Category Archives: Fly Tying

Instructions for monthly fly tying workshops and other material

Fly Tying Index

I was looking back searching for a particular fly and realised how large our records are now. And that the lack of an index made it tedious to search.

So I have created a pretty basic one and will, in due course, include it somewhere on our home page.

https://canberra-anglers.asn.au/blog/fly-tying-index/

Would welcome any feedback, eg how many entries on each page … not sure if I can have no limit.

Also, are you aware that our blog has a search function … only works if you have correct spelling. At the very bottom of any post (including this post) and the bottom of our main blog page.

https://canberra-anglers.asn.au/blog/

Fly Tying 27 Sep 2023 – Olive Flash Perdigon Nymph and Blue Collar Worker

Lachy is in the lead. Zoom invite sent out via email.

Hook – Hanak 470 size 16 (can use Hanak 450 or 400 and sizes 12-18 as desired). It is a general nymphing jig hook.

Bead – Silver slotted tungsten bead 3.0mm. Also works well in copper and sizes 2.5 – 3.5mm to give you options to match water conditions. 

Thread – Black UTC 70 or Uni Thread 8/0.

Collar – Fluro Orange UTC 70 or Glo-Brite No 7 (fluro orange).

Tail – Coq de Leon in Flora de Escoba (Brown-mottled) colour. You can also use dark or medium pardo.

Body – Hareline Krystal Flash Peacock. Alternate is Hends 233 Krystal Flash Dark Brown (actually has a green shine). Or any green coloured Krystal Flash, Tinsel or even Flashabou (if nothing else).

UV Resin – Solarez Bone-dry or any thin, clear UV resin eg. Loon UV Clear Fly Finish – Flow.

Wing Case Resin – Solarez UV Cure Color Resin (Black) or Loon UV Fly Finish Black. Can be difficult to source locally so black nail polish will also do. Note that I have seen perdigons done with and without a wing case, so this is optional. 

Given the Perdigon Nymph is a very easy and quick pattern to tie, Lachy is happy to do the Blue Collar Worker on the same night

Hook – Dohiku 302 size 14 (can use Hanak 280 and sizes 10-18 as desired).

Bead – Silver countersunk tungsten bead 3.0mm. Plus some thin (0.2-0.3mm) lead wire to wrap behind the bead.

Thread – Brown (or Olive or Tan) 220 Denier 3/0 Uni-Thread to cover lead (optional), Camel (or Brown) Uni-Thread 8/0 for tying the fly, and Glo-Brite No. 14 (fluro blue) for the hot collar.

Tail – Pheasant tail fibres. Natural colour.

Body – Pheasant tail fibres. Natural colour.

Ribbing – Small Tinsel (UTC Pearl Tinsel is ideal) furled with 6X or 7X tippet

Collar – CDC in Dun or mid-dark grey colour. And Fluro blue thread for the hot collar as described above.

Keyword wetfly nymphfly

Fly tying Wed 26 Jul 2023 – Wiggly Damsel

Ryan has been experimenting with a number of patterns. For July’s flytying he’ll lead us tying a wiggly damsel. A good choice for the Bondi Forest trip?

Hooks- main body- #14-16 wet/nymph hook (Tiemco 3769 for example).

Articulated shank- any hook of the same size with a straight eye will do, as the bend will be cut off it doesn’t need to be a good quality one, but a hook that works well is a Tiemco 101 #14-16.

Tail and body- olive marabou.

Ribbing (optional)- copper wire.

Eyes- black or gold bead chain. Extra small.

And finally some mono line. 3x tippet works well.

Zoom details will be provided closer to the event.

Keyword wetfly nymphfly

Flytying 26 April 2023 – “Gambugger”

From Claude:

You may have recently heard about the passing of Shaun Gambrill. Shaun was a super keen fly fisherman and has always been keen to share his knowledge with all – starters to experienced folk – from the casting days to presenting to the club on loch style techniques. One of my earliest memories of Shaun was on a trip to Bondi Forest for some early season fishing. Part of the activity included fly tying where Shaun introduced us to the ‘Gambugger’…which is a Woolly Bugger with Shaun’s secret sauce body dubbing. Not only did he share the tie with us, but he also caught a swag of fish on it.

I will be leading the tie of the Gambugger on Wednesday evening. Please come along to have a chat or do the tying – whether you knew Shaun or not.

If you are interested in participating let me know and we will explore how we can share around enough ‘secret sauce’ to allow you to tie two buggers. The ingredients you will need to get are:

  1. Bugger wet fly hook – #14 to 10 (can be any wet fly or jig hook)
  2. Bead – 2-3.5, or no bead at all
  3. Marabou – black or olive
  4. Secret sauce – can be sourced from Claude (substitute – rubber leggy dubbing)
  5. Thread to suit your colour – or just black 6/0 to 8/0

Keyword wetfly streamerfly

Fly Tying 22 February – Taihape Tickler … or is that Tie Happy?

From Lyall. The tickler was a favourite fly of our long time colleague Dr Bryan Pratt. I think as much for the name as for its ability to catch fish.

Unfortunately Nathan can no longer join us on Wednesday evening so I have jumped in and will be demonstrating the Taihape Tickler trout fly.

You may elect to sit back and watch on Zoom but if you are interested in materials here goes:


Hook – any heavy and long hook around size 10. I used a Gamakatsu S11-2L 3xheavy, 2xlong

Thread – black 6/0 or 8/0 Uni

Rib – Uni French gold oval rib

Tail – red wool or substitute

Body – brown dubbing

Hackle – matching brown hen hackle

Wing – pukeko substitute

keyword wetfly streamerfly

A Pretty Emerger Pattern

I thought it was Peter who spotted this great video but apparently not.  It is a collaboration from Jensen Fly Fishing and Orvis and demonstrates the impressive performance of a particular emerger pattern.  There were comments that the segment showing the fly being tied is way too fast.  I’ve taken the liberty to edit this section and slowing down the critical steps.  Available here.

keyword dryfly emergerfly

Fly Tying 23 Nov 2022 – Saltwater Pink Thing

Lyall has advised:

In preparation for John’s Saltwater event on 2-4 December we will be tying a version of the Pink Thing saltwater fly.  It is one of the most popular flies for use in our region.  Of course Clousers and Scuds are right up there also depending on what you are targeting. 

Our tie on 23 November from 7:30 on Zoom will be fairly free form – meaning use whatever materials you have which approximate the materials list below.

I will be using:

Hook – Mustad #1 wide gape C47SD.  Any straight eye, wide gape saltwater hook in the size your target fish might take will suffice.

Eye – dumbbell eyes.  Any size or colour you think might work.

Thread – white Uni 6/0 thread.  Go wild and use pink thread, even fluoro if you wish but make it relatively thick and robust.

Body – white Schlappen or any white chicken feather 8 cm or so long.  White Grizzley Hackle as a lateral line.  Pink or pearl flash.

Collar – pink Schlappen

We will talk about the RIO fly line you might like to use to cast a wind resistant fly and the wind-beater casting technique you may wish to use.

Join us to tie or just to watch

Here is Lyall’s production and BJ’s “black shadow” variant. Lots of pro tips from Lyall and his guest Paul.

keyword wetfly streamerfly