Cookshill’s Killer streamer

This is a streamer I recently designed for Steve Cooper who runs BFFI (British Fly Fair International ) and is owner of Cookshill fly tying materials. Steve asked me to make a pattern for the BFFI 2017 show. With the show being located in Staffordshire, famous for it bone china and porcelain production, Steve has a commemorative coffee mug made each year, the 2017 mug will be adorned with a photo of ‘Cookshill’s Killer. If you don’t know Steve’s web shop please take a look, some of the best natural materials around, most of which Steve prepares himself… If you haven’t … Continue reading Cookshill’s Killer streamer

How to tie Magic Head Flat wing streamer

Magic head flat-wing An extremely easy yet effective pattern for Bass and salt water sea trout. The modern flat-wing stile of salt water streamer was developed by the American fly tyer and artist Kenny Abrames. He recommends at these streamers are fished on the drift or with a extremely slow retrieve or a combination of both! When fished in this manner the flat-wing creates the illusion of volume with a rippling swimming movement even if they are so slightly dressed. Its important that have constant contact with your stripping hand and the fly line and let the current and wind … Continue reading How to tie Magic Head Flat wing streamer

The Virtual Minnow: A zonker with a twist

The original zonker pattern was tied by the American fly tyer Dan Byford in the 1970s and was quickly recognised the world over, as a big fish fly and extremely easy to tie, yet realistic imitation for most smaller bait fish. The original pattern used a lead or tin sheet that was folded and glued over the hook shank and then cut to shape to make the underbody.   This melt glue body technique gives the zonker a new life. If viewed by a fish in reflected light the shine and flashing of the maylar mixed with the animation of … Continue reading The Virtual Minnow: A zonker with a twist

Monster popper for spring pike – The Bulldozer

Monster popper for spring pike recipe Hook: Ad Sweir Pike # 8/0Tying thread: DyneemaTail: Marabou and crystal hairSkirt: Four large Whiting American hacklesTopping: Peacock herlLegs: Barred rubber legsCollar: Lite Brite and MarabouHead: Three foam pencil poppers welded togetherEyes: Mobile dolls eyes For a long time after I began fishing with poppers, I was constantly disappointed with how little water the pre-made cork and foam heads actually moved – when yanked, after all, optimal  popping, gurgling and splashing is what we are trying to achieve! I then experimented with cutting my own popper heads from foam blocks, but found it difficult … Continue reading Monster popper for spring pike – The Bulldozer

Bug Bond Thunder Creek streamer

The original Thunder creek streamer series came from the vice of American, Keith Fulsher. In the early sixties, not satisfied with the regular head and eye size of streamers, he began experimenting and chose the reverse buck tail technique for his Thunder creek patterns.  This technique involves tying the buck tail, as the technique suggests, the opposite way and then folding it back over the hook shank and tying down to form the head. The simplicity of this pattern and the minimal materials needed to tie it, is fly design at its very best! He achieved his goal, a slim … Continue reading Bug Bond Thunder Creek streamer