Ryan S

Hey all,

When I started tying last year I got some great recommendations on some beginner patterns to start with. I was wondering if you all have some recommendations for some streamer and jig patterns that aren't too difficult to tie but can help build some skills as I start to build some boxes for my 6 and 8 weights. I have a pretty good general selection of commonly used tying materials (rabbit strips, hackle, marabou, deer hair, bead heads, eyes, lazer dub, chenille and estaz, UV rez, etc.) and hooks in size 8-1/0. Trying not to buy too many new materials. Some things I've already tied:

1. Standard Wooly buggers
2. Clouser minnows
3. Murdich minnows
4. Deceivers

Thanks!

Thanks for posting the video! I wasn't able to make the session but looking forward to watching and trying to tie some up soon. Having fished for smallmouth in the Ozarks and seen Ryan on social media and youtube, I think Ozark Smallmouth Alliance is an awesome organization and love hearing about the smallmouth story of the area. Thanks Ryan and ISA for hosting the tying session!!

Awesome! Congrats. Great feeling getting that first one on the fly

Just wondering to what extent any of the smallmouth in the Chicago area (or Illinois as whole) are native. I'm mainly thinking about places like the Fox, Dupage, Des Plaines and Lake Michigan. Thanks!

Welcome. Can't wait to see some of the ties!

Well done. Loved the fishing shots and the small edits of the up close bugs in the middle. Nice drone shots.  Great job. Looks like you had a lot of fun fishing. I assume you probably had as much fun on the video editing end as well . Pleasure to watch! 

Good question @Terry Dodge. I had the same question. Thanks for the answers!

Update on the filling of my first box. Targeting small bass and panfish. Tied all to throw on my 4 weight. Had a lot of fun learning some basics. Some patterns I chose to tie simply because I had the right materials lying around. Still have some poppers I need to add. Let me know what you think. Cheers!

Welcome Jay D. I joined last year and the people on this forum have been a huge help as I begin fly fishing.  Sounds like we may fish some of the same waters. Maybe I will see you out there sometime. Cheers.

22 minutes ago, Bart Durham said:

The Chernobyl ant is a great summertime topwater fly that smallmouth love on the dead drift! The ones you tied should fish very well>

Thanks Bart!

14 hours ago, Mark K said:

 

They look great.  I would suggest on anything tie one or two and fish with them.  Then you can make up more with adjustments if needed.  

I would add a couple olive buggers- some with cactus chennille anda  gold bead head. 

 

Seems like logical advice fishing it before tying a bunch. I've mostly been tying a few in hopes of practicing and tying some that might fish haha.  Already seeing how much the fine details make the difference between a fishable fly and something that really looks nice to the angler. Already have a few ideas to make the ants more consistent. Some beadhead buggers are up next since I already have those materials. Thanks for your help Mark.

On 2/7/2021 at 11:26 PM, John Gillio said:

Looks like you have a good start. The flies are definitely tied well enough to fool the fish you are after. Any type of small bass popper would help round things out. I personally like the small  Wapsi size 8, soft foam, "Perfect Popper" body, or the Rainy's, "Mini-Me" in the same size. They should cast well with a 4 wt, and can also be turned backwards to create a gurgler such as a sneaky peat. I like to up the hook size to a size 4  Mustad 3366 hook when using them for smallies. The wapsi poppers come with instructions for creating a very productive fly (it calls for the use of Sily Legs or Larva Lace) or you can just get creative.  It's also good to carry an unweighted streamer like a Murdich Minnow in a size 4 or 6 also. Have fun filling that box.

Awesome. Based on most of the recommendations I'm receiving the size 6-8 seems like a general good size fly for the 4wt. Thanks for the recommendations on the popper heads. I will start studying the murdich minnow. Nice looking pattern. thanks!

Here is a look at a old crappy bass pro fly box I am trying to fill with my first tied flies. Started tying in January. Hoping to have it full with some basic patterns by the spring. I currently have a 4 wt that I began fly fishing with last season after making the transiting from conventional tackle. Hoping that these sizes and patterns will be castable/fishable on my 4 wt. What do y'all think? Also, if you have any recommendations on some foundational patterns to add let me know!

Size 6 clousers

Size 8 chernobyl ants (someone on here recommended this pattern... I think Mark? Thanks for the rec very fun to tie! How'd I do?

Size 14 Pheasant tail nymphs (these still need a lot of work)

Size 14 Elk Hair Caddis (first couple attempts)

Next will be some bead head wooly buggers. What else do you recommend?

5 hours ago, Mark K said:

One thing you can do to make the fly bomb proof is get some 5 minute epoxy (or UV resin) and coat the head and the wraps on the underwing. 

Mark- I have some Hard as Hull Hareline Dubbin head cement that I coated the belly wraps and head with.  Same thing? As a beginner, is there really a difference I will notice in those fancy UV resin + light I see on social media?

On 1/30/2021 at 7:39 AM, rich mc said:

for another fly try a foam gurgler     and tie them with the foam going each way one is popper like ,reversed its a diver   rich

Gonna give this one a try! Thanks for the advice!

Thanks all! Figured a classic, easy to fish, and effective fly like the clouser was a good one to start tying at the beginning. Yep a couple strands of crystal flash not showing well due to the wood and light. Is the idea to keep the clousers pretty sparse?

Practicing the wooly buggers, pheasant tail nymphs, and bought some materials for some chernobyl ants (I think at the recommendation of Mark). I've got a 4 wt so not quite ideal for smalies but hey.. one step a time. Let me know what other beginner flies I should look to next!

Also got to make one of these upcoming fly tying tutorials! Didn't get a chance to make it the first one.

Hey all!

Beginner fly tier here. Fresh off a intro class from Chicago Fly a few weeks ago.  My first rod is a 4 wt that I picked up a few seasons back. Tied up about ten #6 clousers to fish on it at the recommendation of some of the members here. Thanks for the advice! Let me know what you think!

I have a Redington 8 wt collecting dust that I bought a few years back when I first tried to dabble unsuccessfully, so make next purchase will probably be a 6 wt. However in the spirit of economics, I am going to continue using my 4 wt for a little while. This was very helpful Thanks all. 

Wow thanks for all this information everyone. I'm blown away by all the support. I bought the Clouser smallmouth book to start. I also got into a fly tying class at Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters over zoom right now. It's going well and learning the basics. Learned to tie a wooly bugger and pheasant tail nymph. Class has been very helpful and worth the money all considered (materials supplied, gift card, and three 2 hour classes). Going well over Zoom and the instructor has been able to make the adjustment (Zeph). Thanks for those links Mark. Going to look into these techniques and patterns to help me expand beyond the classes.

My first rod is a 4wt. I'm having a hard time gauging what size flies, leaders, tippet length to use to cast most effectively. Maybe I'm overthinking some of it (coming from the conventional tackle side) and should worry more about my actual cast... Mark- those hook recommendations you mentioned, should I be able throw flies of that size on my 4wt? Thanks!

On 1/1/2021 at 3:13 PM, Mark K said:

 For a typical "bass hook" , Mustad sells the 3366 and come in hundred packs, for around 10 bucks.   It will work for all kinds of streamers and deer hair bugs and poppers.  It was the original hook in a lot of patterns. They are really cheap compared to a lot of other hooks and they are way sharper out of the pack than people give them credit for.  It's not a crappy hook at all but there are others that are much nicer. 

Gamakatsu B10S is another similar hook that is significantly more expensive but n my opinion probably better.  Double check on the prices but I think they would be under 10 bucks a pack for 25.  Which, given the cost of other materials might be worth it. 

Daichi also makes nice hooks that are not crazy priced. If you go to Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters, they have every imaginable hook.  Just tell them what you want to tie. Their prices are pretty good too.  You are not going to save much shopping on line. 

 

 

5 hours ago, rich mc said:

nice tools. dont worry about getting the best bang for the buck as you will win on one fly and lose on others. find the fly pattern you want to fish and then buy materials for that fly. bob clousers book[clousers] is great for newbies  and covers topwater mid depth and bottom flies with great photos

Rich. Thanks for the advice. That is probably a good place to start. I'll also check out the clouser book!

13 hours ago, John Gillio said:

A book I really like that is great for beginners and anyone else that likes to catch fish on flies is, "Simple Flies: 52 Easy-to-Tie Patterns that Catch Fish", by Morgan Lyle. The patterns are great and the book starts off discussing tools, materials and techniques. I highly recommend it.

Thanks John. I'll check this one out!

Hey everyone! Happy Holidays!

My partner gave me a wonderful gift of a fly tying kit that I have been eyeing for the past few months for the holidays. 2020 was my first season fly fishing and I am looking forward to spending the next couple months of social distanced downtime to begin tying my own flies. I have a cheap vise I bought years ago to tie jigs so I plan on using that until I get better and upgrade along with these tools to start. A couple questions for all the tiers here...

- I mainly fished a #4 Redington Crosswater combo for smallmouth, largemouth, and panfish (it is my first fly rod). What patterns, hook sizes, materials would be good for a beginner to start with thinking that I will continue using this and probably upgrade to a 6wt next season?
-What foundational materials and supplies will give me the most bang for buck when getting started?

-Any good beginner fly tying books, articles, blogs, youtube videos etc. I should begin with?

I plan on probably buying my materials from Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters since I took a few casting lessons here earlier this year when I began. What do I need to start?

Happy Holidays, 

Ryan

On 12/12/2020 at 8:22 PM, John Gillio said:

Congrats on that first smallie on the fly. I never expected to enjoy fly fishing nearly as much as I  have come to. Sounds like you've got the bug. Whether you are throwing flies or lures, you have landed on the right place.

Thanks for the welcome. Definitely caught the bug. Much to learn (and many questions to ask).

On 12/12/2020 at 5:40 PM, Ed Buric said:

Welcome aboard Ryan, while we are not a fly fishing club per se we do have a very active fly fishing sub group. Once we are able to resume activities we will have quite a number of activities for you to enjoy and learn more about fly fishing.

Looking forward to it. Thanks for the welcome

Here's a nice smallmouth on the fly video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUU-_roOwTs