Barry Ord Clarke has written, Co written and contributed to more than 30 books about fly tying
One of the classic generic nymphs. Although originally designed to imitate a cased caddis fly, the Zug Bug has proven its effectiveness over many decades. Well worth tying up a few in # 10-16. Zug Bug pattern Hook: Mustad R73 … Continue reading Zug Bug
A quick and effective free swimming caddis larva for those who need something new in their box. Fish it dead drift or a bottom dropper as part of a team. You can also colour the body with water proof markers … Continue reading Free Swimming caddis pupa
As the name suggests, the gravy train midge will give great rewards for little effort. A quick and simple all year round midge that works in most midge fishing situations. Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed! Materials: Hook: … Continue reading Gravy Train Midge
Hi everyone, I have had many requests for flies for framing from my best selling ‘The Feather Benders Fly Tying Techniques’ book so I have been busy tying! If you would like to order any of the patterns in the … Continue reading Flies for framing from my best selling book
A little variant of the LaFontaine classic. An absolute must have pattern if you are fishing still water caddis fly hatches. Here I demonstrate a good technique for getting the Antron shuck in place. Hook: Mustad R30 # 12-16Tying thread: … Continue reading Deep sparkle pupa variant
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. PMD fly pattern Hook: Mustad … Continue reading Pmd fly
Although you may think that they look challenging, heres a quick and easy selection of patterns to tie. I’v chosen five each of the following: Dries, Nymphs, Streamers and wet flies. All these patterns are not only great for honing … Continue reading Easy flies to tie
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 semi realistic and extremely effective, yet quick long horn caddis pupa. Tie it with or without a bead head in sizes 12, 14 & 16. Hook: Mustad C49S # 12-16Bead head: 2.5 mmTying thread: Sheer 14/0 OliveBody: Nymph Skin … Continue reading Long Horn Caddis Pupa
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 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 UV Zonker
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 Hares ear nymph
Although an extremely simple tie, the Zebra midge is an essential pattern to have in your box all year round. Tie it in all hook sizes from a 12 to a 20 and in any colour you fancy, be it … Continue reading How to tie a Zebra midge
A quick and simple, semi realistic pattern to imitate the Mysis shrimp. Ranging from 0.5 to 25 mm long with a slender transparent body. Inspite its small size the Mysis is a very important food item in both lakes and … Continue reading Mysis shrimp
Currently one of the most used tied and nymphs, especially in competition circles. An extremely easy tie for an extremely effective pattern for Euro nymphing. Change the hook size, body and collar colour and even tie it on a jig … Continue reading Frenchie Fly
I would like to thank everyone who participated in the draw. My web master drew a winner yesterday evening and the Fly Photography Gadget will be sent too… William de Jong in the Netherlands. Congratulations William, please send me your … Continue reading And the winner is….
Walt Young’s hares ear pattern, that is one of the simplest but most popular competition jigs. Although an easy tie, there are a few nice techniques in this pattern that are worth learning. Walt’s worm pattern Hook: # 12 Barbless … Continue reading Walt’s Worm
WD 40 fly one of the simplest but most effective mayfly midge larva that you can have in your box. An absolute must for early season fishing! Tie it in sizes from 16 – 22 and in the most popular … Continue reading WD 40 fly
A functional emerger midge pattern with a few nice techniques. Tie it in any size from large buzzers to the smallest hatching or cripple midges in any colour you like. A must have pattern. Hook: Partridge_Sprite S2100 Buzzer # 16 … Continue reading How to tie a Midge emerger
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
Gee! I never thought that it would be this difficult!! This has been going around fly tyers on YouTube, and I thought that it might be a bit of fun, tying a Black Pennell, with a blindfold on! I not … Continue reading Blindfold challenge Black Pennell
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
Pheasant tail black nymph A little, effective variant of the classic that you can fish in both still and running water all year round. A couple of nice techniques here to take further on other patterns. Fly tying materials for … Continue reading How to tie the pheasant tail black
Probably Jack Gartside’s best known pattern from the early seventies. Originally designed by Jack as a soft hackle muddler minnow but over the years has proved to be an excellent all round sub surface pattern. Hook: Mustad R73 Streamer # … Continue reading How to tie Gartside’s Sparrow
One of my favourite patterns for when the fish won’t have anything bright and prefer something more buggy and natural looking. Hook: Sprite barbless streamer S2200 # 8 Tying thread: Dyneema 55 or GSP 50Rib: Fine oval gold tinsel Tail: … Continue reading How to tie a Hares ear muddler
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
The Best Fly Fishing Books You Should Read If you don’t already know these books, here are a few of my favourite fly fishing books to embrace during the cold dark winter months. Some old, some new but all gems … Continue reading 8 Fly Fishing Books my recommendation
The holidays are quickly approaching us, and maybe some last minute gifts are still needed!There is still time to order ‘The Feather Benders Fly Tying Techniques’ The ideal gift for the fly tyer. Here are a couple of video reviews of the … Continue reading Ideal gift for a fly tying Christmas
For me this is one of the very best emerger patterns that can be used for both midges and mayflies. Named after the famous 3 dollar bridge on the Maddison river this little pattern is quick to tie and a … Continue reading How to tie the three dollar dip fly
Black deer hair flies have been used for decades here in Scandinavia for night fishing in salt water for sea run browns, heres one of my favorites, the marabou muddler. Hook: Mustad S74 Salt water streamer # 4 Tying thread: … Continue reading How to tie a black marabou muddler
This variant of the semi realistic Solomon caddis pupa is a relative easy tie and has a few nice techniques to take further on other patterns. Hook: Ahrex FW560 # 12 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown Rib: Tying thread Body: … Continue reading Solomon caddis pupa variant
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
This is my take on one of the all time classic soft hackle patterns that in recent years has experienced a comeback. Hook: Partridge_Spider # 14 Tying thread: Cobweb 6/0 Orange Hackle: Brown speckled partridge Buy MUSTAD signature hooks on … Continue reading How to tie a Partridge & Orange spider
A little jig with a couple of nice techniques for breathing gills and a shell back. Hook: Barbless jig # 12 Bead: 4mm silver slotted Tungsten Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Olive Tag: Red Floss Rib: Fine silver wire Shell back: … Continue reading How to tie the bottom crawler jig nymph
An extremely quick and effective winter pattern for searching pocket water. Try it in smaller sizes with a green or yellow body. Hook: Mustad C49S # 10 Bead: Slotted Tungsten silver 2.8 mm Tying thread: Dyneema or white 8/0 Body: … Continue reading How to tie the Red hot chilli pupa
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
A very beautiful little pattern that is my take on the strawman cased caddis larva pattern. All you need is natural deer hair, a single grey partridge hackle and a little patience, to create this spun deer hair bodied caddis … Continue reading How to tie the strawman
One of John Goddard’s lesser known but extremely effective patterns. The original JG emerger used a brown and grizzle hackle mixed for the parachute here I use only a brown dyed grizzle along with a special technique for splitting the … Continue reading How to tie the JG emerger variant
A little pheasant tail water boatman/Corixa that is super quick to tie and can be fished effectively both wet or dry. Tied only with pheasant tail and moose mane hair. Hook: Mustad R 30 # 14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 … Continue reading How to tie the water bug / Corixa