The Hollywood Casting Couch presented me with this beginning fly tying DVD to preview and what I found was really good. The fun way they approach the hobby of fly tying takes the pressure off beginners and introduces them to a simple way of making some classic flies! I highly recommend spending a few bucks to get this DVD if you are new to fly tying and want to improve your skills and get a few laughs at the same time! Thank you Michael Johnson and the rest of the crew for making fly tying a fun adventure!

This pattern is a humpy variation that works for the Sierra Nevada!

I will try this before any other dry fly and usually with good results during the late Spring- early Summer season. The orange feathers come off an African Gray parrot and resemble the orange in the stones on the Western side of the Sierra. I also use a 2-3 orange fibers for the tail which add to the attractor quality of this fly. When fishing among other anglers I have had great results when they were having none, after giving a few of these flies to them they instantly began to catch trout! This is a proven pattern and now it’s no longer a secret, have fun using this productive fly and let me know how you do! Tight Lines! PM

One of the first patterns I began to tie was the Woolly Bugger. They’re a fun fly to tie and you can be creative making your own versions to suit personal taste. This one has lead core underneath to get it down quickly, pearl flash strands added to tail for attraction and  amber stretch tubing to reflect light as well.

Woolly Buggers are great to bring out at dusk ! I find that often when nothing else is working the quick stripping motion of a woolly will bring the most surprising hits from large trout! Tight Lines! PM

After undergoing knee surgery Friday I at least feel good enough to attempt a few flies. Here’s what I came up with! A brown mayfly imitation that I named Paul’s Pearl Spinner for the pearl flash that I used for the wing.

First strip two brown saddle hackle fibers leaving the midrib. These work excellent for the tail, because they taper and have a slight curve just like a real mayfly! Use tan thread and tie in tail at curve of hook. Tie in a brown biot for body and wind back to thorax and tie off. Snip excess biot and tie in a new brown biot to cover top of thorax. Tie in a small amount of brown dubbing. Tie in a few pieces of pearl flash for wing using a figure 8 pattern to keep it straight. Tie in a mini brown hackle  and also use a figure 8 pattern over the wing. Tie of hackle before eye trim excess and whip finish. Finally use some orange thread to form head and whip finish. Add head cement. Done!

I think this pattern will work well because of the realistic segemented body due to biot material, the tail because of it’s two realistic curving hackle ribs, and because of the translucent pearl for the wings! Tight Lines! PM