One of the horrors of being thoroughly enamored of a hobby is the fits of giddy that result when something attempted actually lives up to the original idea, versus flaming out midway through the development process. My ambition was to develop a dubbing that mimicked the superfine aquatic mammal fur we’ve reserved for dry flies, yet was cheap [...]

Tying these fuzzballs reminded me of all the notes on competition hooks and their efficacy I’ve been scribbling over the last couple of seasons. I find myself having so many defective hooks of late, and at thirty-five cents a hook I keep trying to make up for poor quality control and fix them with tying [...]

We call it “Teardown Wednesdays” – where midweek shows and no massive oil spill has occurred on your favorite waterway, no invasive species is blissfully munching its way through your garage roof, and your daughter appears interested in an egghead for once, versus “SPaZ” the class psycho-killer … … and you breathe that long sigh [...]

It’s the only part of the fly that works entirely against you, whose real value is the spot of color it leaves when closing the gap between tail and wing. It absorbs water, resists drying, and if ever there was a case for “less is more” this is it. Dry fly dubbing is comparatively humdrum [...]

1.08. Artificial Fly. Any fly constructed by the method known as fly tying. 1.11. Artificial Lure. An artificial lure is a man-made lure or fly designed to attract fish. This definition does not include scented or flavored artificial baits. California’s Fish & Game regulations weren’t crafted for guys like me. I represent the ugly underbelly [...]

I’m reminded how much of the skill is in the hands of the tier, and how much of the finished look is in the materials he selects, and for many flies the mechanical attention to proportions simply cannot fix a bad choice of materials and their effect on the final look. Which is why we [...]

Tackle Trade World has a small article outlining the rapidity by which European salons adopted hair extensions and the demise of Europe’s stock of Grizzly hackle (PG 46) – due to the hair extension craze. The only real news is the article documents that which I’ve feared most, they’ve moved from saddles to necks … [...]

Remember that especially gentle and reassuring voice I used when I mentioned, “don’t fear dyeing your precious fur and fibers, as everything is useful for something …” Boy was that a windy. I’m pawing through a drawer full of goodies and see that dusty plastic bag scrunched under all that marabou, and naturally figured it [...]

“Why, no. No problem at all, Mrs.. McGillicutty, you know how I adore looking after Froo-Froo. Yes, Ma’am, most men would consider it offputting to have to tote around a lap dog, rest assured I am secure in my masculinity …” Society has all manner of non-complimentary names for it, but I like to think [...]

I remember what you said, “ … shan’t, mustn’t, can’t. Leave the dead and dying on the roadbed, as the warden is likely to grab you by the ass and slap a hefty fine on you.” As it was technically possible that I’d grabbed the Opossum by his little rat tail and hurled him under [...]