Whether you’re hitting the local stocked trout stream or making the annual trip up to Oak Orchard and the Salmon River, the Glo Bug is a necessary fly anytime eggs are on the menu. The Glo Bug is super easy to tie and you can whip it up in almost any color or colors that you like, and with a Mcfly foam body, this fly has near neutral buoyancy for consistently clean drifts. Fish it in a two-fly rig (where it’s legal) or drift it on its own, you can fish this fly with confidence anywhere you end up.
While the Zulu Wet Fly’s origins are unknown, the pattern likely developed in Europe in the mid-20th century. Despite its less-than-certain history, the Zulu is known for putting fish in the net. With its dark appearance, the Zulu fishes well in stained water or in the evening, especially on the swing! However, the Zulu is versatile enough to be fished as a nymph in smaller sizes, dead-drifted under an indicator. Follow along as Karl provides step-by-step instructions on how to tie the Zulu Wet Fly.
The Haymaker is a Charlie Craven-designed streamer pattern that sort of looks like a cross between a Wooly Bugger and Pat’s Rubber Legs. While Craven initially designed the Haymaker to be trailed off a larger streamer, it works equally well fished on its own. It is heavy, gets down quickly, and has a versatile silhouette that imitates a variety of prey that trout, bass, and sunfish feed on. Strip, swing, or drift it: Simply fish it!
A must-have fly anytime you’re targeting steelhead and salmon, the Crystal Meth is easy to tie and fish find it irresistible. With an ability to tie it in almost any color with just enough flash, the Crystal Meth does a fine job at imitating roe. Whether you’re chasing trout feeding behind spawning suckers or freshly run chrome, this is a fly that should always be in your box.
They don’t call striped bass “squid hounds” for nothin’, and Bob Popovic’s Rear Floating Squid is a must have anytime calamari is on the menu. Designed so that the body sits just under the surface, while a buoyant head pushes water and creates an irresistible bubble trail every time you strip it. Whether you’re after tuna chowing down in squid in blue water, yellowtails In the pacific, or angry bluefish in New England, this is a fly that you can take anywhere. Tie it in whatever color you like, the Rear Floating Squid should have a place in every one of your salt boxes.
The Iron Lotus is a mayfly nymph imitation that quickly sinks thanks to a smooth-coated layer of Solarez Bone Dry, tungsten bead, and lead wire. The Iron Lotus’ sleek silhouette and segmented body create a natural-looking mayfly nymph, and the red hotspot provides just enough flash and color contrast to grab a trout’s attention.
Designed by Bob Popovics, the Sand Flea has natural motion, a realistic profile, and is incredibly effective anywhere you find sand fleas. Whether you are chasing striped bass in the Atlantic surf, corbina in the Pacific, or pompano in Florida’s wash, this fly does an excellent job at matching these crustaceans.
The Yellow Humpy is a classic attractor dry fly initially tied by Jack Horner in the 40s. He needed a fly that would sit high and dry in the fast-moving streams he frequented in northern California. Word on the pattern’s attributes spread fast, Horner’s Humpy quickly made its way to the Yellowstone region, and the rest is history. The Yellow Humpy is a time-tested pattern that has filled up dry fly boxes worldwide. The deer hair and heavy hackles give the fly buoyancy, so don’t be afraid to run a dropper nymph off its bend. Trust us, this fly floats! Follow along as Karl provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to tie the Yellow Humpy!
The Hendrickson dry fly was first tied in 1916 by Roy Steenrod for a friend named Albert Hendrickson for fishing the Beaverkill River’s famed spring mayfly hatch. The Ephemerella subvaria mayfly and the Hendrickson dry fly eventually became synonymous, and anglers now refer to the insect by the pattern’s name. You do not have to be in the Catskills in May to fish the Hendrickson dry fly; the pattern fishes well as a general attractor in faster pocket water, thanks to a design that allows the fly to sit higher in the water column. Follow along as Karl gives step-by-step instructions on tying this essential Catskill-style dry fly.
The Golden Retriever originated in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in the ’90s. Since then, it has become so popular here in Maine that many anglers associate the fly with the state. Brook trout, smallies, and land-lock salmon all find it irresistible. Once more, the pattern can be fished in various ways: Swinging, stripping, or dead drifting, the Golden Retriever will put fish in the net. Jim Finn initially tied the Golden Retriever on a 3X long streamer hook, but today we will be tying it on a jig-style nymph hook with a tungsten bead.