Fly Tying Bead Size to Hook Size Guide

Tagged: beads Blog fly tying

Simplify your fly tying! Our bead to hook size guide helps you match beads to hooks for optimal balance, realistic presentation, and faster sinking nymphs.

The Underrated Workhorse: Pine Squirrel

Tagged: Blog fly tying

Discover why pine squirrel is a must-have fly tying material. Perfect for small streamers, leeches, and nymphs with lifelike, natural movement.

Do Fly Colors Make a Difference?

Tagged: flies

Fly color is one of those topics that gets a lot of attention—and for good reason. Sometimes it seems like the smallest change in fly color can turn a slow...

The Peculiar Life of the Fly Tyer and Angler

Tagged: Guest Blogger

I keep a note on my iPhone filled with fly fishing tidbits—everything from the diameters of Maxima Clear to shopping lists and fly patterns I need to try. Nestled among...

Whiting Farms Grading System

Tagged: dry fly dry fly cape dry fly saddle hackle whiting farms

Whiting Farms uses an Olympic grading system for their dry fly capes and saddles, primarily from genetic lines of birds developed for tying flies. The grading system reflects consistency and quantity, not...

The Mosquito Dry | An Overlooked Summer Fare

Tagged: dry fly dry fly pattern emerger fly pattern fly fishing fly tying mosquito

By Guest Blogger - Clint Bova Mosquito larvae exist wherever there is standing water, and their hatch rates are staggering. From May through October, these insects are prolific across most...

My Journey into Fly Tying: From Fuzzy Fur Balls to Feathers That Fish

Tagged: Blog fly fishing fly tying

By John Swezey, Guest Blogger I started fly tying three years ago. Sick of these extended cold spells, just staring out the window, I needed something to keep busy and...

The Cutting Edge: A Fly Tyer's Guide to Scissors

Tagged: fly fishing fly tying fly tying scissors fly tying tools loon ergo scissors loon outdoors renomed

When it comes to fly tying, few tools are as essential and underrated as scissors. Every fly tyer, whether beginner or pro, knows the frustration of dull blades or poorly...

The Thread of It All: Understanding Fly Tying and Thread Denier

Fly tying is a unique blend of artistry, craftsmanship, and deep knowledge of aquatic entomology. At the heart of our craft lies one simple but critical material: the thread. It...

Stonfo Steeltech Bobbin Review

Tagged: Bobbin fly tying fly tying tools Stonfo

Son Tao reviews the new Stonfo Steeltech Bobbin. This bobbin has amazing micro adjustments to achieve the exact thread tension that you prefer. It is a fantastic bobbin that is a great addition to any fly tyer's desk.

Choosing A Fly Tying Vise

Tagged: flies fly fishing fly tying vises

Fly tying is an art, and every artist needs the right tools. Selecting your first fly tying vise is a pivotal step, as it will shape your experience and success in this rewarding craft. Here's a guide to help you navigate the key factors, features, and price points to consider when buying your first vise.

The Ultimate Guide to the Crackleback

Tagged: Crackleback fly fishing fly tying

The Crackleback pattern has its roots in the Ozark region of Missouri, where it was initially designed by Ed Story, a prominent figure in Midwestern fly fishing circles. Story, a Missouri-based fly tier and founder of Feather-Craft Fly Fishing, was known for his contributions to fly design and his commitment to creating simple but effective patterns. He developed the Crackleback in the 1960s to mimic a wide range of insects, especially in trout streams around the Ozarks.

The Bench