So it has been a while since I posted the last Flies Around the Net. So I’ll try to get back on track with this one. The names below each image are the Instagram handles of each fly tyer. So go check them out and follow them if you are interested in seeing more of their work. Enjoy!
Detailed instructions for tying a variation of Will Dornan’s Water Walker by Tim Flagler.
Material list:
Hook: 3xl size 8
Thread: UTC 140 Denier – black
Tail: Krystal Flash – red
Ultra Chenille Micro – red
2mm craft foam – red
2mm craft foam – black
Underwing: Krystal Flash – pearl
Overwing: 1mm Craft Foam – tan
Legs: Round Rubber Legs small – black
polypropylene yarn – white
While reading through Jake Villwock’s new book Smallmouth Bass Flies Top to Bottom, I came across Ol’ Mr. Wiggley. This fly was designed by Charlie Piette, a guide and shop manager at Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company in DePere, Wisconsin. I posted a video about it many years ago and you can find that below which has Charlie showing how to tie Ol’ Mr. Wiggley.
Jake said in his book that he always has a fly box full of these in various colors, because they work so well for smallmouth bass, especially when fishing is slow. The one above in the photo Jake Villwock tied and it is in dragonfly damsel colors. In his book, Jake also shows that he ties a variation of Ol’ Mr. Wiggley that adds a little to the pattern.
I have also seen other fly tyers posting about Ol’ Mr. Wiggley being a productive fly for them. I can also see this being an effective fly for trout. So I would say if you are wanting to try a simple fly for top water especially for smallmouth or for trout, give this one a try.
Materials list:
Hook: Daichii 2461 size 4
Body: 2mm foam
Underbody: Ice Dub
Tail: Sili Legs (any rubber or silicon legs)
Side Legs: Sili Legs (any rubber or silicon legs)
In this video, Ryan Ratliff at Mad River Outfitters ties a simple guide cicada pattern that will last for fishing the Brood X.
Materials list:
Hook: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger
Black Thread: UTC Ultra 140
Orange Thread: UTC Ultra 140
Black Float Foam: Rainy’s Float Foam
Zap-A-Gap Z-Ment
White EP Silky Fibers
EP Sparkle
Round Rubber Legs
Flymen Fishing Living Eyes Fire
Solarez UV Resin
Comments Off on Ultimate Cicada Pattern for Brood X
From Josh Price:
“This is a video of how I tie a 17-year Brood X cicada fly. This year, 2021, they are set to emerge where I live. If you have ever witnessed this emergence, then you know it is quite a phenomenon. If you haven’t, you are in for a buggy treat–the number of these cicadas is mind boggling. Every species of fish around gorges on these things once they start to fall in the water.”
Materials List:
Mustad CK52S popper hook, Size 4
Ultra Thread 210, fire orange
2 mm foam, black and orange
Small black foam spider body
Web Wing, white or yellow
Push pins
Black and orange sharpie
Superglue
UV Resin
Charlie Craven was working on designing an ant style fly, but it developed into quite a bit more than just an ant.
Really cool fly!
Materials list:
Hook: Daiichi 1167
Thread: 14/0 Red Veevus
3mm foam
Abdomen: Mahogany Brown Super Fine Dubbing
Legs: Black Super Floss
Wing: Blend of Polypropylene Macro may yarn
Blue UV Ice Fiber
Hackle: Badger Dyed or Brown
I wanted to highlight James Waine here on FrankenFly because I have noticed he ties a variety of really nice flies. I like the bugginess and fishy aspects of all of his flies. James wrote a brief introduction to introduce himself and below we posted 10 of his flies with recipes. Be sure to follow James on Instagram @j.w_flyfishing.
My name is James Waine and I was first introduced to fishing by my grandfather at around 10 years old. It was a few years before I really became obsessed but by my early twenties I started fishing more and more frequently.
Over the last few years I have dedicated a lot of time to honing my fishing skills and learning more about fish behavior and how to understand my quarry. Tied into this, is fly tying – its when I started tying my own flies that I really noticed an improvement in my fishing success…
Tying your own flies forces you to understand more about entomology and from there, you learn about the materials used in tying, you learn about different triggers, you learn about movement of flies, about drifts, sink rates, presentation and the list goes on.
I started with tried and tested patterns and quickly learned that I needed to make adaptations to suit the fish in my river. Slight tweaks to traditional patterns soon became completely different patterns.
Above all, my patterns are designed to catch fish, based on my experiences and knowledge. I place a key emphasis on usability; will this fly float like I want it to? Will this hackle provide sufficient motion/vibration etc.
CDC Humpy
Fly 1;
CDC Humpy
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC101
Thread – UTC olive 70D
Body/wing – olive cdc
Thorax dubbing – field mouse
Foam Daddy
Fly 2;
Foam Daddy
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC101
Thread – UTC tan 70D
Body – olive foam
Body – @vicunadubbing tan (loosely dubbed)
Legs – knotted pheasant tail
Hackle – brown cock
Partridge & Peacock
Fly 3;
Partridge & Peacock
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC105
Thread – @semperfli_flytying nano silk, black
Body – peacock herl
Hackle – English partridge (grey)
Orange HotSpot Nymph
Fly 4;
Orange HotSpot Nymph
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC109
Bead – 3.0mm slotted tungsten
Thread – @semperfli_flytying nano silk black 30D
Body – pheasant tail fibres
Thorax – @vicunadubbing UV blend in hot orange
Rib – fine silver
Brown-olive Shuttlecock
Fly 5;
Brown-olive Shuttlecock
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC102
Thread – UTC tan 70D
Body – @vicunadubbing standard tan
Rib – @hedronflashabou micro flash
Collar – brown olive seals fur
Wing – white CDC
Olive Dun Emerger
Fly 6;
Olive Dun Emerger
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC107
Thread – UTC olive 70D
Body – @vicunadubbing fine olive dun
Wing – deer hair dyed cow dung yellow
Ant Brown DHE
Fly 7;
Ant Brown DHE
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC107
Thread – UTC rusty brown 70D
Body – ant brown seals fur
Wing – natural deer hair
Tup’s Indispensable
Fly 8;
Tup’s Indispensable
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC101
Thread – UTC yellow olive 70D
Tail – @whitingfarms grizzly cock fibres (softer hackles from the edge of the cape)
Body – @vicunadubbing fine pale yellow
Thorax – blend of @vicunadubbing scarlet & tan
Hackle – @whitingfarms grizzly cock
Moose Mane Spider
Fly 9;
Moose Mane Spider
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC105
Thread – @semperfli_flytying nano silk olive 30D
Body – @naturesspiritflytying moose mane dyed pale yellow
Thorax – @vicunadubbing UV blend summer duck
Hackle – light ginger/brown
Liberace Hulk
Fly 10;
Liberace Hulk
Hook – @barblesshookcompany BHC106
Bead – @troutlineshop 3.5mm tungsten
Thread – UTC olive 70D
Under-body – UTC opal mirage
Body – UTC clear vinyl nymph rib
Hackle – English partridge dyed olive
Thorax – blend of natural hare’s ear and fl. chartreuse seals fur
James has also done a fly tying video on the Liberace Hulk. I have included it here:
