Blog - Tie a Fly

The Long Hex, this imitation of the nymphs of the giant Hexagenia mayfly follows a 1980s pattern tied for Trout & Grouse Orvis in Willmette, Illinois. That fly probably followed Oscars Hex or some earlier pattern.  I like the trick of folding back Pheasant tail to quickly make both thorax shell back and legs.  When I started fishing in Michigan, the huge live nymphs were the favorite steelhead bait, usually fished under a bobber. I tired various patterns and settled on the Long Hex and the Swimming Hex.  The Long Hex works well drifting near the bottom under a float for trout or steelhead in cold water. Shell backs for Abdomen and Thorax are Weby...

This is a small translucent minnow, another version of various minnows that are some combination of Pearl White and Silver that work well for winter Steelhead in Michigan.  Pearl, White and Silver is dependable color scheme for fish that feed on "White Bait" in fresh and salt water.  Tie this on a down eye wet fly hook to try it as a bead head version. Hook:    #6 or 8  Glow Silver jig head here.  Bead Head:  Silver if doing Bead Head version Thread:  Chartreuse Yellow,  210 or 140 denier Tail:        Thin Glo-Bug color "Egg" is an off...

The Nuke Egg is a simple very durable egg imitation that will generally out fish the more popular Glo-Bug.  I caught a lot of fish on Glo-Bugs until I switched to Nuke Eggs.  The CORE concept of the nuke egg is that it is tied with much less yarn and is much more translucent.  There is a small brighter or contrasting color nucleus tied inside the outer veil. This accentuates the translucent appearance and the 2 colors blend in varying proportions showing a variety of color blends.  This may look more like a real egg or it is just more attractive...

This pattern came from other tiers who tie for the same spots I fish for steelhead in.  Their patterns use a marabou tail which is what you should use if you can not find a Dark or Medium Dark brown shade of some soft fur about 1.25 inches or longer. Hook      Black #6 1/32 ounce jig or any small balanced jig head Head      Black powder coated jig head or Black Bead 5.0 or 5.5mm Thread   Fire Orange 140D or 6/0 Uni,  Leave a short thread butt & tail  Tail      Dark to Medium Brown soft...

The Opal Minnow is a simple and effective minnow pattern that could be applied to many fishing situations such as:  Balanced  Steelhead Jig, Clouser or Jiggy style for many fresh or salt water species, Unweighted streamer also for many species.  I have been using 3 balanced jig versions under a float targeting steelhead and salmon and caught lots of Steelhead and Brown Trout and a big Walleye and Coho   There are only 2 ingredients not counting a Bead and a thread change.  Hook:          90 Jig, Down Eye Wet or whatever is needed Bead:         ...