The Gurgler

It's springtime! The water temperatures are rising. The bass are beginning to move; it's time for their spawn. Active, hungry, aggressive smallmouth bass:  Can we say fun, fun, fun!

Jack Gartside's Gurgler is a great top water pattern, especially for locating active bass. I tie this pattern in white, chartreuse and black, and I typically tie on an overwing of natural grizzly hackle. The black works well at night and early in the morning, and depending on where you are fishing it may even entice a walleye for some top water action.

I dress my Gurgler a bit differently than the original as I opt for cactus chenille for the body; Jack palmered a hackle feather for the body. I have also tied huge bulky versions on wide gap stinger hooks to imitate frogs with great results!

Heavy thread wraps may cut through the closed-cell foam so be mindful of this when working with this material! Measure a piece of foam that is twice the length of the hook shank and tie it on the length of the shank. Once you complete the body, fold the foam over and secure it directly behind the eye of the hook. I add a few drops of head cement to the foam crease for added durability.  The portion of foam that extends above the hook shank is the part that will cause the commotion in the water. If you want a slider action in the water then simply whip finish after tying down the foam at the head. If you would like the fly to have more popping action, then make wraps in front of the foam. These thread wraps will cause the foam to be angled.  Whip finish once you are satisfied with the angle of the foam.

When fishing this pattern I retrieve it in three different ways:

1. Jerk the rod tip while doing a figure of eight or slow stripping retrieve of the line.  This causes the fly to skip and spit water.
2. Jerk the rod tip and strip one to two feet of fly line simultaneously. This action will make the most noise and disturbance.
3. Cast out and simply lift the rod tip slowly, causing the fly to skim across the surface of the water, making a wake.

I vary the retrieves until the fish let me know how they want it!

It is worth mentioning that this pattern is a multi-species fly; it will catch many different fish that are willing to hit a top water fly. Tie it in the appropriate size for the species that you are targeting and have fun!

Seriously…. what is more exciting than watching a fish explode on a top water fly?

Hooking and landing it I suppose!   ;-)

The Gurgler

Hook: Standard fresh or saltwater hook

Thread: White

Tail: White Bucktail, twice the length of the hook shank. Pearl angel hair on each side with one cock grizzly hackle feather on each side of the tail.

Popper: Closed-cell foam

Body: Pearl cactus chenille

The Melon Ball!

Here is a nasty huge beastie that is awesome for big pike, muskie, cobia, off shore and if you're heading to South America it's a great fly for golden dorado! Just vary the colors for the fish you are targeting. I cast this fly on a 10 wt rod with either floating or fast sinking line. I suggest submerging it in the water to get the entire fly soaking wet before fishing it, this much fur my otherwise take a while to get totally soaked to the point of sinking on it's own.

I named this fly The Melon Ball because of the fl. yellow and the fl. red hair looking so much like the colors of a honeydew and water melon. In the past I used palmered marabou in place of the Finn raccoon, both work equally well. The overall length is approximately 9 inches and has so much action in the water that I want to eat it!

Here is the dressing!


The Melon Ball
Tube: HMH large cut to 3 1/4"
Thread: Fl yellow for the body, red thread for the collar and head.
Tail: Fl. yellow Finn raccoon strip twice as long as the tube. 6 Yellow cock hackles with 10-15 strands of firetiger holographic flashabou.
Body: Fl. yellow Finn raccoon strip palmered in touching turns. Leave enough room a the head for the collar.
Wing: 6 Yellow cock hackles with 10-15 strands of firetiger holographic flashabou.
Collar: Switch to red thread. Fl. red Finn raccoon strip wound three time with touching turns.
Eyes: 3/8 3D holographic pearl eyes, set with zap goo. If the eyes get chewed off, glue a new set on!

Tight lines!
Nikki

Poon fly

I have been asked to post a tarpon fly, here ya go!

This fly is tied in the Keys style of tarpon flies and the one pictured below is dressed on a 2/0 hook. I tie it sparse and after much time at the bench tweaking and testing on the water it has become a fantastic pattern.

I suggest sharpening the hook point at the vise before tying the fly and periodically on the water as well. You want to be sure when you hook up you can get the hook to stick, tarpons mouths are extremely hard to penetrate and a sharp hook is essential! I list the Owner Aki hook as the first option in the dressing simply due to this hook having grown to be used by many as "The" tarpon hook. Whichever hook you may choose to tie the fly on provided it is a strong saltwater hook with a sharp point will work fine.

Tie the tail as far back on the shank near the hook bend as possible and once you are happy with the position of the bucktail make a few parachute wraps to "kick" the tail up a bit. This will also aid in the tail not fouling during casting. When applying the epoxy I make sure to cover all of the tread wraps, the eyes and the base of the white hackle feather slightly. The fish are simply brutal on the flies and this will help create a more durable pattern. And as always, be sure you are happy with the shape of the epoxy before you hit it with the UV light.



Poon Fly
Hook: Owner Aki or Daiichi 2546 in the appropriate size.
Thread: Hot pink
Tail: The tail is comprised of four parts, they are listed here in tying order. A small clump of un-stacked white bucktail that is slightly longer than the shank of the hook. A few strands of pearl krystal flash tied on top.  A small pinch of pink Icelandic sheep hair on each side, half of the length of the bucktail. One natural grizzly hackle feather on each side.
Collar: 2 White cock hackles tied on and wound wet fly style.
Eyes: 3D Holographic eyes, size to match the fly.
Epoxy: UV knot sense covering the eyes and all of the thread wraps.

Tight lines!
Nikki

Smelt tube

Tube: Small tube (I used an HMH for this pattern but it can be substituted for any tube)
Thread: Claret Danville’s 6/0
Weight: Lead wire wrapped 3/4 of the tube, leave room at the front of the tube for the head. A cone can be used in place of the lead wire weight.
Tail: 4-6 strands of Silver holographic flashabou.
Rib: Silver large oval tinsel or large wire
Body: Silver holographic ice dub in a dubbing loop.
Wing: Pearl ice wing.
-One white marabou blood feather wrapped hackle style.
-Small clump of pink Icelandic sheep hair.
-Small clump of purple Icelandic sheep hair.
-Two Medium dun saddle hackles: tie one feather on each side of the wing, do not trim but ends.
Collar: Dun saddle hackle but ends, wound wet style.
Cheeks: Jungle cock flank feathers
Eyes: Jungle cock nail feathers
Topping: 10-15 strands of peacock herl

3D Holographic eyes optional… view full tutorial

Fly fishing for carp!

This video is so well done, the music, the cinematography, all beautiful! I hope you enjoy watching and listening as much as I did. Keep an eye out for the spectacular cast at around the two minute mark.

Enjoy!
Nikki

Fly Earring Giveaway

Here's a chance to win a lovely pair of earrings tied by Hannah Chloe Bedford! Fly Earring Giveaway

The Executioner

Here in northeast the spring steelhead run is in full swing and in the UK and Europe the salmon season is also happening. A great fly that is well worth tying is the Executioner. Tie it on hook sizes appropriate to the waters that you will be fishing. I have seen dressings of this fly where a black cock hackle is palmered over the body, a great way to create a fuller body for the fly. Typically I use red Danvilles flymaster (70 denier) thread to tie this fly and use the floss as I indicated in the dressing below. You can of course tie the entire fly with hot orange thread or floss. The Executioner is such a great and versatile pattern, it can be fished on floating or sinking line. It's also a very good low water pattern. Tie a few and let me know how you get on, or better yet send me a pics :)

The Executioner
Hook: Salmon or spey, single or double. (I tied the one pictured here on a Alec Jackson Spey #3)
Thread: Red
Tag: Fine oval silver tinsel
Tail: Yellow cock hackle fibers
Rib: Oval tinsel
Rear body: Glo-bright floss #4 or hot orange floss
Front body: Flat silver tinsel
Shoulder hackle: Black cock
Wing: Black squirrel or black fox tail
Cheeks: jungle cock
Head: Glo-bright floss #4 or hot orange floss

FLY-FOCUS Trailer from Marcus Sies

Beautiful film!

Fly Tying Tutorial – Extractor Dabbler

Fly Tying Tutorial – Extractor Dabbler

Hook: 6-12 heavy wet
Thread: Black
Tail: Red golden pheasant feather
Rib: Small oval gold tinsel or small gold wire
Body: Flat medium gold tinsel
Shoulder Hackle: Lemon yellow
Throat Hackle: Red golden pheasant feather
Wing: Bronze mallard dabbler style
Eyes: Jungle cock (optional)

The Extractor was created and tied by Michael Rogan of Ballyshannon, and a large number of people still refer to the fly as Rogan’s Extractor. It is a superb fly but sadly, for one reason or another, it has fallen through the cracks and is not as commonly used as it once was. Which is a real shame as the fly will produce fish on those awful days when nothing else will work. After all, Mr. Rogan did name it the “Extractor”!

The fly that I am presenting here is tied dabbler style (the dabbler created by Donald McClearn of Co Down, Ireland), the original fly is dressed standard wet fly style. Either way, the dressing calls for the yellow hackle to be long and “sweeping back”. Regardless if tied traditional or dabbler style it still is a beautiful fly. view full tutorial…

Trout and Salmon Flies of Ireland by Peter O'Reilly

During my last international move I managed to loose the book Trout and Salmon Flies of Ireland by Peter O'Reilly. I'm on the search to replace it and there is a caveat... it's out of print! This has driven the price of this title through the roof. So! I am asking everyone out there to let please let me know if you have a copy that you are willing to sell or if you know someone that has a copy for sale. I greatly appreciate any help in tracking down an affordable copy of this book.

Thanks!

Loads of crazy good things happening!

The past two weeks have been really crazy, and except for the flu, it has all been welcomed craziness! 

I have made progress on getting the web site updated with a shopping cart so you guys can actually buy my flies.  YAY!  It's a work in progress so keep checking back as I will be adding more photos and new flies.  When the site is "mostly complete", I will be adding destination flies presented in a very nice fly box that will last long beyond your trip!  Yeah… I'm all about quality ;)

Over the past few weeks I have been asked by two friends to write a regular column for their sites.  (Thank you both; you rock!)  I do so dearly love writing and photographing flies and tying steps and I will be adding these kinds of posting right here as well.  Just give me a bit of time to get caught up with everything!

In addition to tying, writing and photography, I have accepted a position with Wingshooting and Fishing Latin America as a fishing destination consultant!  I am really excited to be working with clients, helping them make the choice of where to take their fishing (or shooting) holiday this year.  Check us out: http://wingshootinglatinamerica.com/ 

Please let me know any thoughts, ideas, general feedback, etc. that you have about fliesoffancy.com.  I love hearing from everyone and I welcome feedback, so don't be shy!

Until next we meet, I'll leave you with a picture of a finished order of custom Blue Foxy Ladies that I recently completed for a customer.  We met at the riverside early in the morning on this past Saturday and he was hooked up in no time.  The steelies are loving this one!

Happy tying ;)

Nikki