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E. M. Tod's Tummel Style No.1

  You don't see many people tying and fishing Tummel style wets nowadays, but you should! This pattern from the 1800s is still an absolute wonder for trout and grayling. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Wet fly size 14-16 Thread: Yellow silk Body: Thread & peacock herl Hackle: Starling neck hackle E.M Tod's book Wet-Fly Fishing Treated Methodically is a good read and is available from; amazon https://amzn.to/3sWErp8 amazon UK https://amzn.to/3mQLFak Using the links will help support my channel

Pink & Grey Grayling Bug

  The Czech nymph is a well established taker of trout and grayling, this variation is no exception. It excels for winter grayling, but will work all season To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Gamarus/Czech nymph hook 6-16 Weight: Flat lead tape Thread: Uni 8/0 rusty dun Inner rib: Fluo Pink body quill Over rib: 4-5lb mono Shellback: Grey scud back abdomen: Hare's ear & antron blend Hot spot: UV pink ice dub Thorax: Dark hare's ear or squirrel dubbing

Eel Punt

  The eel punt is a great flatwing style pattern developed for striped bass that will work for any of the saltwater bass species. Although it will work during the day, I think it does best tied dark and used as a night fly offering a large profile and strong silhouette. Because of it's length it's also a decent pattern for avoiding smaller fish, they may still attack the fly but you'll tend to hook only the better specimens. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: Gamakatsu SL12 1/0-4/0 Thread: Danville's 210 flat waxed Tail: Bucktail Wing: 4-6 saddle hackles Body: Palmered saddle or schlappen Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Bookmarking or using my link will help support my chan

The Grayling Witch Bug

  The grayling witch is a classic grayling pattern, this modern nymph version takes all the deadly ingredients and brings them up to date in a deadly grayling bug. Ideal for modern European nymphing techniques. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Jig hook size 10-18 Bead: Tungsten slotted (silver or black nickel) Thread: Uni 8/0 black Tail: Globrite no.4 Rib: Small red wire Body: Peacock herl Hackle: CDC dyed medium dun Collar: Peacock ice dub Book of the month 9 is available here: Amazon .com https://amzn.to/3DKxadM Amazon UK https://amzn.to/31BKYul Using the amazon link will help support my channel

Thread Ribbed Hare's Ear

  This little bug is an out and out fish catcher absolutely essential in any Euro nymph box. It's easy to tie and works year round for trout and grayling alike. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Jig hook size 10-18 Bead: Tungsten slotted Thread: Uni 8/0 rusty dun Tail: Globrite no.8 Rib: Globrite no.8 Body: Hare's ear Hackle: CDC Collar: Hare's ear Book of the month 9 is available here: Amazon .com https://amzn.to/3DKxadM Amazon UK https://amzn.to/31BKYul Using the amazon link will help support my channel

Book Of The Month 8

  George Daniel's Strip-Set is probably the most comprehensive text on modern streamer fishing available. It covers gear, flies and techniques and is a good read to boot. Anyone who fishes streamers, whether for trout or other predatory species will benefit from reading this book. Strip-Set is available here Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3kizn9F Amazon.co.uk https://amzn.to/3wvglSo Using the link will help support my channel at no extra cost to you. Book of the month 7: The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up.

Pearly Marabou Muddler

  This muddler pattern will work for just about any species that eats a baitfish in fresh or saltwater. It can be tied in almost any size and fished on any line to suit your waters. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Gamakatus B10s size 10 to 2/0 or SL12 size 2 to 4/0 Thread: White Danville's flat waxed nylon Tail: Marabou blood quill Rib: 20lb Fluorescent yellow nylon Body: Sybai Angel dubbing pearl Head: Spun deer belly hair Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Bookmarking or using my link will help support my channel.

Glorious Mud

 Another old one I wrote for www.sexyloops.com I've just been mixing up a batch of fuller's earth. I much prefer making my own degreaser to using the commercially produced stuff. I always make a few tubs at a time, 1 for each bag so I always have it handy and don't need to worry about forgetting to pack it. When I mention it to people who don't make their own I usually get 1 of 2 responses. Either something along the lines of "I'm not that tight, I just buy it" or "I'd like to make some but I don't know how". There are of course the occaisional, subnormal outliers who say there's no need for mud at all. But we'll forget about them and their nonsense. Now, I can't deny that it's cheaper to mix your own mud, much cheaper. But Leedasink is only a couple of quid for a tub, if you were doing it to save money you'd be better directing your efforts elewhere. I also know some people who aren't too tight to buy a tub, seem

Beadchain Seaducer

  The Seaducer is a real classic saltwater fly. And with good reason, it's absolutely deadly! A very simple tie that pushes water and swims fantastically. It can be tied in any size or colour, both with and without weight to catch any fish that swims. Fish just bite them. To support the channel, get access to the monthly flytying meetings and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Standard saltwater 2-6/0 Thread: Danville's 210 Weight: Bead chain Foul guard: 20lb hard mono Tail: 4-6 saddle hackles depending on the hook size Flash: Standard flashabou Body: Saddle hackle Head(optional): Flashy dubbing Book of the Month 7; The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Bookmarking or using my link will help support my channel.

Small Stream Carp On Fly

  Some more carp on fly action from a small stream in East Japan. The average size of the fish in this small stream isn't very big, but it does occasionally turn up fish into low to mid double figures. What it does have going for it is the sheer number of fish, there are loads and I expect plenty of shots even during short sessions. On this trip, it was unusually hot for the time of year which caused the carp to be highly active. There were a lot of fish feeding on things dropping from the bankside vegetation, and were responding to the fly plopping into the water, so a slightly heavy presentation tight to the far bank seemed to be the go for much of the day. Later I switched to the dumbbell eyed worm and picked up another fish on the way home. You can find fly tying videos for all the flies I used today can be found on my channel. Clouser crayfish https://youtu.be/jGkhlmeV7vQ Carp worm https://youtu.be/owtGI7AeAdA Backstabber https://youtu.be/kXRBAtmEyio To support the

Baby Tarpon Marabou

  A slightly modernised version of the baby tarpon marabou fly listed in Lefty's book. This pattern will work for babies and giants alike, and is certainly a useful pattern for the Yucatan lagoons. Tie them in your preferred colours and sizes to suit your fishing. Lefty's Book is available here - Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3AvAoRJ Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3CzVRts To support the channel, get access to the monthly fly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 1/0-4/0 https://amzn.to/3Da7Gqq Thread: Red Danville's Flat Waxed Nylon 210 denier https://amzn.to/3AfGeFH Tail: Brown marabou flanked with grizzly saddle dyed red https://amzn.to/3l89gCT Flash: Red crinkle mirror flash Collar: Red saddle hackle dyed red https://amzn.to/3l89gCT BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW A

Marabou Mini Toad

  Toads are rightfully recognised as fantastic tarpon flies and this slightly compact marabou version is no exception. It's also a great pattern for many species that attack their prey from below it hangs well between strips and is full of movement, even when at rest. To support the channel, enter the giveaways and join the monthly online tying classes head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers . Materials List Hook: Owner Aki 1/0-4/0 Thread: Danvilles 210 denier flat waxed nylon Tail: Marabou bloods Collar: Webby saddly hackle or schlappen Body: Congo hair or EP fibre Eyes: Black mono eyes BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

Misanthropy

 Another old one from www.sexyloops.com On Monday, I went to a river I'd never been to before. A steep, fast little mountain river, full of pocket water and small plunge pools a population of sea run and resident yamame and a population of rainbows that's a mix between stocked and wild fish. I'm not the greatest at fishing this kind of river, as I tend to spend more time on rivers with gentler gradients, riffles and bigger pools. But I do enjoy it a lot. Tricky wading, sneaking behind rocks and dropping bushy dries or heavy nymphs into the soft spots. The fish might not be that big, but it can be magic. There wasn't much in the way of hatching insects but there were a few stonefly nymph shucks on the rocks and plenty of ants all around the place. Promising! Even though it was running a little high and fast I was quite pleased when I got there and saw that the river seemed to be empty of other anglers. Unfortunately despite about a hundred mile journey, it wasn't lon

Book Of The Month 7: The Practical Angler

  W.C. Stewart's classic The Practical Angler is one of the most important texts on river wet fly fishing. Although now over 100 years old the book contains a lot of information on flies, fly tying and fishing techniques that are still applicable today and deadly once mastered. The book is also an interesting piece of angling history for those who are interested in that aspect of our sport too. So give it a read, try the methods and help keep these traditional fly fishing skills alive. The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com Book of the month 6 is available here https://amzn.to/3jwznCE Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3DuHvM1 Amazon UK To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up.

The Cockroach

  The cockroach is as simple as they come but it's an absolute killer pattern for tarpon and loads of other predator fish species. It's another pattern that Lefty Kreh considered a must have in the tarpon box. That's certainly good enough for me! Lefty's "Book Saltwater Fly Patterns" is available here - Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3AvAoRJ Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3CzVRts To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials List Hook: SC15 size 1-4/0 Thread: Black Danville's 210 Tail: 4-6 Grizzly hackles Collar: Red fox squirrel tail Book of the month 6 is available here https://amzn.to/3jwznCE Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3DuHvM1 Amazon UK

Stu Apte Tarpon Fly

  Lefty Kreh credited Stu Apte with being one of the first to develop these Keys-style tarpon flies and said in his Saltwater Fly Patterns that this fly, should be in every serious tarpon angler's box. It's a great fly, light and full of movement, yet striking enough to catch their attention. It's also a pretty easy tie so you can easily tie a trip's worth in a sitting. Lefty's Book is available here - Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3AvAoRJ Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3CzVRts To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials List Hook: SC15 size 1-4/0 Thread: Fluorescent orange 210 denier Tail: 2-3 yellow neck or saddle hackles with one orange hackle flanking on each side: Collar: Yellow and orange hackles wound together Body: Thread tapered to the eye. Book of the month 6 is available here h

The Black Death Taropn Fly

  The black death is a well established colour scheme for tarpon and can be tied in a range of ways, whether in the keys style like this or as a fiber minnow or bunny it's very effective offering the fish a good highly visible silhouette and a flash of colour. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up or donate at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 size 1/0 -4/0 Thread: Red Danville's flat waxed nylon Tail: Black saddle hackles Flash: Peacock crinkle mirror flash Rear collar: Black saddle hackle or schlappen Front collar: Fluoro Red marabou Book of the month 6 is available here https://amzn.to/3jwznCE Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3DuHvM1 Amazon UK

Tabory Snake

  Lou Tabory's snake fly is a fairly simple tie that produces a phenomenal swimming action in the fly. The deer hair head displaces water causing the fly to shimmy and wobble slightly while also causing turbulence behind to make the soft, mobile tail materials come alive on the strip and breathe on the pause. It's a deadly combination that makes this fly a multi species winner in both fresh and saltwater. To support the channel, join the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 size 2-6/0 Thread: GSP 100 Tail: Ostrich herl -saddle hackle can be used in larger sizes Flash: Flashabou or similar Collar: Marabou Head: Deer belly hair Book of the month 6 is available here https://amzn.to/3jwznCE Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3DuHvM1 Amazon UK

Working Things Out

 Another old one from www.sexyloops.com I was planning to head up into the mountains in search of a mayfly hatch this week, but due to a sketchy forecast I decided to stay local instead of travelling for 2 hours plus. It was nice as I was able to have a bit of a lie in before walking down the river for a crack at some of the local carp. The weather actually turned out better than forecast; 27-29 degrees with a very thin high overcast and spells of clear skies made for great visibility. The carp well well on the feed too and there were plenty of shots to be had. Which was good because I've spent a while turning these fish into spooky pricks. During the first lockdown, I was fishing them near daily once the outdoor exercise allowance came in and I'd been pestering them pretty regularly for years before. One of the main difficulties I've been having is that they seemed to be fairly immune to the otherwise reliable drag and drop presentation. My first work around was long leads

The Pink Thing

  The Pink Thing is an Australian pattern that was devised for barramundi. But don't thin you need to head to the southern hemisphere to get great results with this fly, it works for all kinds of predatory gamefish like largemouth bass, Japanese seabass, striped bass and snapper. Tie some and give them a try! To support the channel, join the monthly tying classes and enter the giveaways, head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers and sign up Materials list Hook: Saltwater hook of your choice I used Gamakatsu SL12 size 4/0 Thread: White210 denier UTC/Danville's Weight: Dumbbells or beadchain of your choice Tail: long slender saddle hackles Tail flash: Krinkle mirror flash or whatever you like Tail support: Bucktail Body flash: Pink sparkle hair or crystal flash Over wing: Grizzle hackle Collar: Fluo pink schlappen Weedguard: 40lb fluoro Book of the month 6 is available here https://amzn.to/3jwznCE Amazon.com http