Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph with Lou DiGena

 

I think everyone knows the Pheasant Tail Nymph, but I'm not sure how many know Sawyer's Pheasant tail nymph. The pattern is dead simple, and like most patterns I tie, it follows the K.I.S.S. rule. 

For those who don't know the pattern, it's a killer. Frank Sawyers designed it to "Baetis" nymph, or "olives." I've found it's also a good imitation of the "Ephemerella" nymphs, including the Hendricksons and Sulphurs nymphs. For the "Baetis," tie the nymph in sizes 16 - 20, and for the "Ephemerella," tie it in 14 - 16. If you have a long Pheasant tail, then a size 12 is possible.

  

Materials: Hook: 

Hook: Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/2K9RWO8)
Thread: X-Small Brown Copper Wire (https://amzn.to/37NvJ09)
Body: Center Tail from a Cock Pheasant (https://amzn.to/2KOzD15)

Fly Tying Gear:

   Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)

   Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)

   Cohen's Sculpting Scissors

   Matarelli Whip Finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)

Camera Gear:

   Camera: Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)

   Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)

   Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)

   Fill Light (3): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)

   Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)

   Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)

 

Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you thanks.

© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Thread Control and Fly Tying Knots Tutorial

Thread Control and Fly Tying Knots

 

Materials:

   Hook:  Tiemco Umpqua TMC 103Bl Fly Tying (https://amzn.to/37obeIu)

   Thread: Danville 6/0 Flymaster Thread Waxed (https://amzn.to/3oWCQug) 

Fly Tying Gear:

   Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)

   Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)

   Cohen's Sculpting Scissors

   Matarelli Whip Finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)

Camera Gear:

   Camera: Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)

   Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)

   Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)

   Fill Light (3): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)

   Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)

   Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)

 

Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you thanks.

© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

 

#loudigena #flytying #flyfishing

Tiger Baetis Nymph is a simple and effective Baetis (BWO) nymph pattern, which you can use on any stream or river. 

 

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Materials: 

 

Hook: Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/2K9RWO8)
Thread: UTC 140 Denier Watery Olive (https://amzn.to/3mYYOwj)
Tails: Coq de Leon Fibers (https://amzn.to/3a6UF5V)
Rib: X-Small Brown Copper Wire (https://amzn.to/37NvJ09)
Body: UTC Watery Olive (https://amzn.to/3mYYOwj)
Tiger Stripes: Brown Marker (https://amzn.to/37K2V8Z)
Wing Case: Black Marker (https://amzn.to/39V1s2s)
Coating: Solarez Bone Dry (https://amzn.to/3m3o4jn) 

 

Fly Tying Gear: 

 

Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL) 

Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe) 

Cohen's Sculpting Scissors 

Matarelli whip finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu) 

 

Camera Gear: Camera: 

 

Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu) 

Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe) 

Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii) 

Fill Light (2): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S) 

Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s) 

Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3) 

 

Using affiliate links helps support the channel at no cost to you thanks. 

 

© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved. #loudigena #flytying #flyfishing

Tiger Baetis Nymph - A Short preview.

Tiger Baetis

 

Materials:

 

   Hook:  Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/2K9RWO8)

   Thread: UTC 140 Denier Watery Olive  (https://amzn.to/3mYYOwj)

   Tails:  Coq de Leon Fibers (https://amzn.to/3a6UF5V)

   Rib:  X-Small Brown Copper Wire (https://amzn.to/37NvJ09)

   Body:  UTC Watery Olive (https://amzn.to/3mYYOwj)

   Tiger Stripes: Brown Marker (https://amzn.to/37K2V8Z)

   Wing Case: Black Marker (https://amzn.to/39V1s2s)

   Coating: Solarez Bone Dry (https://amzn.to/3m3o4jn)

 

Fly Tying Gear:

 

   Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)

   Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)

   Cohen's Sculpting Scissors

   Matarelli whip finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)

Compton's Cinnamon Toast Baetis Nymph

A while back Kevin Compton owner of Performance Flies and I got together to film him tying up some of the patterns he is best known for and popularizing.  These patterns are staples in the competition scene.  Kevin is always refining these patterns and making them simpler to tie.

At Performance Flies, you will find materials and patterns from the competitive fly fishing scene.  Also, Kevin has Jack Mickievicz's original materials such as Honeybug Cotton Chenille, Jack's original dubbing blends and DuPont Antron yarn.

The Cinnamon Toast Baetis nymph is a BWO (Blue-Winged Olives) nymph.  BWO’s are staples in most if not all rivers.  These nymphs are an important food source for trout because of their high number, and multi-broods.  The fact that many BWO’s are multi-brood means they are available to trout year round.  Baetis are streamlined swimmers, and the nymph pattern should be slender.

Here Kevin ties his Cinnamon Toast Baetis Nymph, which is a deadly BWO nymph.

 

Compton's Cinnamon Toast Baetis Nymph

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H230BL #14-16
Head:  3/32 Gold Tungsten Bead
Thread: FLY DK 80 Brown
Tails:  Golden Olive Coq de Leon Fibers
Rib:  XFine Copper Wire
Body:  Brown-Olive Condor Substitute
Thorax: Jan Siman Peacock Dubbing, Peacock Bronze

For materials visit http://www.performanceflies.com/

© 2017 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Sawyer’s Killer Bug

Hook:            TMC 2302 or Mustad S80-3906 in  #14-18
                      (Tied here with a 3906) 

Thread:         Copper wire in size Brassie or Small
                     (Size 16-18 tie better using small wire)

Body:           Chadwick’s 477 wool substitute

The Sawyer’s Killer Bug is famous in the U.K. and Europe but only recently has this pattern gained a following in the U.S.  This fly is famous for its catching fish and mythological properties of Chadwick’s 477 yarn used in its construction.

I became aware of the Killer Bug through English fly tier and author Oliver Edwards who featured Sawyer’s patterns in his DVD Essential Skills: Search and Sight Fishing released in 2001.

Frank Sawyer was a river keeper on the River Avon at Lake in Wiltshire in the U.K. along with being a writer, and inventor of such flies as the Pheasant Tail Nymph. 

Sawyer’s pattern is simple and effective, using in many cases only two materials.  In the Killer Bug and Pheasant Tail nymph, he used copper wire the thread and weight.  Both patterns are brilliant in their simplicity and effectiveness.

The killer bug was developed by Sawyer’s to manage the grayling numbers on the River Avon.  Back then Grayling were considered vermin, and gentleman would only angle for trout, never grayling.

In alkaline chalk stream, one of the main food sources is freshwater shrimp and the Killer Bug was designed to imitate shrimp and scuds.  Today in the U.S. it’s an effective imitation for larva (crane and caddis), scuds, cress bugs and shrimp.

The originally the Killer Bug was tied Chadwick's 477 darning wool and reddish brown copper wire.  For some, the original Chadwick's 477 wool has mythical fish-catching properties with lengths of the wool selling for hundreds of dollars.  Production of Chadwick’s wool ceased in 1965, which only added to its value.

The Killer Bug was named by Sawyer's friend Lee Wulff, but its popularity never quite took in the U.S.

By the time I found out about the “Bug” there was no wool to purchase.  I was on a mission find a suitable substitute.

Veniard’s sells their version wool (Veniard 477) but without a sample of the genuine article, it was nearly impossible to know if it was a good match.

My first substitute took the form of a cutting up an old rag wool sweater that now too small, which worked well.   Next, I found some old craft yarn “Fun with Fibers” that had a viable candidate but was as rare as the Chadwick’s.  Then I started to use Patons Classic Wool Natural Mix (00229), which I found at Michael’s.  Then I struck gold, one blogger from the U.K. sent me a yard of Chadwick’s 477, now I had the yarn to use as a reference.

Many other bloggers and friends pointed me in the direction of finding a suitable substitute. Chris Swart (TenkaraBum), Juan Ramirez (The Hopper Juan), and Jason Klass (Tenkara Talk).

Here is a list of yarns you can use to tie your killer bug.

Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift: Oyster (Color #290)

Patons Classic Wool Yarn (00229) Natural Mix

Regia Darning Yarn: Light Camel Marl

Veniard Chadwick Wool - 477 (Killer Bug Yarn)

Places to purchase these yarns and your local craft or yarn shop.

http://www.tenkarabum.com/fly-tying-materials.html

http://threeriverstenkara.com/?product=regia-darning-yarn

http://www.performanceflies.com/product-p/v-yarn-c477.htm

Good luck and tie some Killer Bugs for your next fishing adventure.

Lou DiGena

Fly and Fin

© 2017 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Regal Vise featured on Discovery's Science Channel Go - How It's Made

In the recent episode of How It's Made (Season 20 Episode 10) we get to see how the Regal Vise is made.

REGAL VISE - The World’s Best Fly Tying Vises and accessories.

REGAL VISE is a family owned business New England. All vises and accessories are are manufactured in U.S.A.
All their products are made by fly tiers and anglers for tiers and anglers.

In full disclosure I'm on the Regal Pro staff.

MFPD Pocket Picker Nymph

Last year Kevin Compton owner of Performance Flies and I got together to film him tying up some of the patterns he is best know for and popularizing.

Kevin is bring some of best materials and patterns from the European competitive fly fishing scene to the states. As well as introducing tiers and anglers to these new materials and methods he is also has Jack Mickievicz's original materials such as Honeybug Cotton Chenille, Jack's original dubbing blends and genuine DuPont Antron yarn.

MFPD Pocket Picker Nymph is a pattern designed by Peter Durisik of Slovakia and tied here by Kevin.

Enjoy.

 

MFPD Pocket Picker Nymph

Materials:  

Hook:      Hanak H230BL #14-16
Head:      3/32 Gold Tungsten Bead
Thread:   UTC 70 Watery Olive
Tails:       Coq de Leon Fibers, Medium Prodo
Rib #1:    Synthetic Quill Body, Graphite
Rib #2:    Sybai XF Gold Wire
Tip:         Glo-Brite Floss, Hot Orange #6
Body:      UTC 70 Watery Olive Thread
Thorax:   Pine Squirrel with UV Flash


© 2016 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

The New Fly Fisher: Joe Humphreys | Nymphing Techniques

Joe Humphrey needs no introduction to the fly fishing community, here "The New Fly Fisher" pays homage to Joe Humphre, angler, author and educator. 

Joe Humphrey teaches the essentials of nymph fly fishing. This full-length show was shot in Joe's home region of Pennsylvania.

South Branch of the Raritan Bug Sampler

Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions posted this great video with a sample of he bugs found in the South Branch of the Raritan.

First appearing is a willow nymph, or early black stone fly nymph.  The early black stone is makes it's first appearance in February and March when temperatures start to rise in the late afternoon.  This hatch offers some great winter dry fly fishing, but don't forget the nymphs which are in the stream all year.

Next is the Isonychia bicolor, also called Iso, Slate Drake, or Lead Wing.  Found in fast moving  riffles in highly oxygenated water, these nymphs are fast swimmers that dart along the stream bottom. These mayflies start emerging in midsummer and hatch in to the fall.

Followed by one of my favorite bugs the scud because they are very abundant an in the streams year round.  Tim's video show how prominent the orange is in the natural.

Then there are two may fly nymphs one from the genus Ephemerella (Sulpher) and the other  from the genus Maccaffertium (March Brown or Cahill).

Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are next on the scene with Hydropsyche, which is a free living net builder, which are important because they get dislodged from time-to-time and drift down stream during times of behavioral drift.  

Finally a Gastropoda or snail which float and crawl most of our streams.

The one bug I did not mention was the Water Penny, which is a beetle larva that the Sulpher nymph was riding.  I don't know the type of beetle it becomes, but a cress bug imitation should represent this bug quite well.

Tim's South Branch Sampler 1/17/14 is a wonderful sample to the food available to trout in our streams in New Jersey and a great reference to use when designing fly patterns.

I recommend you check out Tim's other videos at Tightline Productions on Vimeo.