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Category: Dry flies

Barry Ord Clarke’s guide to tying dry flies includes step-by-step instructions for crafting a variety of designs such as Caddis flies, Midge flies, Grayling flies, Ant fly, Daddy long legs flies and Mayfly dry flies. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a beginner, mastering the art of tying your own flies can significantly enhance your fly-fishing experience. With Clarke’s expert guidance, you’ll be able to create dry flies that mimic the natural insects found in rivers and streams, effectively attracting fish and increasing your chances of a successful catch.

By using high-quality materials and following Clarke’s detailed instructions, you can craft intricate and durable flies that will hold up against the rigors of fishing. Clarke’s patterns have been honed over years of experience, and are designed to catch a variety of fish species in different water conditions.

In addition to providing instructions for each pattern, Clarke also includes helpful tips and techniques to ensure that your dry flies look and perform their best. From selecting the right materials to finishing your flies with precision, Clarke’s expertise is sure to improve your fly-tying skills.

So why settle for store-bought flies when you can create your own custom designs that will attract more fish and enhance your overall fly-fishing experience? With Barry Ord Clarke’s dry fly patterns and tying instructions, you can take your skills to the next level and enjoy even greater success on the water.

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Hot glue ant fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Hot glue ant fly

September 8, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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 Hot glue ant fly

Deer Hair techniques, Dry flies2 Comments
Deer hair drake pattern tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Deer hair drake pattern

September 1, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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 Deer hair drake pattern

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F-fly, Moustique du Jura

Historic CDC flies, F-fly, Moustique du Jura

August 27, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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

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Lady Mc Connell tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Lady Mc Connell midge fly

August 24, 2020October 4, 2022 barryoc

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 fly. Lady Mc Connell pattern recipe How to tie Lady Mc … Continue reading Lady Mc Connell midge fly

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Video tutorial how to tie fluttering stonefly dry fly

Fluttering stonefly

August 6, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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 Fluttering stonefly

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Adams irresistible fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Adams irresistible fly

July 30, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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. Adams irresistible pattern recipe Hook: Mustad R30 # 10 Tying thread: Dyneema or … Continue reading Adams irresistible fly

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fly tying Deer hair daddy long legs

Deer hair daddy long legs dry fly

July 27, 2020March 9, 2021 barryoc

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

Dry flies, Step by Step2 Comments
Yellow mayfly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Yellow mayfly

July 24, 2020August 24, 2021 barryoc

Yellow mayfly   This is one of those technique that has recently become extremely popular again, after being more or less shelved, for over four decades. The original Wally wing was created by Canadian tyer Wally Lutz in the early … Continue reading Yellow mayfly

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Grass Carp Salad fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Grass Carp Salad dry fly

July 17, 2020August 24, 2021 barryoc

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.   Grass Carp Salad fly pattern Hook: Mustad C67S # … Continue reading Grass Carp Salad dry fly

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fly tying Parachute Royal Wulff

Parachute Royal Wulff

July 6, 2020July 11, 2021 barryoc

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. Royal … Continue reading Parachute Royal Wulff

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Verre enn minken tied by BArry Ord Clarke

Verre enn minken – Worse than a mink!

July 3, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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!

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Traditional Norwegian trout patterns

June 29, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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

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Egg laying caddis tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Egg laying caddis/sedge dry fly

June 25, 2020February 20, 2022 barryoc

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/sedge dry fly

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Midsummer Caddis dry fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Midsummer Caddis dry fly

June 18, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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 Midsummer Caddis dry fly

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fly tying Ugly May dry fly

Ugly Mayfly dun pattern

June 15, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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 Ugly Mayfly dun pattern

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fly tying Brown & Peacock Beetle dry fly

Brown & Peacock Beetle dry fly

June 10, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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

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X-Factor Caddis tied by Barry Ord Clarke

X-Factor Caddis

June 2, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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! X-Factor Caddis pattern recipe Hook: Mustad R30 # 12-18 … Continue reading X-Factor Caddis

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Wonder wing stonefly tied by BArry Ord Clarke

Wonder wing stonefly

May 27, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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

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Welshman's Button fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Welshman’s Button fly

May 25, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

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 Welshman’s Button fly

Dry flies2 Comments
blue damsel dry fly by Barry Ord Clarke

Blue damsel dry fly

May 13, 2020August 20, 2021 barryoc

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 couple of these in your box can be … Continue reading Blue damsel dry fly

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fly tying Hot Butt Caddis

Hot Butt Caddis pattern

May 6, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

Another easy tie with basic materials that is guaranteed to catch. An elk hair caddis variant that has a little extra attractor factor. Continue reading Hot Butt Caddis pattern

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pay day midge tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Pay day midge fly

May 4, 2020October 4, 2022 barryoc

A real quick and easy basic material hatching midge fly 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. Continue reading Pay day midge fly

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fly tying RS 2 dry fly video tutorial

RS2 fly

April 29, 2020September 13, 2021 barryoc

The RS2 fly or ‘Rays Semblance’ is a pattern that was developed in the early 1970s by American angler Rim Chung. Don’t be fooled by this simple little fly, it almost alway produces favorable results when fished. It’s probably best … Continue reading RS2 fly

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fly tying Muddler mayfly dry fly

How to tie Muddler mayfly dry fly

April 28, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

A little variant of an Al Beatty pattern with quite a few good techniques for larger Dun mayflies. A good pattern that floats well, gives a natural footprint and can be twitched to stimulate takes. Continue reading How to tie Muddler mayfly dry fly

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Sepia Para Dun how to tie

Sepia Para Dun pattern

April 23, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

A semi realistic parachute with a couple of nice tying techniques that are useful to use on other patterns. Continue reading Sepia Para Dun pattern

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Hair wing Adams dry fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Hair wing Adams dry fly

April 10, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

This is a very interesting variant of one of the most popular dry flies in the world. Surprisingly this great pattern, that doubles just as well for a caddis fly as it does a mayfly is very little used, especially … Continue reading Hair wing Adams dry fly

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Rubber leg Stimulator fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Rubber leg Stimulator fly

April 3, 2020March 8, 2023 barryoc

A little twist on this modern classic from Jim Slattery. One of the great stimulator fly attractors that you shouldn’t be without when chasing big browns & bows. Rubber leg Stimulator pattern recipe How to tie Rubber leg Stimulator Continue reading Rubber leg Stimulator fly

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Screaming banshee caddis pattern

March 31, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

A great little skating caddis pattern from Charlie Craven, tied with elk hair. The forward wing pushes a whole load of water when its pulled through the surface. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying tools and … Continue reading Screaming banshee caddis pattern

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Quick foam hopper pattern tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Quick foam hopper pattern

March 20, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

You don’t need anything more complicated for fishing a grasshopper. This is a quick and extremely easy pattern that everyone can tie. Just change the colour and size you need to match the hatch. Tied in all black it also … Continue reading Quick foam hopper pattern

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mosquito dry fly tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Mosquito – midge dry fly pattern

March 13, 2020October 4, 2022 barryoc

A simple but effective pattern for mosquito and midge fishing with a couple of nifty techniques and only using Grizzle hackle and moose mane hair. Midge fly Buy MUSTAD signature hooks Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying tools and materials … Continue reading Mosquito – midge dry fly pattern

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CDC Para weld pattern tied by Barry Ord Clarke

CDC Para weld pattern

March 5, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

This is a technique that I have been working on some time now, trying to develope the perfect CdC parachute hackle that doesn’t interfear with the underside of the thorax in anyway and I beleive that this is pretty close. … Continue reading CDC Para weld pattern

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fly tying Vulgata mayfly emerger by Barry Ord Clarke

Vulgata mayfly emerger

March 4, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

This is my take on a great pattern that my friend Svein from Vak, showed me for an emerging mayfly. Here I use a daddy long legs needle to make the detached body. The abdomen hangs and pulsates in the … Continue reading Vulgata mayfly emerger

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Red Panama pattern tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Red Panama pattern

February 28, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

I have chosen this classic fancy French pattern, not only for it’s exquisite proportions and artistry, but also for how many techniques there are to be learned in one single pattern: Tippet tailing, double hackle tip wings, spent & dun, … Continue reading Red Panama pattern

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green drake fly - tied by Barry ord clarke

Green drake fly

February 26, 2020March 17, 2023 barryoc

The Green Drake Fly is one of the most effective dry flies for catching trout, especially in the early summer months. The fly is typically fished during the late afternoon and early evening when the Green Drake mayflies start to … Continue reading Green drake fly

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araloop & CDC March Brown fly

February 21, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

A great river fly with a little different hackle technique, that results in a nice wing effect and realistic footprint. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks Buy VENIARD product on AMAZON:Fly tying tools and materials shop TRIDENT FREE SHIPPING OVER $20:Buy SIMMS … Continue reading araloop & CDC March Brown fly

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fly tying nervous blonde dry fly

Tying up a nervous blonde dry fly

February 14, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

The nervous blonde is a bleached elk hair and CDC adult caddis fly, that can be seen at a distance even in low light. Stripped or twitched through the surface this pattern creates ‘nervous’ water, waking the predator in even … Continue reading Tying up a nervous blonde dry fly

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fly tying Delta wing caddis

Delta wing caddis/sedge dry fly

February 5, 2020February 20, 2022 barryoc

A delta wing caddis with an interesting body technique that can be put to good use in many other caddis patterns. With split wings and a segmented body, that is still encased in the shuck, this is a good pattern … Continue reading Delta wing caddis/sedge dry fly

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Devil bug tied by Barry Ord Clarke

Devil Bug

January 31, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

A remarkably simple pattern, that shouldn’t be underestimated! Known by many names, the Devil bug, Cooper bug and Goofus bug, it can be tied in all manner of colours and with bleached or natural elk or deer hair. Pulled through … Continue reading Devil Bug

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Crackleback attractor pattern tied by BArry Ord Clarke

The Crackleback attractor pattern

January 27, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

This quick and easy, but unusual attractor pattern is one well worth trying. Taking only a few minutes to tie, this high floating bug will bring curious and even lethargic trout up from the depths. Buy MUSTAD signature hooks Buy … Continue reading The Crackleback attractor pattern

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How to tie Braided backing adult damsel

January 20, 2020September 19, 2021 barryoc

A quick and simple adult damsel with an extended body maid from braided backing line. A pattern that works wonders during the summer months on lakes with prolific damsel hatches. Continue reading How to tie Braided backing adult damsel

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Skien, Norway

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