Flicking feathers

  A few people have asked me about dyeing materials after I have mentioned it in my videos, so I thought I'd make a short video describing the process. It's pretty simple and it won't take you long to get to grips with it. I'd encourage you to give it a try because it opens up all kinds of material options that you just can't get from a shop You'll need: An old pot Something to stir/pick up material Rubber gloves A basin A colander for draining and drying loose feathers/dubbing An old towel Acid dyes- I use Veniard usually but Jaquard are also good White vinegar or acetic acid For more detail you might want to look at AK Best's book " Bleaching & Dyeing Natural Fly Tying Materials". If you decide to get it, please consider using one of my links. Amazon UK https://amzn.to/33IyyhA Amazon.com https://amzn.to/2RMYZ2V To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying sessions, members only content and enter giveaways head to https://www

The liquorice allsort is essentially a claret bumble muddler variant that originated in Scotland's central belt and has become popular among loch fishers as far afield as the Shetland islands.    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. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 or 170 size 8-12 Thread: Black Uni 8/0   Tag (optional): Flat silver, gold or red holographic Tail: Glo brite no.10 Rib: Silver, gold or red wire Body: Claret seal fur Hackles: Black & Claret cock hackle Head: Blue Deer hair To support the channel, get access to the zoom tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to   https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers   or  paypal.me/flickingfeathers  

  Here's a simple little crayfish pattern that will take smallies all season long. Although I primarily use this fly in rivers, it will also work well in ponds and lakes for largemouth bass , perch and others. Materials list Hook: Varivas 2500V-SE size 6 Thread: Olive uni Weight: Marabou Legs/feelers: Barred sillilegs Body: Hare's ear wiglle dub Rib: 4-6 lb mono Shell: Craft felt 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 and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers

  This simple little crayfish imitation is great for spring smallmouth bass and continues to work basically all season long. It's durable, easy to tie and offers an ideal silhouette for the bass. Tie it in various weights to creep it along the river bed in slower pools and eddies. To support the channel, join the online tying classes and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers ​ and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Material list Hook: TMC 708 size 6 & 10 Thread: Brown uni Weight: Lead dumbbells Tail/wing: Red fox squirrel tail Body: Craw dub or similar shaggy dubbing Legs: Sililegs BOTM 7 The practical angler is available here: https://amzn.to/3kLyBSW Amazon UK https://amzn.to/3EZxneY Amazon.com

Geoffry Bucknal's Footballer is a fantastic buzzer imitation dating back to the 1960s. Here, I've substituted the more durable and readily available superhair for the original horse hair but otherwise this is the same deadly stillwater. Materials list Hook: All purpose medium weight size 12-18 Thread: White or grey 8/0 Abdomen: 1 stand each, black and white ultra hair or horse hair Thorax: Mole fur Head: Peacock herl To support my channel,get access to the monthly online tying sessions and enter the giveaways head to  https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers  and become a patron or support through  paypal.me/flickingfeathers

 To support the channel and get access to the online tying sessions, as well as being entered into the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up

  This Month's recommendation is Patsy Deery's excellent book Irish Mayflies: A Flyfisher's Guide.  It's packed with patterns, lovely pictures and comments on materials, dyeing  and fishing.  it's on amazon here https://amzn.to/3e7Ap5I Last month's book, Smallmouth  is available here https://amzn.to/32Zf1ZS To support the channel and get access to the online tying sessions, as well as being entered into the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up

Another of my early pages for sexyloops.com Recently I've been thinking a lot about how I explain things on video or while teaching. This naturally got me thinking about how fly fishing media explains stuff, and the more I read, watch or listen to the more I'm convinced that not all of it is really designed to help.  For example, I recently watched a video about streamer heads- something that is actually quite simple to understand and describe. However, the explanation given was convuluted and full of what seemed like deliberate use of technical sounding (but inaccurate) jargon. This really turned me off, and I made me think that either the "teacher" didn't really understand what he was teaching or was trying to prevent actual learning, small wonder that beginners are often intimidated when confronted with this style of instruction. Compare this to excellent streamer videos from people like Kelly Galloup or Nicklaus Bauer that are simple, matter of fact and easy t

An early article of mine from sexyloops.com "How do I get better at tying flies?" Practise! Probably the most common question I get asked when tying at club nights, shows or through the YouTube channel.  Unfortunately, my answer is rarely what the questioner is looking for.  There aren't really any shortcuts-you need to practise, pay attention to what you're practising and be critical of your work. "But I tie lots of flies, I'm practising all the time!"  That's not really practising. If you really want to improve something in your tying work on that. When I started learning to tie flies and I wanted to learn a technique, say slip wings for dries or elk hair caddis wings, I would tie sets of wings down a long shank 8, cut them off and start again until I was happy they were all good enough. Then I'd tie some split wing dries for my box and they'd all be good enough.  There are any number of videos and images around the internet for you to use

Phantom flies are a common stillwater food source, being 2 winged flies they strongly resemble midges as adults but the larva are somewhat more transparent than bloodworm. To support my channel and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Fulling Mill all purpose medium or similar size 14-18 Thread: Uni 8/0 fire orange Body: Clear polythene Under body: Silver tinsel with a band of orange thread in the middle Thorax: Orange dubbing

The deep blue is a great cold water anchor fly for European style nymphing that works well for both trout and grayling. To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Jig hook size 12-14 Bead: 3.8 mm or larger slotted tungsten Thread: Uni 8/0 black Tail: Fine blue tinsel Body: UV buzzer wrap Rib: Semperfli ice blue wire

This super simple little fly is essentially a perdigon variant that is super quick to tie and catches trout everywhere. Try it in various weights or colour variations. To support the channel and be eligible for giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Jig hook 12-20 Weight: Slotted tungsten bead Threads: Uni 8/0 rusty dun/olive (use other contrasting colours you like) Tail: Coq de Leon Rib: XS coloured wire Abdomen: Lighter thread Thorax: Darker thread

Instructions for a very effective bumble variant, This pattern is a great option any time heather flies are around, even if they aren't falling while you're fishing but the fish have become used to eating them. To support my channel and enter the giveaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron or support through paypal.me/flickingfeathers Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10-14 Thread: Fire Orange Uni 8/0 Tag: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Body: Seal fur; rear 1/3 fluo orange, front 2/3 black Body hackle: Black chinese cock Head hackle: Orange guinea fowl

Step by step instructions for a killer little bonefish shrimp. https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers sign up to enter the giveaways and get access to members only content Materials. Hook: SL11-3H or equivalent size 8-4 Thread: Tan, Gotcha pink or Orange Flat Waxed Nylon Weight: bead chain or dumbbells Mouth parts : marabou Hot spot: crystal chenille collar:Ginger or tan hackle Legs: sillli legs body: dubbed craft fur

https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers Step by step instructions for another effective fly for coastal seatrout. The Vaskebjørn could be taken for a shrimp or a baitfish and is certainly worth having in your box. Materials Used Hook: B10S 2-6 Thread: Tan Weight: Black bead chain Tail Large grizzly Body:  1/3 red seal fur, 2/3 natural seal fur Body hackle: Large grizzly Head: Glo-brite No.4

Instructions for a highly effective Icelandic  salmon and seatrout fly. The haugur is a simple tie and is a great fly to help you make your way into tying salmon flies. Head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and become a patron to help me cover the costs of the channel, get access to members only content and giveaways. Alternatively by bookmarking the Amazon link below and using them for your Amazon shopping you can support the channel at no extra cost to you. Amazon.com    https://amzn.to/2Av4dY6 Amazon.co.uk  https://amzn.to/2OybrgI Materials list Hook: Single, double or treble of your choice Thread: Hot orange 8/0 Tail: Black hair (arctic runner)  & electric blue crystal flash Body: Mirage tinsel (originally pearl) Throat: kingfisher blue hackle Wing: Black hair (arctic runner) & electric blue crystal flash

Step by step instructions for the Brook's Sunray Shadow. This incredibly simple salmon tube is absolutely deadly and should be in every salmon angler's box. Head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers and sign up to support the channel , get access to members only content and giveaways. Alternatively by bookmarking the Amazon link below and using them for your Amazon shopping you can support the channel at no extra cost to you. Amazon.com    https://amzn.to/2Av4dY6 Amazon.co.uk  https://amzn.to/2OybrgI Materials used Tube: 1/8 inch OD plastic tube Thread: 8/0 Under wing: white bucktail Over wing: black goat or dog Topping: peacock herl

Step by step instructions for Capt. Blados' Crease Fly.  This is a very effective surface fly that also works on sunk lines too. Tie them in various sizes and colours for all kinds of species from smallmouth bass to tunas. Follow me on instagram or twitter @flickinfeathers  or head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers to support the channel. Materials used Hook: Mustad salt water popper, Gamakatsu SP11-3L3H or your choice Thread: 3/0 Tail: Bucktail + flash (I use Sybai tinsel hair) Body: 3mm foam coloured with markers Eyes: flat tape eyes Coating: UV resin, epoxy or Loon Hard Head