. Read More »