Flicking feathers

  Trying something a bit different. This is a Zoom conversation between Nick and Paul about distance casting and a whole lot besides. I hope you find it interesting. 😆

  The Conker has been in my carp box for almost 15 years and is one of my favourite carp flies. It's versatile and can be tied big to represent a goby or crayfish for predatory fish, or scaled down to be more like a nymph. Carry them in different sizes, colours and weights to suit where you are fishing. It also makes a great bass or bonefish pattern. To support the channel, get access to 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: Kamasan B200 size 6 & 10/Gamakatsu SL11-3H size 2 Thread: 140 Weight: Brass or lead dumbbells or bead chain Legs: Medium round rubber Body: Thread or shaggy dubbing Back/tail: Rabbit zonker (magnum for size 2) Amazon.com Orvis guide to Carp Flies https://amzn.to/3SPMX3K Orvis Guide to Carp Fishing https://amzn.to/3doWfDI Carp on the Fly https://amzn.to/3SYLb0u Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq ...

  Jim Pankiewicz's Black Betty is a great, subtle carp fly that it is ideal for situations when you want something a bit slimmer but still with plenty of movement. The dumbbells and compact body allows it to sink quickly making it perfect for rivers, I generally prefer to tie them with bead chain for still waters. Have a look at Jim's blog for more on the pattern and other carp related stuff http://themrpblog.blogspot.com/search?q=black+betty To support the channel, get access to 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: Kamasan B175 size 6 & 10 Thread: Black Weight: Brass dumbbell in black nickel or black bead chain Tail: Medium round rubber Rib: Gold wire Body: Peacock herl Hackle: Pheasant rump dyed black Amazon.com Orvis guide to Carp Flies https://amzn.to/3SPMX3K Orvis Guide to Carp Fishing https://amzn.to/3doWfDI ...

This is the pickup and laydown practise drill for flycasting. Cleanly picking up flyline from the water and delivering it to a back target is one of our essential fly fishing skills. This exercise allows us to play with different line length adjustments as well as angles. More videos and casting tutorials are available at www.sexyloops.com

 Another one I wrote for sexyloops.com Since getting back from Okinawa there's been little in the way of fishing going on for me. First I was avoiding wet wading the rivers until the holes I'd rubbed in my feet had healed a bit and then we got hit with a typhoon which scuppered any hope of getting out. This let me catch up on some reading and luckily coincided with a new book arriving. Kirk Dietrich's excellent Tying Bugs. I've been facscinated by warm water bugs since I first saw them in a fly tying book I was given as a kid. They were so different from anything you saw in Scotland at that time. Bulging, leggy monstrosities of cork and feather. Even the names grabbed the attention; Boogle Bug, Sneaky Pete and the Round Dinny. I loved them instantly. When asked about American fly tying many people probably think of things like Catskill dries maybe Wullfs, but these aren't that unique really. But bass bugs? A unique style of fly that is pure, audacious Americana. Whe...

This scruffy number is a great choice for carp. It can be tied in different sizes and weights to cover a range of different fishing situations from subsurface "shoppers" in still waters to tailers in fast river riffles and everything in between. When visiting a new water or your not sure what they're eating, the shaggy soft-hackle woolly worm is a good bet. In fact it's as close to a universal carp fly as you'll get! To support the channel, get access to 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: Kamasan B200 size 6-14 Weight: Lead wire (adjust weight to suit) Thread: Uni 8/0 Tail: Rabbit, marabou or wool Body: EP shrimp dubbing mixed with Senyo's shaggy dub Rib: Small wire (any colour you like) Body hackle: Whiting hen neck Shoulder hackle: Any hen hackle or partridge Amazon.com Orvis guide to Carp Flies https:...

  The Mr. Wiggly is a fantastic topwater choice for smallmouth bass in low water or when fishing pressure has made them wary of louder, more intrusive poppers. This blue version is great if there are damsels and dragonflies around, but tie it in any colour scheme you like. To support the channel, get access to 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: Varivas 2500V-SE size 4 & 8 Thread: Uni 6/0 Tail/legs/wings: Grizzly flutter legs/silli legs Body: 2mm foam Underbody: Spectra dubbing Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq Tiemco ceramic bobbin holder: https://amzn.to/3IkDOeP Renomed scissors: https://amzn.to/3NL5oCT Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3OYmrCG Cement applicator: https://amzn.to/3OT4ENx Amazon UK Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3bIw4qC Applicator: https://amzn.to/3AvHF6I

  The girdle bug is about as simple as they come, but it's been catching fish for decades and will often be a better choice than more modern or realistic options whether fishing for stonefly feeding trout, smallmouth bass, carp barbel or others. You should have this fly in your box! To support the channel, get access to 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. Material List Hook: TMC 5262 or similar size 2-10 Thread: 140 denier Weight: lead wire similar in diameter to the hook wire Body: Chenille Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq Tiemco ceramic bobbin holder: https://amzn.to/3IkDOeP Renomed scissors: https://amzn.to/3NL5oCT Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3OYmrCG Cement applicator: https://amzn.to/3OT4ENx Amazon UK Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3bIw4qC Applicator: https://amzn.to/3AvHF6I

  Don't be fooled by how simple this fly is, it's absolutely deadly for all kinds of still water species. The classic colour is black, but you should also carry these in olive, brown and claret. To support the channel, get access to 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. Material list Hook: 3-4x long streamer hook (e.g. TMC5263) size 2-8 bent to shape Weight: Lead wire Thread: 6/0 to match body colour Tail: Marabou Flash: Fine crystal flash (optional) Body: Dubbing or yarn Hackle: Soft hen hackle to match body colour. Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq Tiemco ceramic bobbin holder: https://amzn.to/3IkDOeP Renomed scissors: https://amzn.to/3NL5oCT Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3OYmrCG Cement applicator: https://amzn.to/3OT4ENx Amazon UK Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3bIw4qC Applicator: https://amzn.to/3AvHF6I

 Another oldie from www.sexyloops.com I just got home from my week in Okinawa, to say things didn't go as planned would be about right. My mate Takaaki decided to join me but had never been saltwater fly fishing and although I like to fish alone, I was pretty glad of the company over the week. Things started out encouragingly if not exactly well. Conditions were great on day one, a slight breeze and barely a cloud in the sky. After breakfast I walked the 30 yards to the beach and saw a decent trigger tailing in the shallows, flicked a squimp in front of him and gave it a small strip, got the eat and hooked up within 10 minutes of finishing breakfast. Unfortunately within about 13 minutes of finishing breakfast the trigger had bitten me off. A wee while later I jumped on a bike and went to another flat for the last hour of the flooding tide got a shot at a pair of bar jacks but didn't get the eat. Ten minutes later a ray came along with 3 mid sized GTs on it's back. It was a...

  This little bug should be in every warm water fly box. Don't be fooled by the name, it's not just for panfish, and will readily take bass of any species when tied in the appropriate sizes. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel, enter the giveaways, and get access to members only content. Material list Hook: Tiemco 200R size 6-12 Thread: Uni 8/0 Weight: (optional) lead wire Abdomen: Chenille Wing: Squirrel tail Thorax: Chenille Legs: Round rubber Amazon Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq Tiemco ceramic bobbin holder: https://amzn.to/3IkDOeP Renomed scissors: https://amzn.to/3NL5oCT Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3OYmrCG Cement applicator: https://amzn.to/3OT4ENx Amazon UK Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3bIw4qC Applicator: https://amzn.to/3AvHF6I

Craig (Sam) Belvins' one bug is great little popping bug that is fairly simple to tie, buoyant, and durable. It's ideal for river smallies and is equally at home targeting big panfish while still being substantial enough for a largemouth. It really should be in every warmwater flybox! You can find him on instagram @samsonebug Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel, enter the giveaways, and get access to members only content. Material list Hook: 2-3x long size 4-8 Thread: 6/0 Tail: Marabou Flash: Crystal flash Body: 1/4-3/8" foam cylinder Accent : 2mm foam Legs: Medium round rubber Marking: Permanent markers Amazon Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq Tiemco ceramic bobbin holder: https://amzn.to/3IkDOeP Renomed scissors: https://amzn.to/3NL5oCT Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3OYmrCG Cement applicator: https://amzn.to/3OT4ENx Amazon UK Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3bIw4qC A...

  Tom Nixon's Pigboat is a fantastic fly for black bass, perch and other structure oriented fish. It works great when allowed to sink on a tight line near docks, brush and vertical rocks, before being twitched slowly back. Alternatively it makes a fantastic dropper when fished behind a popper or other surface pattern. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel, enter the giveaways, and get access to members only content. Materials List Hook: Mustad 3366, Gamakatsu B10S or similar size 2/0-2 Weight: (Optional) Lead wire Thread: 210 denier UTC or Danville's Body: Thick chenille Hackle: Palmered Saddle hackle Collar: Medium round rubber (1 whole strip)

  This pattern from Ward Bean is a great choice for all minnow eating gamefish. tie them in various sizes and colours to match the forage species in your area. For rivers they tend to work better when weighted with dumbbell eyes rather than bead chain. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel, enter the giveaways, and get access to members only content. Materials list Hook: Mustad 3366 size 1/0- 6 . For large species or saltwater change to something stouter Thread: Uni 6/0 Weight: Bead chain or dumbbells Tail: Hen hackles 2-3 matched pairs Belly & shoulders: Marabou Body: Hen hackles Weed guard: Hard mono or wire Ward Bean's site is below http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com /welcome.asp Amazon Renzetti vise: https://amzn.to/3NQuvEq Tiemco ceramic bobbin holder: https://amzn.to/3IkDOeP Renomed scissors: https://amzn.to/3NL5oCT Loctite gel: https://amzn.to/3OYmrCG Cement applicator: h...

 An old one from www.sexyloops.com I managed to get a couple of those largemouth bass down the park on dry flies yesterday after I finished my last practice session and I flew down to Okinawa this morning, eager to get on the water. I was pretty pleased as the plane landed, conditions were good and the airport front lagoon looked amazing. I had planned to have time to grab an early lunch and jump on the ferry, with a view to be fishing by about 3 o'clock. Everything was falling into place, my bag was the first one on the carousel and the quick bus was waiting as I walked out the terminal. Perfect. The ferries however are not running to the usual schedule so I've ended up with 5 hours to kill in sleepy Ishigaki. So rather than fishing I stretched out my lunch in a local brewery bar that wouldn't serve alcohol due to corona virus measures, tried to buy a salted ice cream-a local speciality that is also unavailable. The situation did give me a chance to grab an extra bottle of...

  The terrible tentacles is essentially a fly rod versions of the soft plastic tube lure. It's a great choice for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fish it lightly weighted to waft in front of or over cover ,alternatively add a bit more weight for creeping around boulders or other hard structure. This fly also does well as a popper dropper or fished on the drop under an indicator. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel and get access to members only content. Material list Hook: Stinger of your choice Weight: Lead wired to suit Thread: Uni 6/0 to match body colour Tail: Silli legs or jig skirt Body: Woolly bugger chenille or similar Veil: Sheep fleece. Weedguard: 20lb hard mono or wire

  Scott Sanchez's Double Bunny is a fantastic single hook streamer that works for everything from trout to tarpon. Although this is quite a long video, they're actually quite an easy tie and you end up with an incredibly mobile but durable fly. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel and get access to members only content. Materials List Hook: Varival 2500V-SE size 0-6 or Saltwater hook of choice Thread: Uni 6/0 Weight: (optional) lead wire Body: 2 rabbit zonkers or magnum zonkers for large sizes Adhesive: Tear Mender or similar waterproof fabric glue Flash: Flashabou or crystal flash Eyes: 3D eyes 6-10mm depending on hook size. Weedguard: (optional) 20lb Hard mono

  This is my answer to the problem of making a fly rod worm fly that actually behaves like the conventional angler's soft plastics. By adding some buoyancy in the tail and a nylon core to get a little stiffness I've made the Stand-up Guy, a fly that can be fished like a ned rig or shaky head to great effect. I'm sure it will also work well for perch and other species. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel and get access to members only content. Materials List Hook: Allen 90 degree jig hook size 1/0 Thread: Uni 6/0 Tail mount: 17lb hard nylon + 7mm booby eye Weight: Large groovy twin eyes Body: Woolly bugger chenille Weed guard: 20lb hard nylon

An old one from www.sexyloops.com   Rainy season is finally over and things are starting to happen here; I heard my first cicada of the year the other day and when I was down the lake side for some casting practice the water was high but had cleared up nicely. While I was practising I spotted a lot of bass, both smallmouth and largemouth, cruising around in singles and doubles which made nice targets for practising quick shots and direction changes. One thing that was interesting to see was how the bass reacted to the big hookless popper splatting down. None of them had a go at it, but that was hardly surprising 7 inches of NYAP looking thing on straight 60lb is probably not quite subtle enough to fool them. They did however, invariably come and give it a good inspection - sometimes even fish I hadn't spotted were coming from quite some distance away, certainly further than I would have expected - there were some that spent a solid 30 seconds  with their nose almost touching t...

  The classic bendback is still one of the best flies for targeting fish in heavy cover, whether that be mangrove snook, redfish in grass or largemouth around docks. These flies will come through just about any kind of cover better than most other options.. and fish just eat them! Head over to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel and get access to members only content. Material list Hook: Your bendback hook of choice, here I used the Ahrex curved shrimp, but will also bend my own Thread: 6/0 Veevus Body: Mini braid coated with resin Wing: Bucktail Flash: Flashabou weave or whatever you like

  The Gartside Bass Bug is a simple fish catcher. Although it is essentially a topwater fly, it can be pulled below the surface or even fished deep on a sunk line to good effect. head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel and get access to members only content. Materials used Hook: Gamakatsu B10S or your preferred stinger hook Thread: 210 UTC or 3/0 Danville's Tail: Marabou Body: Flash dubbing Hackle: Webby saddle hackle or Schlappen Back: Foam Weed guard: hard nylon Rubber legs can be added if you wish.

The triangle bug is a great little topwater pattern for bass and panfish. it can be fished singly or to suspend a subsurface dropper pattern. head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers to support the channel and get access to members only content. Materials used Hook: Triangle bug hooks or your preferred 2-3x long ring eye hook. https://www.panfishonthefly.com/hooks/triangle-bug-hooks Thread: 6/0 or 140 denier Tail: marabou or hair like calf tail or squirrel tail + flash Legs: round rubber or silli legs Body: 2mm foam cut to shape  

  In amongst the more familiar patterns I've been tying, I posted a few non-standard flats flies online this week. Much as I expected, the reactions were mixed. It's amazing to me how many people obsess over insect imitations, but don't seem to consider the range of prey species available when it comes to flats species. Perhaps it's because a shrimp, crab or baitfish will generally cover most bases. But anyone who's ever fished the flats has experienced inexplicable refusals on seemingly perfect presentations. And I'm not just talking about permit and bastards, it happens even with the "easy" species. I'm sure there's an element of conditioning that happens with this. For example, if the bonefish flies you see all follow the Charlie/Gotcha profile that become imprinted as the format for a bonefish fly. Those patterns then get used more often and not necessarily because they are more effective flies in a given situation, but through confidence a...

  The Clan Goat is a great bumble pattern it works for browns, rainbows as well as loch running seatrout and salmon. Keep these on the big side for blowy days with a big wave. To support the channel, get access to 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: Kamasan B175 size 6-10 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tag: Silver tinsel Tail: Golden pheasant crest dyed hot yellow & Globrite no.5 Rib: Flat silver tinsel Body: Black seal fur Body hackle: Black & Red Chinese cock Head hackles: Red guinea fowl, black hen then blue guinea fowl

  I love the Irish style stimulators, I love the Mate McLaren, this fly is the best of both. It's an absolutely deadly pattern on the point or bob either to pull fish to the team or to keep the droppers higher in the water. Tie some smaller, less heavily dressed patterns for calmer conditions. To support the channel, get access to 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: Kamasan B170 size 10-12 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tail: Chartreuse deer hair Rib: Silver wire Body: Black seal fur Body hackle: Black Chinese cock Wing1: Black deer hair Wing 2: Black & silver sparkle hair Wing 3: Light tipped or dyed ginger roe deer Front hackle: Furnace hen

  The Storm Crow is a great wet fly that works for browns, seatrout and salmon in the lochs, it essentially follows the form of an Irish mayfly but in a different colour scheme to give a great mobile swimming fly with a strong dark silhouette. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the givaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers and sign up. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 6-10 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tail: Crimson pheasant tail fibres Rib: Oval silver Body: Black seal fur Body hackle: Black & dark claret Chinese cock Head hackle: Natural French partridge tied long

  Just a short one from me this week, I didn't do any fishing or much of interest. Rainy season has finally got going here and it's a good one. We had 140mm overnight on Friday and about 150 on Saturday after a week of constant rain. No way The rivers were going to be fishable even though the weather was lovely on Monday. It would have been perfect spotting weather if the river hadn't been running like chocolate milk. So I decided to spend an extra couple of hours practising. It was the first time I've lifted a 12 weight since last summer and, if I'm honest with myself, I regretted not getting it out to practise with earlier. I always forget how different the 12 seems to the lighter gear. I spend most of my time using an 8 and don't really find there's much of a transition when I go the 10, but the 12 always needs a bit of work to get to terms with. Especially when it's for flats fishing with big flies. The offshore work I do in summer still needs practi...

  The Stone Goat is a great bumble pattern it works for browns, rainbows as well as loch running seatrout and salmon. Keep these on the big side for blowy days with a big wave. To support the channel, get access to the monthly tying classes and enter the givaways head to https://www.patreon.com/flickingfeathers or https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/flickingfeathers and sign up. Materials list Hook: Kamasan B175 size 6-10 Thread: Black Uni 8/0 Tail: Golden pheasant topping Rib: Oval gold Body: Dark claret seal fur Body hackle: Black & magenta Chinese cock Head hackle: Blue guinea fowl tied long