I often get inspiration from other fly tiers. There are so many remarkable fly tiers in the world that the inspiration I speak of seems endless. I particularly enjoy adapting flies designed for other fish species for use in targeting panfish.
Read moreOld School Wet Flies For Panfish
I continued to wade out until the water threatened to come over the top of my waders. Once in position, I stripped off some fly line to make my first cast. Tied to the end of my tippet was a size 8 Royal Coachman Wet Fly. Winged wet flies were once popular amongst trout fishers but have seemed to fall from grace, replaced by more modern offerings.
Read moreDon't Hang Up That Fly Rod Just Yet!
Many warm-water anglers stop spending time on the water when cooler weather arrives. For some, it is time to transition to the field, and time is spent hunting instead of on the water. Others prefer to fish when the weather is warmer. If you are still craving some quality fishing, don't put away that fly rod just yet. Bluegills and other panfish are always up for a game of tug of war, but you may need to change your tactics a bit to get them to play.
Read moreThe Panfish Chicken Little
I am surprised how many steelhead patterns (with a little modification) find their way into my panfish fly boxes! One of my most productive warm water nymph patterns is my Panfish Wiggler. This pattern is a spin-off of the Spring Wiggler, a very popular steelhead pattern across the Great Leakes region.
Read moreResin Bodied Wet Flies Part II
I received numerous requests for additional information about the Resin Bodied Wet Flies I wrote about in my last blog post. I thought I would do a follow-up post explaining how I tie these patterns and share some of my favorite tying recipes.
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