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Welcome to the 4th Annual “Fit To Be Tied” AFC Fly Swap. Here you’ll find the work of 37 participants who
contributed over 800 flies to share with the club and each other. With offerings from a mix of novice,
intermediate, and veteran tiers, it’s clear that the art of fly-tying is alive and well among AFC members!
Our participants this year offer a dizzying array of patterns. Tried-and-true woolly buggers are well represented and will be welcome in anyone’s fly box. American classics like the Mickey Finn are found alongside
the Polar Fry- a more recent streamer pattern from across the pond. Dry fly patterns range from the
diminutive but deadly Griffith’s Gnat to terrestrials like the eminently chewable Hoov’s Cicada. Wherever
your fishing adventures take you this season, you’ll find plenty here to round out your flybox. You’ll also find
new patterns, materials and techniques to try at the tying vise.
Making a contribution to our annual fly swap is no small feat as it requires time, effort, and some expense. In
recognition of each participant’s dedication to the craft of fly tying, each tier is receiving their flies back in
an official club flybox, thanks to idea-man Steve Carrington and logo-designer Brad Norgaard. Consider its
bright color a badge of distinction- put it in your vest and let’s go fishing!
- Donna Walkuski
Fly Pattern Index
Fly
Tier
Tier Index
Parachute Adams
Fly Pattern Index
David Abbott
Tier Index
Arizona Peacock Lady
Fly Pattern Index
John Abott
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Red-bellied Simi-Seal Leech
Fly Pattern Index
Lee Anderson
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Red-bellied Simi-Seal Leech
Materials:
Hook: 2X-3X Standard hook of choice sizes 8-12
Bead: Dyna-Glass/Large Silver Lined Ruby Red (by Riverborn)
Thread: 6/0 matching Arizona Simi Seal color
Tail (Lower Body): - Arizona Simi-Seal (Olive)
Head (Upper Body): - Arizona Simi-Seal (Black)
Tying Steps:
1. Place beaded hook onto vice, Bring thread back to the bend of the hook and tie in a pinch of the Olive-colored
Simi-Seal in the center of the clump.
2. Fold forward facing clump backwards to the rear and tie down.
3. Using the same color of Simi-Seal as the tail (Olive), place dubbing in evenly along thread (I prefer the loop
method using the dubbing tool). Begin wrapping the material forward towards the eye of the hook. Stop when you
covered approximate 3/4 of the shaft from the bend of the hook.
4. Secure this portion of the body with several half hitch knots and cut off remaining material.
5. Slide the bead towards the end of the body where it has been cut off.
6. Using bobbin and threat make several wraps on the other side of the bead to secure your thread to the exposed
shank (eye side of the bead).
7. Using the Black Simi-Seal, dub your thread and forward wrap towards the hook eye.
8. Tie off and tease the body with Velcro.
- Lee Anderson
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Adams
Fly Pattern Index
Bernie Blakley
Tier Index
Hook: # 18 Mustad C49S
Bead: red glass seed bead
Thread: black 8/0
Body: fine red copper wire
Thorax: peacock herl
Put a bead on the hook and
the hook in the vise. Tie in
wire at front and wrap it
with thread down past the
bend. Bring thread back
behind bead. Wind wire back
to bead leaving room for
collar. Tie in a single peacock herl and make three
wraps. Tie off and whip
finish.
Red Brassie
Fly Pattern Index
Roger Cahoon
Tier Index
Phx Urban Emerald
Hook:
Mustad - Size 4
Body:
Chenille – Color Olive
Thread:
Flat Waxed Color to Match Chenille
Tail:
Marabou – Color to Match Chenille
Hackle:
Tan Neck Hackle
Head:
Thread
AZ Graystroke
Hook: Mustad – Size 4
Body:
Chenille – Color Gray
Thread: Flat Waxed – Color to Match Chenille
Tail:
Marabou – Color to Match Chenille
Hackle: Ostrich Plume – Color to Match Chenille
Head: Thread
Woolly Bugger
Fly Pattern Index
Steve Carrington
Tier Index
Bivisible
Fly Pattern Index
Edd Cason
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Bivisible
The Bi-Visible is tied using only hackles-no other materials other than a hook and thread. It’s easy to tie in
quantities for beginners. And should catch fish! When used correctly.
Materials:
Hook: Dry Fly 6-16
Thread: 8/0 Black
Body: Black Cock Hackle
Collar: White Cock Hackle
Tail: Black Cock Hackle Point
Tying Instructions:
Put the hook in the vise and crimp the barb. Lay down a bed of thread from the eye to about the barb in close
turns.Tie in a black hackle point as the tail.
Tie in a black cock hackle on the shaft above the barb just in front of the tail. The hackle fiber should be as long as
the gap width up to twice as long as the gap width. Wind the hackle (touching in each turn) around the shaft 3/4
quarters the length of the shaft. Add further hackles until the hook is covered to the 3/4 length.
Select white or cream or brown cock hackle, catch and wind just in front of the black hackle. Wind in close turns up
to the eye. Secure the hackle tip with turns of thread before removing the excess hackle. Build a small head and
cut off the thread.Use head cement if you like.
The Bi-Visible is a bushy dry fly, so it can be fished on fast, broken water where the dense hackles keep it high on
top of the water. It also makes a good top dropper fly when fishing a lake or in big waves. The fly is appropriate for
brown trout, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and sea trout.
I have been tying a little more than a year. I have not been able to tie as much as I would like but am making more
time as we go (learning how to get Juanita to make shorter honey dew lists has helped).
It is a great thrill to catch a fish on a fly you have tied. The first trout I caught using a fly rod was on a Sunrise
Special I had made at one of the clubs lessons (what a trip it was).
- Edd Cason
Fly Pattern Index
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Llama
Fly Pattern Index
Sam Chapman
Tier Index
Hook: curved scud hook, #16-22
Bead: size to match hook
Body: Antron yarn, tightly twisted to
form a segmented look
Collar: any color nymph dubbing
Serendipity
Fly Pattern Index
Jonathan Croom
Tier Index
Hook:
curved scud hook
Tail:
any feather fiber such as
pheasant or wood duck
Abdomen:
tying thread
Thorax:
dubbing to match body
color
Wing case: ends of tail material
WD-40
Fly Pattern Index
Jonathan Croom
Tier Index
“Cheater” Adams
Fly Pattern Index
A. Eddy
Tier Index
I’ve had three sessions of fly tying
now and really enjoy it.
Foam was easy to use and I would
like to see more patterns with it to
tie in class.
Fish this beetle in water for best
results.
- Elsie
[The pattern for this fly can be found on
the AFC website.]
Foam Beetle
Fly Pattern Index
Elsie Ferguson
Tier Index
Mickey Finn
Fly Pattern Index
Jimmy Fraijo
Tier Index
This fly looks like a lot of bugs.
Since it is weighted, you could
use it in a stream or as a dropper. It just looks very ugly and
buggy, and catches all types of
fish, depending upon how big
you tie it.
I have tied from size 18 to size
12.
I learned this fly a while back
at one of the AFC tying classes.
- Tom
[The pattern for this fly can be found
on the AFC website.]
Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
Fly Pattern Index
Tom Herman
Tier Index
The Teenie Weenie is a wonderful fly
and is so easy to tie, but catches trout,
crappie and sunfish. Use it as a dropper
fly.
Tie it in size 16 to 10. Easiest tied with
longer Pheasant tail material
I learned this fly about 2 or 3 years ago
from someone in the AFC.
Material:
Pheasant Tail
Tie in a short tail of Pheasant Tail.
Wrap forward, twisting the PT onto the
thread.
Tie in the head.
Twist the material down below the
body into about 4 or 5 lrgs, right under
the body.
It helps to put a little head cement on
the body,since the trout tear up the fly
with their pointy teeth.
- Tom
Teeny Nymph
Fly Pattern Index
Tom Herman
Tier Index
Blue Wing Olive
Fly Pattern Index
Jerry Hobbs
Tier Index
Blue Wing Olive
Hook: Mustad 9672 size 12-20
Thread: black or gray 6/0 or 8/0
Tail: 2 olive turkey biots
Body: olive or gray dubbing
Rib: silver or gold wire
Wings: Spirit River pre-cut mayfly wings- gray or blue. Or: cut your own from webby material
Hackle: gray dry fly hackle
1. Tie in 2 biots for tails
2. Tie in wire for rib, then dub body back to 2/3 of hook shank 3. Counter-wrap the rib
4. Tie in wings with figure-4 wraps to separate wings. Add a drop of cement to keep wings in position
5. Tie in hackle and make 3-4 wraps. Tie off and form a thread head 6. Whip finish.
-Jerry Hobbs
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Beadhead Hackle
Fly Pattern Index
Ron Jones
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Beadhead Damsel Nymph
Fly Pattern Index
Dick Kennedy
Tier Index
Beadhead Damsel Nymph
Recipe:
Tie with size 12 to 16 down eye hook either 2x or 3x long.
I used 16 Umpqua TMC 531 hooks (dry fly).
Small gold beads (can use copper also).
Thin gold wire.
Grizzly Marabou Olive.
Olive 6/0 or 8/0 thread and olive dubbing.
Tying Instructions:
Place bead on hook and start thread in mid hook and wrap back to bend.
Tie in some tail feather ends and then the gold wire.
Dub body with olive dubbing to just behind the bead.
Wrap gold wire in reverse direction to dubbing. Make four or five even wraps. Tie down behind the bead with
whip finish.
Why did you choose this pattern for the swap?
It catches fish.
Any tips on how, where, when to fish it?
Early to mid summer in White Mountains.
- Dick Kennedy
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Knee Hackle Special
Fly Pattern Index
Karl Kish
Tier Index
Henry Hoffman’s Knee Hackle Special
Hook: Standard nymph hook debarbed
Tail : Tip of chickabou flume
Rib: Thin wire
Body: Chickabou plumes rolled in to a rope
Collar: Filoplume from base of feather
This entire fly is made from one feather from a hen marabou patch that Henry Hoffman sells as “Chickabou” Thigh
Patch.
It is a general purpose nymph for lake fishing. Colors are to suit your environment but I prefer olive.
Truth in advertising: I have only used this fly a few times since I learned it at the FFF Conclave last August from Mr.
Hoffman himself and it seems to work quite well. I am becoming a fan of soft hackle of late.
- Karl Kish
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
San Juan Wormball
Fly Pattern Index
Gary Lashewich
Tier Index
San Juan Wormball
Materials: Orvis Fly Hooks, item No. 1510, size 16 Curved Nymph hook, York Bend, Straight-Eye 3x. Ultra Chenille,
Dark Brown, Orvis Ultra Thread, Fire Orange
Instructions:
I. Place hook in vice.
2. Tie in orange thread behind the eye of the
hook.
3. Wrap all the way down to just below the
bend, and then bring the thread up to about
even with the point.
4. Cut about 1.5 inch length of chenille and tie
in with 5 wraps, and then wrap another 3 to 5
wraps just in front of where you tied in.
5. Cut a 1 inch length of chenille and begin tie
in forming an x.
6. Repeat and tie in other half of x.
7. Tie in the original piece of chenille in front
of the x, just behind the eye.
8. Wrap another 3 to 5 wraps of thread in front
of the original tie in and whip finish.
9. 1 like to secure my thread that I have tied in various places with clear head cement for strength.
10. You may have to trim some of the ends so the length looks real, don’t trim off too much as you need to singe the
ends with a lighter. Be careful as the chenille burns fast.
I have chosen this fly because of a recent trip to Lees Ferry. I made some San Juan worms and thought a worm ball
would look pretty cool. My favorite colors are a dark brown worm with bright orange thread. You can use what ever
color body you want along with your favorite color thread. This is a simple fly to tie. I have been tying now for
about 3 months. 1 will be in the fly tying classes, beginner and intermediate.
-Gary Lashewich
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Diamond Hair Streamer
Fly Pattern Index
Brian Mazoyer
Tier Index
Fuzzy Wuzzy
Fly Pattern Index
Katie Mazoyer
Tier Index
Fuzzy Butt
Fly Pattern Index
Brad Norgaard
Tier Index
Fuzzy Butt
My pattern is more of a generic style of tying rather than a particular fly. I call it the “Fuzzy Butt.”
The fly consists of a gold tungsten bead, winds of copper wire for added weight, Arizona Micro Sheen in a #8 Dark
Olive, a little Arizona Sparkle Nymph Dubbing in #5 Tan tied in just below the bead, a ribbing of fine gold tinsel, and
5 or 6 strands of pearl crystal flash cut short for the tail- all tied up on a 12 - 14 debarbed hook.
This a variety of the Goldhead Bug and can be tied in a variety of colors, although they all have a gold bead at the
head to give weight and a fish attracting sparkle. Being well weighted, they are designed to be fished deep and
work well both in lakes and rivers. These particular colors were chosen for our high mountain lakes where often
times the fish are deep and very particular about their food choice.
I learned fly tying from Chick Scott and have been away from the vise for several years. I’ve been wanting to get
back to it and this fly swap sounded like just the ticket to get me re-hooked. My first attempt was not much more
than a learning experience and completely overdressed but the rest turned out great. How’d these hooks get so
small?
- Brad Norgaard
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Peacock Callibaetis
Fly Pattern Index
Walt Ordog
Tier Index
Peacock Callibaetis
Materials:
Hook: 2XL nymph sz 10-14 (Mustad 9671, TMC 5262 Daiichi 1710)
Thread: 6/0 or 8/0 black or olive
Tail/Shuck: Mallard flank fibers natural or dyed burnt orange
Hackle: Grizzly dyed burnt orange
Rib: copper or gold wire
Body: Peacock herl
Head: thread
Tying Instructions:
See the club website for tying instructions (Thank you Brian Mazoyer!). I place a small amount of head cement on the
head and the shuck.
I wanted to learn to tie this fly and the swap promised a chance to get help and the all important critique from
senior members. From talking to members and reading about this fly, it seemed like a great pattern for the high
country lakes.
I’ve tied sporadically for a number of years (lots of lulls since my wife and I first took a Class down at John Rohmer’s
shop Arizona Flyfishing). I find it very satisfying to land fish on flies I’ve tied myself.
- Walt Ordog
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Deer Hair Parachute
Fly Pattern Index
Ron Robinson
Tier Index
Deer Hair Parachute
The Deer Hair Parachute: This fly is a modification to the “Hank of Hair”, a fly I tied for the 2007 Fly Swap. It uses
a parachute hackle with the Hank of Hair. Why add this to a very good fly you may ask? The Hank of Hair has very
low wind resistance and can often land with a “plop”. When used as a terrestrial imitation or a clumsy caddis this
can be an added benefit. However, on very flat water like lakes and slow streams this often frightens the trout. By
adding the parachute hackle it becomes a much higher wind resistant fly and lands much more delicately. It also
lands with the wing upright giving a silhouette much like a may-fly. I first started using this fly in the early 1970’s on
the lakes and slow portions of streams in California. It was a very consistent producer.
I like to use the natural gray/brown deer hair but white, cream, black and yellow are also effective at times. The
hackle can be any good dry fly hackle from either a neck or saddle. I find I am using more saddle these days as the
quality has improved many-fold since the 1970’s. I like natural grizzly and grizzly died olive, brown, rust, or black.
You tie the hackle in first extending back over the bend of the hook with the tie-down spot located in the same
place as you will add the deer hair (ref. The Hank of Hair instructions located on our web site). After the hair is
secured and the head clipped, you wind the hackle parachute style and tie-off at the eye of the fly. I add a drop of
head cement to the top and bottom of the tie down area.
When fishing to the evening hatch on most of our White Mountain lakes your catch rate will jump if you add a very
small, unweighted nymph (#16 or #18) about 18" to 24" behind this fly. I like to use a Big Bear Baetis, Tim O’Brien’s
OPT or a standard PT nymph..
-Ron Robinson
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Diamond Hair Clouser
Fly Pattern Index
Ron Robinson
Tier Index
Diamond Hair Clouser
I have used Clouser type minnow flies for years with great success in both fresh, salt, warm and cold waters. In
short, for any fish that preys on smaller fish. I have enjoyed tying flies with all the many types of dubbings and
“hairs” that John Rohmer makes and sells at his shop (Arizona Flyfishing) in Tempe. This fly uses both Diamond Hair
and Big Fly Fibers in place of the standard bucktail. I use it when I want a lot of flash. This could be when the water
if off-color, early in the season, when bass (large mouth, small mouth, white and stripers) are actively feeding.
These “hairs” from John are very durable, don’t hold water (so they cast easier) and give a very sparse appearance
to the fly that Bob Clouser says is important. While the colors given for this tie are generic for bait fish in our local
waters the colors can be altered to imitate just about any bait fish. Currently Diamond Hair is available in 36 colors
and Big Fly Fibers in 16. John is always adding others so it’s always a good idea to drop by and see if he has some
new “hot” colors.
I use many different types of hooks for tying Clouser Minnows as is encouraged by Bob Clouser. The tie submitted
uses a #6 4XL hook along with Silver Holo Diamond Hair as the center flash portion along with silver bead chain eyes.
The belly is Cream Big Fly. I use Silver Minnow Big Fly as the top wind and add Peacock Diamond Hair as a top accent.
The thread is white 6/0 UNI.
You can use Diamond Hair for the entire fly if you like. One of my most favored combinations is Silver Holo in the
center, Silver Minnow on the bottom and Chartreuse on top. You can use all types of metal eyes in different weights
to help give the action you desire.
-Ron Robinson
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Killer Bug
Fly Pattern Index
Ron Robinson
Tier Index
Killer Bug
The instructions for tying this fly can be found on our web page. I developed this fly shortly after moving to Arizona
in 1985. It is a modification of the Super Bug that Larry Stoner, a dear friend from the Long Beach Casting Club that
passed-away several years ago, developed for fishing the warm water ponds in Southern California. Larry selfpublished a number of his special patterns in his booklet, “Lake Flies for Southern California” in about 1980. I
published a number of these flies while I was editor of our newsletter. The original Super Bug used an Eagle Claw
keel hook, most often in size 12. It is a woolly worm style fly with a body of black chenille, a mid-band of green
chenille and palmered black hen hackles. In California we used it most often as a bluegill and bass fly. I found it to
be a very good fly in the White Mountain lakes.
Several things happened that made the Super Bug less attractive to me. First the keel hook was discontinued. We
liked this hook because it fished with the hook point up like a Clouser and it was made with a soft wire. We fished
it in heavy cover and when we did get a snag we could carefully pull the hook so it straightened out and came off
the snag. We could re-bend the hook and keep on fishing. The second problem was getting hen hackle that was
long enough to tie this palmered fly. Finally, I liked a peacock herl body over chenille in our Arizona lakes.
I solved these problems for me by using the basic design of the AZ Peacock Lady with its standard streamer hook,
and the color patterns of the Super Bug. Thus I had the black marabou tail, fore and aft soft black hen hackle (no
need to palmer), a body made of peacock herl and a green band made of metallic braid (size 2 mm). The metallic
braid was used after my initial trials using green glass beads sent me on a hunt for something better. The braid was
easier to use, didn’t break and you didn’t need to be concerned with getting the correct match between bead and
hook size. Thus was born the Killer Bug.
It still is very good on sunfish and bass so have a few when you fish our local ponds. I now tie this fly in #10 - #14
using 3XL and 4XL hooks. I also add a bead head if I want to put a jigging action to the retrieve and fish it a little
deeper. I have also found that changing the band color from green to red, pearl, silver, gold, etc. can increase the
fly’s effectiveness when the standard green doesn’t work for you.
-Ron Robinson
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Ostrich Pheasant Tail
Fly Pattern Index
Ron Robinson
Tier Index
Ostrich Pheasant Tail (OPT)
Tim O’Brien’s OPT: The basic tying instructions for this fly can be found on our web page; see soft hackle pheasant
tail. What makes this fly different from the standard is the use of ostrich herl for the soft hackle and the more
subtle difference with the black dyed pheasant tail and gun metal gray glass bead. It is also more commonly tied in
sizes between #14 - #18.
It’s often difficult to explain why two patterns that are so similar in appearance can result in significantly different
fish counts. That is the case with this fly and other pheasant tail flies. In my opinion, most of the other pheasant
tail flies are good fish-catching flies. This one is special. I have tied it in other color combinations and none have
been as effective as this all black pattern when fished in our White Mountain lakes.
I always use it in combination with another fly. If I am searching an area I often use a #10 - #12 standard bead head
PT with the OPT tied 18" to 24" back in #16 - #18. It also works well behind Woolly Bugger type flies (like a Killer
Bug).
Perhaps my biggest success has been when fishing to the evening hatches using a dry fly and a #18 OPT tied 1 ½’ – 2'
back. I also use it with good success when fished in combination with any damsel fly pattern over weed beds. It is
an exceptionally good sunfish fly in our local ponds. When fished in combination with a Hare’s Ear or Fuzzy Wuzzy
nymph it is almost a sure thing in our city ponds.
-Ron Robinson
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Foam Beetle
Fly Pattern Index
Jim Rondoni
Tier Index
Griffith’s Gnat
Fly Pattern Index
Paulette Roth
Tier Index
Woolly Bugger
Fly Pattern Index
Paulette Roth
Tier Index
Clouser Deep Minnow
Fly Pattern Index
Barney Rouse
Tier Index
Clouser Deep Minnow
Hello Fellow Arizona Flycasters Club Fly Swap Participants!
Each time I have participated I have been amazed at the creativeness of our very own fly tiers. The level of
expertise has often left me feeling inadequate!
The fly I have selected for this years fly swap is the venerable Clouser Deep Minnow.
This fly has been proven successful on a worldwide basis by some of the best fishermen (and women) to be found.
My own personal experience is more limited. I have used this fly successfully for bass here in Phoenix. I have used
the fly successfully on the Lower Black River for smallmouth bass. I have used the fly successfully on the C & H sugar
plantation on the island of Kaui for peacock bass. I used an adaptation successfully for large rainbow trout on the
Alagnak River in Alaska. There, I tied a traditional brown and white Clouser with a red “puffliall” egg attached to the
head of the fly. In my mind it resembled an “egg stealing minnow” as opposed to an egg sucking leech. It worked!
- Barney
[The pattern for this fly can be found on the AFC website.]
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Recipe:
Hook: size 10,curved
caddis
Thread: white 6/0
Eyes: stick-on
Wing: white,olive,and
dark fiber plus 4 strands
of flash.
Gill: red floss
Head: clear 5 min.
epoxy.
I added about 6 wraps
of lead wire to the
hook.
I‘ve never tied this one
before but, it looked
interesting.
-Jim
Polar Fry
Fly Pattern Index
Jim Rubin
Tier Index
Chernobyl Ant
Fly Pattern Index
Bob Rudzinski
Tier Index
Foam Ant
Fly Pattern Index
Terry Sewell
Tier Index
Clouser
Fly Pattern Index
Terry Sewell
Tier Index
Hoov’s Cicada
Fly Pattern Index
Keith Swalley
Tier Index
I first saw the “Peabody”in Fly Tyer magazine. I
love the look of it; I love fishy looking flies and
this one just begs, “Here, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy.” And
it’s easy to tie.
I used a Tiemco 200E size 12.
Wrap the shank with thread from the eye, leaving room for a nice head.
Tie in 6 strands of peacock herl and copper wire.
Form a rope with the herl wrapping toward the
head, making a nice body. Tie off herl.
Wrap wire and tie off.
Tie in hackle and palmer. Tie off hackle and wrap
up with a nice thread head.
What could be sweeter than that?
I plan on fishing White Mountain Lakes over Memorial Day with this baby and I can’t wait to tell
you how it performs : ) It reminds me of a Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle without the Pheasant Tail. The
good news is, I already know how a Soft Hackle
fishes so I’m looking forward to reporting on the
Peabody - love the name!
- Marian
Peabody
Fly Pattern Index
Marian Tallon
Tier Index
Royal Trude
Fly Pattern Index
Dan Varner
Tier Index
Renegade
Fly Pattern Index
Dan Varner
Tier Index
Griffith’s Gnat
Fly Pattern Index
Dan Varner
Tier Index
Stillwater Nymph
Fly Pattern Index
Phil Wagner
Tier Index
Hook: #20 Mustad C49S
Thread: Tan 8/0
Tail: 3 Moose mane fibers, wrapped parachute style with tying thread
Wing: white or gray CDC
Body: Fine gray dubbing
Hackle: Grizzly
I’ve been wanting to tie this fly since I saw
it for two reasons- It looked fun to tie and
fit for sight fishing those skinny, slow back
eddies on the San Juan that are full of big
trout cruising the scum lines.
The moose mane is strong but compresses
well to form the tail. Color the thread with
a black permanent marker a half inch or so
before counter-wrapping back down to create the segmented look. Be careful that you
don’t cut into the thread when trimming
the excess moose fibers. Don’t ask me how
I know this.
- Donna
Adult Midge
Fly Pattern Index
Donna Walkuski
Tier Index
Puffy Ant
Fly Pattern Index
Jon Wallace
Tier Index
Gordon Mankins’ Puffy Ant
Hook size 12 TMC 2457, 14 TMC 2499SP BL, or 14 TMC 2457
Backing (or any heavy duty string)
Tulip “Puffy” 3 D Fabric Paint (or any 3 D fabric paint) in red, black, or green
Grizzly hackle or burnt orange grizzly hackle
Take backing string (leave an inch at the beginning and at the end to hold the string), tie 2 knots close together (no
more than 1 knot distance between knots). Tie a series of 2 knots in the backing string and do not cut apart at this
time.
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Use the Puffy 3D paint to coat the knots completely. The more puffy paint used, the bigger the ant pattern. I use my
vise to hold one end of the string and forceps to hold the other end. This provides the ability to rotate the string at
one end to cover the entire knot with puffy paint. Let the puffy paint dry for 4 hours. (If you use other 3D paint,
add more paint to make the pattern larger). Standard 3D paint will not be heated).
After drying, I use a candle for heat and an aluminum funnel upside down to concentrate the heat to one point. Take
the string with the puffy 3D Fabric paint and hold it over the funnel an inch or more above the opening. Move the
string back and forth and rotate it over the funnel opening. The heat from the candle will cause the puffy paint to
expand. The puffy material expands quickly and will burn if left over the flame too long. Move the string line,
expanding each set of 2 knots creating the ant bodies.
Cut the 2 knot segments apart to make the ant bodies. Place your hook in the vise and tie the ant body, large size
to the back, on the shank in between the 2 knots. Use grizzly or other hackle of your choice and tie it on the shank
between the 2 knots. Take the hackle and wrap 2 or 3 times in a parachute style under the ant body staying ABOVE
the shank. When complete tie off the hackle taking care not to mash it down. Whip finish and use head cement and
you’re done.
- Jon Wallace
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Zug Bug
Fly Pattern Index
Kevin Wenker
Tier Index
Lady McConnell
Fly Pattern Index
Sara Yeager
Tier Index
Lady McConnell aka The Raccoon Fly
Hook: TMC 5215 or other 2XL dry fly hook, #10-18 (I tied a #14)
Thread: Black 6/0
Shuck: Grizzly Hackle tip
Body: Gray dubbing (or your choice)
Shellback: Deer hair
Hackle: Grizzly
Tips for tying: Use two small hackle feathers for the tail. The tail should be the length of the hook shank. I was also
quite generous with the hackle. You may want to cut a “V” into the bottom of the hackle if needed. This will reduce
the spinning of the fly in the air causing your leader to twist.
Fishing this fly: This fly represents a fully hatched midge; the tail represents the trailing shuck. This fly is easy to
see on flat or slightly ruffled lake surfaces. I love fishing still waters. I like to fish this fly one-two hours before dusk
when fish become more active in the summer and feed in the calmer, surface water.
- Sara Yeager
Fly Pattern Index
Tier Index
Hook: TMC 101, #14-20. Do not use downeye hooks (I tied a #14)
Thread: red 6/0 and black 6/0
Body coating: 5 minute epoxy
Hackle: Black
Tips for tying: A rotary vise should be used
when tying this fly. It is extremely important that the portion between the abdomen and the head wraps be left bare. If
this is not done, the epoxy will flow to the
center, and the fly is ruined. After forming
the head, do not allow the epoxy to flow
into the eye of the hook. You must rotate
the fly for 3-4 minutes until epoxy has hardened. After the fly has cured, then tie in
the hackle for the legs. It won’t take more
than 30 minutes for the epoxy to harden,
just don’t be in a hurry.
Tips for fishing: This is used for a sinking
ant pattern. I fish this fly on windy days
around logs, in bogs and structure and among
overhanging trees in still water. This fly is
also great when used as a dropper.
- Sara
TransparAnt
Fly Pattern Index
Sara Yeager
Tier Index
Fly Patterns
Adams ......................................... 6
Adult Midge .................................. 57
Arizona Peacock Lady ....................... 3
Beadhead Damsel Nymph ................. 22
Beadhead Hackle ........................... 21
Bivisible ....................................... 9
Blue Wing Olive ............................. 19
“Cheater” Adams ........................... 14
Chernobyl Ant................................ 48
Clouser Deep Minnow ...................... 45
Clouser ........................................ 50
Deer Hair Parachute ........................ 34
Diamond Hair Streamer .................... 28
Diamond Hair Clouser ...................... 36
Foam Ant ..................................... 49
Foam Beetle ................................. 15
Foam Beetle ................................. 42
Fuzzy Butt .................................... 30
Fuzzy Wuzzy ................................. 29
Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear .................... 17
Griffith’s Gnat ............................... 43
Griffith’s Gnat ............................... 55
Hoov’s Cicada ................................ 51
Killer Bug ..................................... 38
Fly Pattern Index
Knee Hackle Special ........................ 24
Lady McConnell ............................. 61
Llama ......................................... 11
Mickey Finn .................................. 16
Ostrich Pheasant Tail ....................... 40
Parachute Adams............................. 2
Peabody ...................................... 52
Peacock Callibaetis ......................... 32
Polar Fry ...................................... 47
Puffy Ant ..................................... 58
Red Brassie .................................... 7
Red-bellied Simi-Seal Leech ............... 4
Renegade ..................................... 54
Royal Trude .................................. 53
San Juan Wormball ......................... 26
Serendipity ................................... 12
Stillwater Nymph ........................... 56
Teeny Nymph ................................ 18
TransparAnt .................................. 63
WD-40 ......................................... 13
Woolly Bugger ............................... 44
Woolly Bugger ................................ 8
Zug Bug ....................................... 60
Tier Index
Tiers
David Abbott ................................. 2
John Abott .................................... 3
Lee Anderson ................................. 4
Bernie Blakley ............................... 6
Roger Cahoon ................................ 7
Steve Carrington ............................ 8
Edd Cason .................................... 9
Sam Chapman .............................. 11
Jonathan Croom ....................... 12, 13
A. Eddy ....................................... 14
Elsie Ferguson .............................. 15
Jimmy Fraijo ................................ 16
Tom Herman............................ 17, 18
Jerry Hobbs ................................. 19
Ron Jones .................................... 21
Dick Kennedy ................................ 22
Karl Kish ..................................... 24
Gary Lashewich ............................. 26
Brian Mazoyer ............................... 28
Fly Pattern Index
Katie Mazoyer ................................... 29
Brad Norgaard ................................... 30
Walt Ordog ....................................... 32
Ron Robinson ................................ 34 - 40
Jim Rondoni ...................................... 42
Paulette Roth ................................43, 44
Barney Rouse ..................................... 45
Jim Rubin ......................................... 47
Bob Rudzinski .................................... 48
Terry Sewell..................................49, 50
Keith Swalley .................................... 51
Marian Tallon .................................... 52
Dan Varner ................................... 53-55
Phil Wagner ...................................... 56
Donna Walkuski.................................. 57
Jon Wallace ...................................... 58
Kevin Wenker .................................... 60
Sara Yeager ................................. 61 - 63
Tier Index