Flies

Strong Arm Merkin permit pattern, developed by angler Nathaniel Linville and master tier Dave Skok in around 108 Seven crab patterns consistently catch permit across the Caribbean: Del's Merkin, Strong Arm Merkin, Bauer Crab, Flexo Crab, Avalon, Raghead Crab, and the Squimp. These flies have proven themselves over decades from the Florida Keys to Belize...

It's late January, the rivers are locked up or running gray, and if you're like most of us, you've been staring out the window wondering when you'll feel a tug on the line again. Cabin fever is real, but so is the cure: a well-lit vise, a warm beverage, and a few hours of wrapping thread. This week's Tying Tuesday has no central thread (so to speak). We're...

This week's collection begins at the surface with Savage Flies' Snow Fly, a masterclass in visibility design for winter dry fly fishing. Charlie Craven's Bucky's Midge Cluster tackles complex hatches through clever material stacking, offering a smart solution when fish key in on clusters rather than singles. Below the film, the SOS Chironomid from Fly Fish...

This week's selections pair bold attractors with subtle naturals. The Infamous Pink Worm leans into visibility for when subtlety takes a back seat. On the opposite end, the Pheasant Tail Nymph remains a masterclass in restraint—proof that classic materials and clean proportions never go out of style. The Cased Caddis is worth a close look with impressive...

As the seasons shift, this week's collection highlights the versatility required for early-season success. We begin with Davie McPhail's masterful use of Tanuki fur, an innovative material choice for Spring Salmon flies that offers unparalleled underwater movement. For those targeting aggressive predators, the integration of internal rattles in the Rattle...

Glo Bug Yarn Fly | from "A Quick & Easy GLO BUG Pattern" by Mad River Outfitters Winter steelhead love eggs, but the “best” egg pattern isn’t just the one that gets eaten—it’s the one that produces consistent corner-of-the-mouth hookups with less stress. Whether you’re drifting a yarn Glo Bug or fishing a pegged bead, ethics and...

The Clouser Minnow—also known as the Clouser Deep Minnow—is the most useful saltwater (and crossover) bucktail baitfish fly you can tie. It’s sparse, casts easily, rides hook‑point up to avoid snags, and its dumbbell eyes create the jigging drop predators can’t ignore. Below is an SEO‑focused, action‑ready guide from MidCurrent to help you tie...

Sculpzilla January steelhead fishing is a game of inches. In cold water, steelhead rarely chase—so the best winter steelhead flies are the ones that look alive at slow speeds. Two profiles do that better than anything: leeches (thin, breathing motion) and sculpins (bulky, bottom-meal silhouette). This holds true for both Pacific Northwest winter steelhead...

Sunset redfish | photo by perry Quick answer: The best winter redfish flies are small, subtle, and fished slowly. Pack (1) dark Clouser Minnows or Seaducers (mud minnows/cold‑stunned baitfish), (2) weighted shrimp patterns (Kwan, Craft‑Fur, EP‑style), and (3) compact crab flies (Merkin/EP). Use tan/olive over sand and grass, brown/olive over mud, and...

Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph Winter fly tying is the quickest way to prep for winter trout fishing. Cold water pushes trout into slow, deep lies, and their diet narrows to what drifts right to them: midges, small mayflies (Blue-Winged Olives/Baetis), the occasional worm, and easy protein like leeches or minnows. Stock these five winter trout flies in the...