Dry flies patterns tying instructions by Barry Ord Clarke such as Caddis dry flies, Midge flies, Grayling dry flies, Mayfly dry flies
Continuing the quick flies to tie,the PDQ (pretty damn quick) caddis will not only float all day long, but it also takes under 4 minutes to tie! This very simple technique, uses a single natural CDC hackle and a small … Continue reading PDQ Caddis
This Pale Morning Comparadun demonstrates a little different technique for the regular comparadun wing. This technique results in a slimmer abdomen and greater buoyancy. It’s also an extremely effective pattern for a Heptagenia sulphurea dun. Materials for PMD fly Hook: … Continue reading Pmd fly
Although it requires a little practice, this fur hackle technique produces a much softer presentation that floats extremely well. Here I use natural hare crosscut strip but any fur or hair can be adopted to this method. Hook: Mustad R43 … Continue reading Fur hackle mayfly
A new series of videos for those that are new to fly tying, to accompany my new book, ‘fly tying for beginners’ out later this year. Here I am showing techniques that may look challenging, but are totally achievable with … Continue reading Fly tying for beginner’s – Elk hair caddis
A new series of videos for those that are new to fly tying, to accompany my new book, ‘fly tying for beginners’ out later this year. Here I am showing techniques that may look challenging, but are totally achievable with … Continue reading Fly tying for beginners – Hair wing Dun
A new series of patterns for those that are new to fly tying. Here I am showing techniques that may look challenging, but are totally achievable with a little patience and practice. I have slowed down the tying and explain … Continue reading Fly Tying for beginners – Flying ant
A lovely little pattern, that is tied with only one CDC puff and a few turns of hackle. A quick and easy pattern for the most important terrestrial, no matter where you live, that will float all day long! Tie … Continue reading How to tie a CDC ant
Detached bodied daddy long legs a very simple detached body technique for a good daddy long legs that will float all day long. It can also be applied to all manner of extended bodies. Hook: Mustad C49S # 12 Tying … Continue reading How to tie a detached bodied daddy long legs
A wonderful little pattern that, as the name suggests, is a composition of several better known patterns. This is a simple tie that will cover most dry fly situations when grayling fishing. Hook: Partridge_Sprite S2401 # 14 Tying thread: Sheer … Continue reading How to tie the Heinz – 57 grayling dry fly
One of the lesser known but still effective old grayling and trout patterns, with a couple of nice body techniques with peacock herl. Hook: Mustad R50U # 12 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Black Tail: Goose or duck quill slips dyed … Continue reading How to tie Bristow’s Bug dry fly
Being the most prolific terrestrial on just about every river and still water, this extremely simple but effective parachute ant will not only float high and dry, but tick all the boxes for ant feeding trout no matter where you … Continue reading How to tie a parachute ant
The smallest of the up-winged may flies. Although ideally matched on a # 20-26 hook it is possible to get away with a # 18. A couple of interesting techniques here for the tails and wing. Just change the colour … Continue reading How to tie a Ceanis / Trico spinner dry fly
One of the great Canadian surface flies for salmon and steelhead. As you are probably aware I’m a sucker for deer hair patterns and this is one of my favorites for salmon and sea run browns. Hook: Mustad SL53UBL # … Continue reading How to tie the Green Machine
A quick but effective pattern for one of the last large bugs of the year. An easy tie with a couple of good techniques that can be used in other patterns. Hook: Mustad R43 # 8 Tying thread: Dyneema Hackle: … Continue reading How to tie the October Caddis
Over the past few days I have been tying up an order of several dozen traditional dry’s with mallard slip wings. I have found this extremely therapeutic , almost Zen like! But tying slip wings can prove to be challenging … Continue reading How to tie Mallard slip wings dry fly
A great pattern when the trout are selective. Only basic materials are needed for this ‘ must have’ pattern for the caddis specialist, that can be fished static or as a skater. An easy tie with a couple of interesting … Continue reading How to tie the Poly wing caddis
This extremely popular attractor started life as a parachute Adams with a purple body. There are many interpretations of the purple haze, this is just one of them. Why it works, we don’t know but the fish just love it! … Continue reading How to tie the Purple Haze parachute
This is my super quick hot glue ant, that with a little practice and preparation, takes less that 3 minutes to tie. With this technique you can tie flying ants in all black, red or as my personal favorite here … Continue reading How to tie the hot glue ant
A simple yet extremely effective pattern that is easy to tie, but commands a little technique. A Deer hair drake with a parachute hackle that will float all day long and fool the most selective trout. Hook: Mustad R43 #8 … Continue reading How to tie a deer hair drake
Cul de Canard, Croupion de canard or CDC as it is more commonly known has become one of the most used materials in fly tying, but its not that long ago, that there where only a handful of fly tyers … Continue reading Historic CDC flies, F-fly, Moustique du Jura
The Lady Mc Connell midge is an interesting, but yet straightforward tie that applies only basic materials. An effective still water pattern that represents an newly hatched adult midge. Hook: Mustad R30 # 16 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Black Trailing … Continue reading How to tie the Lady Mc Connell dry fly
A very quick and easy but realistic little stonefly that can be fished as an egg layer or spent. Tied on sizes 14-18 its perfect for the late summer – autumn hatch of needle flies. Hook: Mustad R43 # 14 … Continue reading How to tie a fluttering stonefly dry fly
The most popular dry fly in the world with a spun deer hair body! Could it get any better? The full tutorial on tying the Adams irresistible. Hook: Mustad R30 # 10 Tying thread: Dyneema or GSP and Sheer black … Continue reading How to tie Adams irresistible dry fly
During late summer & autumn large numbers of crane flies begin to hatch and loose the battle against the elements and end their life on the water as trout food. This daddy long legs pattern has quick & easy detached … Continue reading Deer hair daddy long legs dry fly
A very quick and easy, effective dry fly pattern for plant eating carp. The Mustad C67S super strong, egg, caddis hook, is kept afloat beautifully with this combination of CDC and marabou. Hook: Mustad C67S # 8 … Continue reading Grass Carp Salad dry fly
One of the true classic trout flies and without doubt the best known from the Wulff series, first tied by Lee Wulff in the early 1930’s. This version is a little unusual as its tied with a parachute hackle. Hook: … Continue reading Parachute Royal Wulff dry fly
This is my portrait of the late great Norwegian fly tyer, Erling Sand at his tying bench in his fly shop. He spent many hours each day tying flies to order, and building up his shop stock, if you look … Continue reading Verre enn minken – Worse than a mink!
As a little project I’m going to tie up a set of old Norwegian dry fly patterns that have almost been forgotten, but I’m having problems with finding the original recipes. As with the featured image above of ‘The Kaktus’ … Continue reading Traditional Norwegian trout patterns
When the egg layers are active your waders can be a popular place to deposit the eggs! Its that time of year when an egg laying caddis is an essential addition to your fly box! Heres an easy pattern that … Continue reading Egg laying caddis
A great little caddis pattern that has a few nice techniques. The super buoyant combination of CDC and deer hair make this pattern almost un-sinkable. Hook: Mustad R43 # 12 Tying thread: Petitjean SS Olive Abdomen: Fluorescent Green CDC hackle … Continue reading How to tie Midsummer Caddis dry fly
An extremely quick and easy, yet effective pattern that can be mastered by tyers of all levels. This Ugly or scruffy mayfly dun includes a few interesting techniques for making dubbing and applying it. Don’t be fooled by it’s simplicity, … Continue reading How to tie the Ugly May dry fly
Yet another quick and simple, but effective pattern, that requires only basic skills and materials. Fish it not only as a generic Coleoptera but also as something thats just buggy! Hook: Mustad R30 # 12 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Claret … Continue reading Brown & Peacock Beetle dry fly
A truly effective pattern for when those hatches of small caddis are underway, or even just fished as a all round attractor. Simple and quick pattern that pushes all the buttons! Hook: Mustad R30 # 12-18 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 … Continue reading How to tie X-Factor Caddis dry fly
Another winging technique that gives a realistic flat lying wing, ideal for midges and stoneflies. With this technique all you have to do is change the hook size and colour and you can cover most small stonefly hatches. There is … Continue reading Wonder wing stonefly dry fly
The lovely little Welshman’s button or chocolate drop, as it’s also known, is a simple but rewarding pattern to tie. With three nice techniques to learn for the body, wings and antennae. Tie a few up for coming hatch of … Continue reading How to tie Welshman’s Button dry fly
This yellow mayfly dun tutorial has a simple technique I developed for making the Wally wings process quick and simple! Hook: Mustad C53S # 14 Thread: UTC Yellow Wings: 1 Mallard flank feather Tail: Mallard flank dyed yellow Rib: 3/0 … Continue reading How to tie Yellow mayfly dry fly
It’s soon that time of year again! This adult blue damsel is a semi realistic but easy pattern to tie. If you are on the water and the fish are taking them they can be extremely selective, so having a … Continue reading Adult blue damsel dry fly
Another easy tie with basic materials that is guaranteed to catch. An elk hair caddis variant that has a little extra attractor factor. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on AMAZON:Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying tools and materials shop TRIDENT:Buy SIMMS … Continue reading How to tie Hot Butt Caddis
A real quick and easy basic material hatching midge pattern, that can be fished static or twitched to give a little movement. One of my go-to flies for hatches of midge on still water. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on AMAZON:Buy … Continue reading How to tie pay day midge
The RS 2 or Ray’s Semblance 2 is, in my humble opinion, one of the best fishing flies ever designed. If you haven’t fished with the RS 2, you don’t know what you have been missing. Tie a couple of … Continue reading Tying the RS2 fly