For many of us the thrill of catching trout has passed on to another passion that not only helps nurture your knowledge of fishing on the fly, but also can surpass it in terms of addiction. Hopefully wild trout on the fly.com can help nurture that addiction. Maybe you've been tying for years and have information to pass on to the next generation of tyers, or maybe you are new to tying and are looking for a little help. Here on wild trout on the fly.com's fly-tying tips and tricks page we try to provide as much information to not only help you get started in fly-tying but to also continue to learn and grow as both a tyer and an angler . We provide a forum for fly-tyers and carpooling anglers alike on our poolin' page to try and help foster relationships in the Colorado fly-fishing community.
Mighty Mike midges tied by Colorado angler Mike Miller.
Please feel free to submit your own fly-tying and fly-fishing tips and wild trout on the fly.com will put them on the web (items published at editorial discretion) , when submitting items please remember to include your name, a photo if appropriate, and any other important information you wish to have on the site. We want to make sure the proper people are credited for their work. To submit an item or have any questions at all please email your information to michaelmiller@wildtroutonthefly.com and he will help you in any way possible. Thanks for visiting wild trout on the fly.com.
The sham juan worm is a basic san juan worm pattern tied with chamois instead of chenille. Tying the worm with chamois helps weigh down the fly better than the standard chenille.
Fly Tying-Getting Started Getting started in fly tying can be just as intimidating as fishing a technical river such as the Taylor, but it doesn't have to be. With the right tools and frame of mind fly-tying can be an enlightening way to spend your time when not chasing our piscatoral friends. As fly fishing and tying becomes more popular there seems to be an enormous amount of material available to help you choose the right tools, the correct materials, how to choose the right hooks for specific flies and various other tips and tricks to help you on your way to fly-tying competency.
With so much available, wild trout on the fly.com can help beginners find the right resources to help you learn to tye properly. Over the next few months wtotf will provide links, tips and information to help the beginning tyer get started. From vises and bodkins to hair stacking and hackle wrapping we'll get you going.
Getting Started: Tools of the Trade The flies you tie will only be as good as the materials and the tools you choose to use to create your flies. Check out the following articles to help you choose the right tools to get you going in tying.
Funk's Special by T. Markus Funk. Photo courtesy T. Markus Funk.
Funk’s Special-T. Markus Funk T. Markus of Walden, CO sent us this nice little number and we think you should try it out on some of those high country lakes when things warm up. The Funk's Special was developed by T. Markus Funk on Colorado’s Michigan River which runs through Moose River Ranch. This little wonder has been fished extensively in both the U.S. and across the pond, and it has produced well in most places it has been fished. Materials Hook:#10-#18 Barbless dry fly Thread: Tan 8/0 Uni Thread Wing: Natural deer hair Body: Light olive dubbing Body Hackle: Brown palmered Shellback: Natural deer hair Antennea: Natural deer hair Hackle: Grizzly Note: Try substituting moose or elk hair and modify body and hackle colors to match stoneflies and caddis in your area. Tying Instructions 1 Start thread behind the hook eye and wrap a thread base to the bend. 2 Dub a thin tapered body 2/3 way toward hook eye. 3 Palmer hackle 5-6 evenly spaced wraps through the dubbing starting 2/3 of the way forward and working back to the bend. 4 Tie in a clump of deer hair at the hook bend for the tail, approximately 1½ the shank length. This will form the tail and shellback. 5 Trim the hackle fibers from the top and pull shellback hair forward to tie down in front of the body. Apply a small drop of lacquer to shell back and spread it evenly with your finger. 6 Tie in a a few deer hairs extending over the eye of the hook the same length as the tail to form the antennae . 7 Tie in a grizzly hackle in the front of the body , wrap forward to the eye, tie off and whip finish for a completed Funk’s Special. Fishing Suggestions This is a truly versatile attractor that has done extremely well in the rivers, beaver dams and mountain lakes of Colorado’s North Park and other regions. It can be fished both wet and dry, but Markus says he puts a little floatant on her to keep her ship shape and catching trout.
Do you have a fly pattern you want to share on wild trout on the fly.com? Submit your fly pattern to us at flytying@wildtroutonthefly.com and we'll get it posted for all to see. Thanks for visiting wild trout on the fly.
