Flicking feathers

Step by step instructions for a basic mayfly nymph imitation.  This is a generic upwing pattern and the size and color can be adjusted to suit the species you wish to imitate.  Follow me on twitter or instagram @flickinfeathers for more fishing content. Materials used Hook: Nymph hook 8-18 Weight: lead wire Thread: Uni 8/0 Tail: Brahma hen fibres Body: Life cycle dubbing Rib: Thread Thorax cover: Pheasant tail

Step by step instructions for a billfish tube with a  Rainy's turbo popper head. for some serious disturbance.  Tie them in your preferred colour combinations and sizes for the offshore fish near you.  Although it's designed for billfish like marlin and sailfish, don't hesitate to chuck it at Mahi's kingifsh or others that come up on the spread. Materials used Large plastic tube Semperfli Nano silk 3/0 Saltwater flashabou several saddle feathers rainy's turbo popping head 15mm flat tape eyes superglue

step by step instructions for Peter Morse's Klingon bill fish fly.  This fly has proven to be effective in Australia and Malaysia among other locations. Check out Morsie's website here  http://wildfish.com.au/ Materials Large plastic tube Thread: White 3/0 Super hair: white + a contrasting colour pearl flash krystal flash Saddle hackles, white + contrasting colour 10mm eyes Loon UV thick

Step by step instructions for Frank Sawyer's classic.  The pheasant tail nymph has spawned countless variations but the original remains a firm favorite of many.  This fly is very simple, requiring only 2 materials but causes problems for some, hopefully this video will help.  Follow me on twitter or instagram @flickinfeathers for more fishing content. Materials Used Hook:Nymph hook 16-20 Thread: fine redish copper wire Tail/body/thorax cover: pheasant tail fibres

Step by step instructions for the classic bill fish fly Cam Sigler's Big Game Tube.  It's been a mainstay of the billfish fly fishing scene for years and contineus to work for  marlin, sailfish and other pelagic species too.  It's not the most difficult tie, but will make you burn through a lot of materials. Materials used Large diameter plastic tube Thread: 3/0 (I use semperfli nanosilk) Tail:Saddle hackles 12-18 in contrasting colours Flash:Saltwater flashabou Colar: Several plumes of marabou Eyes:large eyes of your choice UV resin Popper: Cam Sigler Popping head www.camsigler.com 

Step by step instructions for a simple but effective nymph pattern that works for trout, grayling and other species too. Adjust the size and  weight to suit where your fishing. Follow me on twitter or instagram @flickinfeathers for more fishing content Materials Used Hook: Knapek Gammarus 8-16 Weight: Tungsten bead Thread: Dark UTC Shell back: Sybai fine flex Body: Ice dub Rib :4lb Nylon

Here are instruvtions for an effective little nymph pattern I've been working on.  It's a quick, easy tie that works well for trout and grayling. Follow me on twitter or instagram @flickinfeathers for more flishing content. Materials used Hook: Knapek jig size 10-16 Weight: Tungsten bead Tail: Egg yarn Abdomen: Straggle string Hackle : CDC feather Thorax: ice dub

Step by step instructions for a simple but effective caddis imitation.  Try this anywhere you'd fish Czech or European style nymphs. Materials www.Sybai.com www.semperfli.net Hook: Knapek Gammarus14-6 Weight: flat lead Thread: Semperfli Nano silk Rib: 4lb mono Shell back: Sybai fine stretch Body: Semperfli straggle string

Step by step instructions for a slight twist on Dan Blanton's flash tail clouser.  This pattern is a killer for anything that eats baitfish from bass, to pike to snook and others. Materials Used Hook: Mustad 32786BLN Weight:Pseudo Eyes Thread: Danvilles Flat Waxed Nylon Tail:Sybai New Sparkle hair Body: Synthetic Dubbing Belly: white fleece or fox tail Wing : fox tail

Step by step instructions for a classic bendback pattern.  These little bait fish are almost completely weedless and great around structure and grass. Tie them in a range of colours of sizes to suit your target species whether its redfish in the grass or largemouth on docks or any other species that eats minnows or other small bait. materials used Hook: Tiemco 411S Thread 6/0 Weight(optional) flat lead Body: Flash material coated with UV resin Wing 1: Bucktail, and flash (Sybai new sparkle hair) Wing 2: Saddle hackles Eyes: 5mm 3D eyes

Step by step instructions for tying a simple reed smut imitation.  Small black flies like this are well worth a place in your box for those days when the fish are preoccupied and won't look at anything bigger. twitter @flickinfeathers Materials used Tiemco 2487BL 20-28 Thread: Black Veevus 10/0 Wing:CDC and a couple of strands of flash Body: Black Superfine dubbing

Number 12 in the fly tying for beginners series is a basic Perdigon nymph.  These are great little nymphs for  Czech, French and other European style nymphing.  You can make them more complex if you want to by adding a rib, quill body or flashback etc. but you'll catch plenty of trout and grayling on the simplest versions. Materials Used Hook: Jig hook 14-16( I used Knapek) Head: Slotted tungsten bead Weight: .015 lead wire Tail: Coq de Leon Body : Veevus 10/0 Collar: Contrasting Veevus 10/0 Wing case: Black nail polish Coating: UV resin

Step by step instructions for a variation of the Ultimate Shrimp.  A truly deadly flats pattern for a wide range of species including bonefish, permit and trigger fish.  Tie some and try them for your next flats trip. Materials used Hook: Gamakatsu SL12 or similar Legs: silli legs Mouthparts:  marabou Eyes: EP crab eyes or similar Weight: dumbell eyes Body: UV resin (optional Loon sparkle powder)

Detailed instructions for a nice little carp bug that's ideal for waters where the fish prefer a smaller fly.  I like small beadhead bugs for carp but wanted something that would fish hook up while still maintaining the small profile. Tie them in a range of weights and colours to suit where you're fishing. Materials used Hook: Owner C5 boilie hook size 4 Thread: Veevus 10/0 Weight: tungsten bead mounted on 20lb mono Legs: black and white barred sillileg Tail: Chickabou Body: Semperfli straggle string Hackle: Whiting Brahma hen

Step by step instructions for a simple but effective subsurface bass fly. I've designed this fly to be a quick and simple tie, try them in various colors and sizes to suit the waters you're fishing for large mouth, small mouth and others.  Materials Used Hook: Tiemco 200R size 4-10 Thread: Danville's flat waxed nylon Weed guard: 20lb Mono Weight: dumbells to painted to match color scheme Tail: marabou, 2 colors Flash: Sybai new sparkle Hair Body: rear 2/3 Sybai spectra flash dubbing front 1/3 SLF Collar: Silicon legs

This series showed up on my suggestions page and I gave it a look, quite well put together and good tips for anyone looking to start out with short line nymphing.  My only bugbear is that they only fished 2 flies, I'm not sure about regs in America, but back home in Scotland I always fished 3 which allows for more control of depth through switching flies and positions

Step by step instructions for a simple but effective CDC dun.  I've tied this version as a PMD but you can change the size or colour to match the naturals you want to imitate. Hook: Tiemco 103BL size13-21 Thread: veevus 10/0 Tail: Coq de Leon Abdomen: Turkey biots Wing : CDC Thorax: Superfine dry fly dubbing.

Detailed instructions for a simple little crayfish imitation that I've developed over the last year or two, it's a quick easy tie and well worth a place in your fly box. Try it for bass, carp and others. Materials Used Hook: TMC 200R size 4-8 Thread: 6/0 Weight. 0.035 Lead wire Tail: Rabbit zonker Body: Blend of Sybai SLF and spectra flash dubbing Rib: Medium wire Legs: Medium round rubber

Step by step instructions for an easy to tie, but deadly nymph pattern. The red tag will work for trout, grayling and others, so should find a place in any nymph fisher's box.  Follow me on twitter or instagram for more fishing content  @flickinfeathers Materals used Hook: Knapek jig 12-16 Bead: slotted tungsten Thread: dark 8/0 Tag: Flame glo bug yarn Body: peacock herl Rib: silver oval tinsel or wire Thorax: black ice dub

Step By step instructions for tying Bob Clouser's famous deep minnow, This fly is absolutely deadly and will catch pretty much anything that swims.   It's a simple pattern, but one that a lot of people struggle to get right, hopefully this video will help. Materials used Hook: Gamakatsu S10S 4H Thread: 6/0 Body/wing: Bucktail and flash Weight: Dumbbell eyes

Step by step instructions for a really effective river bug. Don't be fooled by the name, this fly works for trout, carp and barbel as well as grayling. Find me on twitter or instagram @flicking feathers for more fishing content. Materials used Hook: Knapek Gammarus 8-12 Weight: 2 tungsten beads Thread: Fl orange or pink Rib: silver oval tinsel Body: Glister sparkle dubbing

Step by step instructions for an effective perdigon variation.  These little nymphs are highly effective for both trout and grayling and  well worth their place in any nymph box. For more fishing content find me on twitter or instagram @fickinfeathers Materials Used Hook: Jig hook 14-18 Bead: Black slotted tungsten Thread: Black Tail: Cock hackle fibres Rib: pearl crystal flash Thorax: Red tinsel Thorax cover: black nail polish top coat UV resin

Detailed tying instructions for a simple but effective baitfish fly  that works well in both fresh and salt water try them for fry feeding trout in lakes or seabass from the beach and many more. Materials used Hook: Gamakatsu S10 S4H Thread: Fly master plus Body: SF blend or some other fibre you like Head: foam dowel Eyes: 3D eyes of your choice

After our Sailfish trip to Rompin in November I've had a few questions about the equipment needed to tackle old stick face. The following  information is by no means definitive, but should prove useful to anyone looking to try their hand at sails on fly.  And you should all be looking to! Rods, Reels and Line  You're looking at #12 outfits here. We all have our preferred brands and models, and on this trip there were rods from Sage, Redington, TFO and Colton on the boat.  Although all of them got it done, the Colton blue water stick which was a bit heavier seemed to be putting more strain on the angler than the fish at times but had excellent lifting power near the boat, it's probably a great stick for fighting tuna. Obviously you need a reel to match your rod, quality brands that you trust and have confidence in are a must.  I mostly used a Tibor Gulfstream loaded with 300yards of 65lb backing and a Rio GT line for poppers. The guide's choice was a ...

Step by step instructions for a basic Wooly Bugger.  This classic streamer is a great pattern for beginner tyers and can be used as a jumping off point for other streamers and variations. Materials Used Hook: Long shank streamer Thread: 6/0 Tail: Marabou Flash: Crystal flash or similar Rib: Wire Body: wooly bugger chenille Hackle: Cock Saddle hackle

Step by step instructions for the Frenchie. This deadly variation on the pheasant tail originated in the competition scene, but is well worth a space in any nymph box. Follow me on twitter or instagram @flickinfeathers Materials used. Hook: 12-18 jig (or standard nymph hook) Bead:Gold tungsten bead to suit. Thread: Fluoro Pink Tail: pheasant tail fibres Abdomen: pheasant tail Rib: copper wire Thorax: UV pink ice dubbing (chartreuse , orange and red are also good)

In part 2 of the deer hair primer. In this installment I'm looking at choosing hair and the hooks I like to use. Hopefully you'll now feel a bit more confident in the materials you'll be using before we move on to simple techniques in the next part.

Detailed instructions for Bob Clouser's floating minnow.  This fly excels in situations where fish are reluctant to hit a noisier surface fly but still want a surface silhouette. Designed for smallmouth bass but highly effective for predatory gamefish the world over.  Slide it slowly across the surface or twitch it near structure and hold on. Materials Used Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 (but use what you like) Thread: Flat waxed nylon Throat: Red crystal flash Body/tail: 2 colours of Bucktail with flash between Head:2 Foam bug bodies Eyes: flat tape eyes Top coat: UV resin or epoxy mixed with fine glitter.

Guerilla Bug Detailed instructions for a tasty little surface pattern from Australia.  The Guerilla bug is  a pretty snag proof little surface fly that works well for bass, panfish,  mangrove jacks and bream among others.  Tie some up and give them a try  in your local woodpile. Materials Used Hook: Gamakatsu B10S Thread: Flat waxed nylon Tail: Marabou Flash: Sparkle Hair Body: Spectraflash dubbing Rib: 12-15lb Nylon Head: Foam Spider body Legs: Sili legs

Detailed instructions for the Iwai minnow. This is a Japanese variation on the mylar minnow theme and is a firm favourite for Japanese seabass. It's also effective for other game fish, especially ambush predators. Materails Used Hook: Gamakatsu B10S Thread: Flat waxed Nylon Tail: Flashabou Body: Mylar tubing over a foam cylinder Throat: Red EP fibres Eyes: Black plastic bead chain or glass beads fixed on Nylon Coating: Liquid fusion or similar tough flexible glue

Step by step instructions for a simple but effective articulated streamer.  The double bugger, or monster bugger as some call it, is essentially the basis of many modern articulated streamers and a good starting point for anyone looking to build a collection of patterns. The materials listed below are a suggestion and can be changed/subbed to suit your needs. Materials used: Hook :Varivas 2500V SE size 4+2 Thread: 140 denier Daniville's  Tail: Marabou Flash: Sybai tinsel hair (flashabou) Body: Ice Dub Rib: Copper wire Hackle: Schlappen Articulation: 26lb beading wire and some glass beads Weight: lead eyes Head: Sybai Nymph dubbing Rubber legs

I've added a series of videos on deer hair work. The first one looks at the tools you'll need if you want to start tying deer hair bugs.

No need to pay for EP claws when you can knot up your own in a few seconds.

Step by step instructions for a variation on the double deceiver.  A modern classic, this fly will catch any predatory fish, just adjust the size to suit. Materials Used Hooks: Gamakatsu B10s (rear) Varivas 2500V SE (front) Thread: 6/0 flymaster Tail: schlappen or saddle hackles Flash: Sybai Sparkle Hair Body: Polar Chenille Belly: Bucktail Back: Bucktail Articulation: 26lb beading wire and glass beads. 3D eyes UV resin

Step by step instructions for Kelly Galloup's Zoo Cougar. This streamer is a modern classic and really deadly for large trout, bass and others. Tie some and try them. Find me on Twitter or Instagram @flickinfeathers for more fly tying and fly fishing content. Materials Used Hook: streamer 2-6 Thread: GSP Tail: marabou Body: pearl braid or dubbing Under wing: Calf tail Wing: Mallard flank Head: Deer hair

Step by step instructions for a simple but effective nymph pattern.  This is a basically a variation on a Walt's Worm but can be very effective in slightly darker or more colored water. Follow me on Twiiter or instagram @flickinfeathers for more fishing content. Matrials Used Hook: 12-18 jig hook Thread: Veevus 10/0 hot orange Rib: Pearl Crystal Flash Body:Natural squirrel fur

A few months on and it's time for the full review of the Redington Behemoth.  This real really is excellent value for money and performs well above it's price point.  Despite a few minor issues it's a definite 5 out of 5 stars from me on this reel.  Nothing at the price point is going to match it.