Page 1 of 2 - Lets talk realistic Frogs Flys..... - posted in Warmwater Species: This has bugged me for years and Ive been out of the fly tying game for at least 15 years now but Im about to get back into it and this my first priority,come up with a frog pattern that is semi easy to tie and acts like a real frog. That is the key,easy to tie and acts like a frog....I dont see one pattern that acts like a frog. If you know one show it to me please! When frogs sit in the water a...

Now, i know i have been teasing many of you guys to where i get my material to craft my own tails.I have got so many people asking me where do i get my stuff. And because i'm a sound guy, i like to help as many fly tyers out there (wink) Pike/burbot mutant We all work on a budget, and lets face it, some materials are just crazy money! So nothing wrong to try to source materials by yourself, and frankly i am so surprised to see so many not making the simple effort to search the various retail sites out there. Ebay is one of my strong favorite! So do yourself a favour and browse stuff on it, buy samples, sometimes its a miss and sometimes you find fantastic materials out there at unbeatable prices! Freestyling is the best! Design , cut, colours! One of a kind! The material i use for my tails is called Ultrasuede microfibre, or faux suede/shammy. You find it in many thickness, but for optimum resistance and movement , i use the 0.5mm. One large sheet cost around 35€ for a mighty size of 137cm X 91cm! If you only tie a few streamers a year this could be too much, but why not sharing with a friend? I tie 100's of predator flies a year, for myself and clients that come for a week at the lodge or for a day guiding, so i have no problem using this much. But the advantage is not only money, it's the freedom that you have, make the tails the size shape and colours that you want.Ok maybe the finish product might not be as nice as some of the ones sold in fly shop but who cares? Certainly not the fish and that's good enough for me! The platypus tail. Golden trout on a forked tail and side fins design. For the moment i get it from South Korea, click on this magical link and let your creative-self take over! No stoping you now! LINK→: 0-5MM-ULTRASUEDE-MICROFIBER If you read this article and the link doesn't work anymore it simply because the seller is gone or the stuff isn't available, just start a new search, you know how its called now! Invent, create, explore, possibilities are virtually endless now! Here's a new video up on Youtube, as usual, please like and subscribe or you will never catch a big fish again... One thing super important when you create your tails is to have a very good pair of scissors. Same thing here, i used for years scissors "made for flytying" and yes there is many great brand out there and good tools, but again the price can be ridiculous! Most value scissors come from the same factories in India,Pakistan or china, just the branding changes and the prices...I use mostly FISKARS now.They have a great hold, and the blades stay sharp for overland they are certainly not more expensive that a mid range pair of scissors bought from your fly shop.. One design that i used for a long time now, side baitfish is awesome! The simple and classic wiggle tail, just look how i include an anal fin to most of my designs, this act as a splash of colour, and a mini-keel to balance the streamer. Keep and eye on the blog for more Tips and tricks about buying materials.

Pike Steamer for Autumn. When designing predatory patterns there are several things to consider and a few key elements that all patterns should have.

Pike Steamer for Autumn. When designing predatory patterns there are several things to consider and a few key elements that all patterns should have.

Pike and musky flies are unique in the world of fly fishing. These flies are larger and flashier than many fly anglers are used to. Often, these flies require specialized fly fishing rigs to cast properly. I have personally found the flies below to be very effective while fly fishing pike and musky. The pictures ... Read more

baby mouse

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Franken Mouse Since my 1st trip to Mongolia in 2008, caught a Mongolian Northern Pike with a big mice pattern at the White lake, North West of Mongolia... I always wanted to tie a big mice / mouse pattern that have a big profile, looks alive on water, plenty of build-in action, light and float forever. I still remember struggled with a wt10, trying to deliver the big mice pattern 50'-60' away... struggling because the mice become so heavy after it's wet.. ( I'm a lousy caster 😜 ) Articulated mice pattern fished in 2008 Years later, the ICE AGE mice pattern went tested with success, tie mostly in foam and synthetic materials ( less water absorbance )... float high, easy to cast and the head rise high just like a mice swimming, splash some water like a gurgle when strip hard...but this pattern have it's limitation... size depending on the hook. ICE AGE Mice 2015, a trip to Mongolia with Hans van Klinken... I notice that Hans was catching plenty of big Lenoks and Amur with extra large rubber legs Bomber ... ask what does the bomber looks like in the fish eye, Hans jokingly say : mice..!!! Yes... it does looks like a mice when it's wet. with the hackle and rubber legs moving in the water. I need a mice pattern that is very hairy..!!! After some study and picking up some ideas from the web, I decided to mix both foam and natural fibers for this pattern. The Franken Mouse uses minimum deer hair, fur and natural fibers possible, to create the profile... minimize any material that will absorb water like hide or skin... inserting in foam for main flotation. Foam mainly tie on top with a large ear profile so that the pattern will always float with hook down. Even when it land upside down, a strip will easily flip it over again. Articulated in 3 sections for more action with 2 hooks connected with a 180lbs hard wire shank. Hmmmm.... guess I've give enough 'life' to the pattern. Material List : Close cell foam Deer Hair Opossum hair White rabbit fur Luminous bead 40lbs mono Suede strip Rubber legs Picture step by step tying instruction: Prepare the thread base Tie in a mono loop Tie in the suede tail Tie in some rabbit fur at the bottom and some deer hair on top Tie in some Opossum fibers on top Tie in the 2mm close cell foam, finish the bottom with some rabbit fur Repeat the steps above until the hook eye ( 3rd section completed ) Connect with the hard wire shank Repeat the similar steps with the deer hair, opossum fibers and foam until the eye of the shank Tie in the rubber legs and finished it with fibers and foam ( body ready ) Prepare the connecting wire on the main hook connect the 3rd and 2nd section ( body ) to the main hook Tie in deer hair and foam ear Stack in the deer hair Trim the deer hair ( head portion ) Drop some epoxy and insert the eye Luminous bead are use for night fishing White belly Cheers and Happy Tying