Paul's October 2025 Fly of the Month

 Ritz D Nymph

Hook:  Nymph Hook Size #12. 

Tying thread:   6/0 Black.

Rib:  Copper Wire

Tail:  5-6 Pheasant Tail Fibers

Body: Peacock Herl.

Thorax:  Copper Wire wrapped around the hook shank.

Wing Case:  Butt ends of the Pheasant Tail Fibers used for the tail.

This fly was designed by Fly Tyer Charles Ritz. It’s a ‘classic’ nymph and has been around for a while.  Many Flyfishers like fishing this fly in heavily fished waters.  It’s an alternative to bead head nymphs which experienced trout may recognize and avoid.  It’s also got a more ‘natural’ profile and it gets down deep with its copper wire. 

To tie this fly begin by placing your hook in the vice.  Start your thread behind the eye of the hook and take 5-6 securing wraps.  Cut off the tag and wrap down to the bend.  Next, tie in the Pheasant Tail Fibers for your tail.  The tail is a little heavier than most patterns because the butt ends of the fibers will be used for your wing case.  The tail should extend about a hook gap length beyond the bend.  Next, tie in the copper wire rib.  You are going to need at least a length of 5-6” of wire which will extend beyond the bend of the hook.  Next, tie in 2-3 strands of Peacock Herl.  They will also extend beyond the bend of the hook.   Wrap your thread forward covering the butt ends of the Pheasant Fibers, while anchoring the Copper wire and Peacock Herl.  Stop your thread 2/3rds down the hook shank, leaving enough room for your Thorax.  Do not cut off the butt ends of the Pheasant Fibers.  They will be used for the Wing Case.

Wrap your Peacock Herl forward covering your thread base and forming the body.  Tie it off and cut off the butt ends.  Next, rib your fly with the Copper Wire making spiral wraps up the body.  Tie off the Copper Wire but do not cut off the remaining end.  Bend back your Peasant Tail Fibers rearward.  Bring your thread behind the eye of the hook.  Now bring your Copper Wire forward, and with touching wraps, form a bulbus Thorax.  Tie off the remaining wire.  ‘Helicopter’ off the butt end.  With your thread still behind the hook eye, bring your Pheasant Tail Fibers over your Thorax to form a Wing Case.  Tie off the Fibers, cut off the butt ends, and whip finish the fly.  I like to put a drop of head cement or UV on the wing case for durability. 

There is a great video by Bert Kerstens below on how to tie this fly:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month, I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's September 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 2 Minute Anchovy

(A great crossover fly for Albies & Stripers)

Hook:  2/0 Mustad Tarpon Style hook. 

Tying thread:   210 Denier Flat Waxed Nylon.

Weight:  5 wraps of .035 Lead or lead free wire.

Tail:  A sparse pinch of White Craft Fur,

over which is a sparse pinch of Brown Craft Fur, over which

is a sparse pinch of Bait Fish Back (or choice of Pearlescent Tinsel).        

Body: Mylar Tubing.

This is a great ‘crossover fly for Albies and Stripers.  It’s an extremely easy fly to tie.  Friends and I have caught fish with it from Western CT to the Cape with it.

To tie this fly take 5-6 wraps of .035 wire around the hook shank.  Butt it up against the eye of the hook.  Start your thread and cover the wire wraps and hook shank, leaving your thread at the start of the bend.  Take a sparse pinch of white Craft Fur and tie it in at the bend. It should equal 2 hook shank lengths beyond the bend.  Trim off the butt end.  Next, take a sparse pinch of Brown Craft Fur and tie it in above the White.  Cut off the butt end.  Next take a sparse pinch of Bait Fish Back or Pearlescent Tinsel and tie it in on top of your Craft Fur Tail.  

At your tail ‘tie in point’, tie in your Mylar tubing.  It should extend well beyond the eye of the hook so that you can push it back over itself to create your body.  Once you’ve tied in the tubing, give it a few ‘half hitches’ and cut off your thread.  I usually add a drop of UV or Super Glue over the thread wraps.

Next, push the mylar tubing over itself to create your body.  It should cover the entire hook shank extending to the eye of the hook.  Start your thread behind the eye of the hook, over the mylar tubing.  After taking securing wraps, trim off the excess Mylar tubing behind the eye.  Take more securing wraps behind the eye, whip finish the fly and add a drop of head cement or UV Resin.

Field & Stream has a 'kewl' video on how to tie this fly below:

 

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month, I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's September 2025 Fly of the Month

 Hogan's Hot Butted Zonker

Hook:  Ahrex TP650 Size #2.

Thread:  Black White or Olive 6/0.

Bead:   5.5 Hot Orange Tungsten Bead.

Weight:  (Optional)  Wraps of .25 Lead free wire.

Butt:  White or Fluorescent Orange Thread with Hot Orange UV Fly Finish.

Tail/Top:  Rabbit Strip Zonker.

Body:  Spawn Mega White/Silver Dubbing or Senyo’s Lasor Dub.

Hackle:  Olive Hen Back Feather or Saddle.

Head/Collar:  Spawn Black Mega Dubbing or Senyo’s Lasor Dub.

This fly was developed to mimic a small bait fish. I find it’s a great fly for deep water.  You can use a spay rod to swing it, or a single hand rod when fishing it.  It’s proved to be very effective on the Housatonic River.  

To tie this fly place your bead on the hook.  The hook eye on the Ahrex TP650 is angled down at 26 degrees.  I found the hook to be extremely hard to find.  If you can’t find them, use a standard streamer hook.  With your bead in place, take some wraps of lead-free wire around the hook shank.  Butt it up against the bead to lock it in place.  I usually coat the wraps with UV Resin or super glue for durability. 

Next, you are going to form your Hot Orange Butt.  On the bend of the hook, just beyond the shank, take thread wraps of thread to form a base for your UV Resin.  The thread base should be approximately 2-3 hook eyes in length. Tie off your thread, add a drop of Orange UV Resin and cure.  I usually do this in stages with 2-3 coats of UV Resin to build a nice bead.  I’ll usually prepare my hooks with Beads, Weight, and Hot Butts, prior to completing the rest of the pattern.

Next, prepare and align your Rabbit strip on top of the hook shank.  It should be approximately a hook shank and a half in length.  I usually tie mine to extend a little further than a hook gap in length beyond the bend of the hook.  Preen the Rabbit strip hairs apart to create a tie in point.   Take 8-10 securing wraps with your thread.  Lift the rabbit strip and take some securing wraps in front of the tie in point.  To lock it in place you can half hitch your thread over the Zonker and hook shank or apply a drop of UV resin.  I do both.  Sweep the excess Rabbit strip reward.

Next, lightly dub a noodle of Spawn White Mega Dub for your body.  As an alternative to this, you can create a dubbing loop with the material for your body.  Once on the hook shank pull the material down towards the hook point.  I use my fingers and a toothbrush to accomplish this.   Trim it even with the hook point of your fly.

After completing your body, bring your Rabbit strip forward.  Like you did at the rear, part the hair fibers to create a tie in point at the head.  Remember to leave enough room for your Hackle and Collar.  Now take wraps to secure your Rabbit strip to the hook shank.  Cut the excess Rabbit strip off at an angle in line with the hook eye. Cover the butt end with thread wraps creating a tapered head. 

Next, prepare your Hackle by stroking the fibers of the feather rearward.  You are going to tie it in by the tip of the feather.  Take 3-4 wraps of the feather, tie it off and cut off the butt end.  Finally, dub a Collar/Head of Black Spawn Mega Dubbing between the Bead and your hackle.  Whip finish the fly behind the bead and you’re done. 

Loon outdoors has a great video on how to tie this fly below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's May 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Foam Spider

Hook:  Risen 9231 in Size #14.

Thread:  Yellow 6/0.

Dubbing:  UV2 Fine and Dry Pale Evening Dun.

Body:  2mm Fly Foam in Yellow.

Legs:  Round Rubber Legs in Yellow.

Finish:  UV Resin.

I love fishing for panfish.  It’s a big part of how I learned to fly-fish.  You can get away from all the crowds, the action can be fast and furious, and you can improve your casting accuracy and reflexes.

It’s an easy pattern to tie.  To tie this fly, begin by preparing the 2mm Fly Foam for your body.  You can tie this fly in a variety of colors but by far Yellow has been my biggest producer.  You want to cut a strip of foam with a width slightly larger than the hook gap.  For the length of the foam cut it so that it is a hook shank length plus+ a hook gap length.  This will extend your body past the bend of the hook.  Once you cut the proper width and length for your body, you can use that piece of foam as a template to cut additional pieces for flies.

Take a prepared piece of foam and slightly trim the corners of it on one end.  That will be your ‘rounded’ head for the fly.  You are now going to trim the rear part for your fly body.  Begin your cut halfway down the body. Trim it so that you create a point with an additional cut on the other side of the foam.  Try to make the foam as symmetrical as possible.  Next, start your thread behind the eye and make some securing wraps.  Advance your thread all the way down the hook shank.  Cut off the butt end of your thread.  Now create a slim dubbing noodle of your UV2 Fine and Dry Pale Evening Dun Dubbing.  Dub a slender body all the way up the hook shank.  Bring your thread back so that it is ¼ shank away from the hook eye.   

You are now going to attach your Foam body to the hook shank.  Apply some super glue to the top of your dubbed underbody.  Apply the foam body so that the ‘head’ of the fly is even with the hook eye.  Take 3 securing wraps around the foam body with your thread and cinch it down.  Take additional securing wraps to form a narrow thread band around the foam body. 

Next, prepare your rubber legs for the Spider.  To tie the legs in, double up a rubber strand and secure it to the top of your spider.  The 2 ends of the rubber legs should extend slightly past the end of the body.  The ‘loop’ end should extend beyond the hook eye.  Ultimately, they will be slightly shorter than the legs at the rear.  After taking a few securing wraps, cut your loop in half.  You will now have a set of legs for each side of your fly.  Adjust each leg so that it is secured on each side of the foam body.  Make sure they are symmetrical and are horizontal to the foam body.  You may need to trim them a little.  Again, the back legs should extend slightly beyond the body.  The front legs are slightly shorter.  Whip finish your fly at the leg tie in point.  Now apply UV Resin to your thread wraps and the joints where your legs meet the body.  Angle your rear legs rearward and your front legs forward.  Cure it with your UV Lamp.  Finally, lift the head of the fly slightly and apply UV resin under the head.  Cure it with your UV Lamp and you’re finished.

McFly Angler has a great instructional video on how to tie this fly below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's May 2025 Fly of the Month

 Black Pheasant Tail Nymph

Hook:  Jig Hook, Sizes #14 to #18.

Bead:  Slotted Tungsten Bead, color of choice, sized to match hook size.

Thread:  Black 6/0 or 8/0 Thread.

Tail:  3-8 Black Dyed Pheasant Tail Fibers.

Rib:  Fine Gold Wire.

Body:  Black Dyed Pheasant Tail Fibers.

Collar/Thorax/Hot Spot:  Pink Ice Dub.

There are some flies that are relatively easy to tie that are extremely effective.  This is one of them.  Tyers can find Pheasant Tail Feathers in a variety of dyed colors. I’ve tied PT’s in olive, orange, and yellow.  For me, one of the most productive colored PT’s I’ve used has been in Black.  Another thing noticeable about this PT is that I’ve found no need to place legs on this nymph.  You can knock out a lot of these flies fast.

To tie this fly start by placing the Bead on your hook.  Start your thread behind the bead.  After making 6-8 securing wraps, cut off the tag end.  Continue wrapping your thread down the hook shank to the bend.  Depending on the size of your fly, prepare 3-8 Black Peasant Tail Fibers for your Tail.  I use 6-8 Fibers for a Size #14 fly, and 3 Fibers for a Size #18.  Tie in your tail.  It should be approximately a hook gap in length beyond the bend of the hook.  Do not cut off the butt ends of the fibers.  That’s going to become your Body.  After making a few securing wraps for your tail, make a half dozen wraps forward on the tail fibers.  Now fold them rearward and bring your thread back over them to the initial tail tie in point.  Next, tie in your Fine Gold Wire for your Rib.  

After tying in your rib, advance your thread forward and leave it behind the bead. Next, create the body of the nymph by taking the butt ends of your Pheasant tail fibers and wrapping them forward with touching wraps.  Tie them off behind the bead.  Cut off any excess butt end fibers.  Next, rib your fly with your Gold Wire, making spiral wraps up the body.  Tie it off behind the bead.  For your Collar/Hot Spot, create a slim and small dubbing noddle with Pink Ice Dub.  With your dubbing noodle, take 2-3 wraps behind the bead.  Finally, tie and whip finish your fly behind the bead.

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's April 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Sulphur Perdigon

Hook:  Gamakatsu J20 Jig Nymph Hook Size #14. 

Tying thread:   Danville 6/0 Yellow.

Bead:  Slotted Tungsten Gold Bead 3.0 mm.

Weight:  .020 Lead or lead free wire, 4-5 wraps behind the bead.

Tail:  Mallard Flank Feather fibers died Wood Duck.

Rib: Ultra small wire Gold.

Abdomen/Body:  Golden Brown or Tan Antron Yarn . 

Throrax:  Yellow Thread.

Wingcase:  Black UV resin or Nail Polish.

This fly is a ‘mainstay’ in my perdigon arsenal.  You can tie and fish it in sizes #14-#16.  As with all perdigon’s it gets down through the water column quickly. 

To tie this fly, de-barb your hook, place your bead on it, and your hook in the vice.  Next, take 5-6 touching wraps around the hook shank.  Add a drop of Zap-a-gap to the lead wraps and slide/butt it up against the bead to lock it in place.  Remove any protruding remnants of wire.  Start your thread behind the lead and wrap back to the bend, then back over the lead.  Prepare 5-6 Mallard Feather Fibers for your tail.  Tie them in for your tail.  They should extend approximately a ‘hook gap’ length.  Once tied in trim off the butt ends of the fibers.

Next, tie in your Gold Wire Rib and leave the butt end extending off the rear of the hook.  Now with your thread, create an even tapered under body for your nymph.  You are now going to tie in your Brown/Tan Antron Yarn.  Tie it in behind the bead and wrap it with your thread all the way down to the rear of the hook shank.  Bring your thread up behind the bead.  Wrap your Antron Yarn forward and tie it off leaving room for a Yellow Thread Thorax behind the bead.  After creating your Thorax, coat the nymph with UV Resin & cure it.  Next, create your wing case by adding a drop of Black UV Resin to the top of the bead and Thorax.  Cure it and your fly is complete.

Trident Fly Fishing has a great instructional video below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's April 2025 Fly of the Month

 Goeben's Goblin

Hook: Heavy Nymph Hook, Size #12.

Thread: Black 6/0 Thread.

Bead: Orange Silver Lined 4.0 mm Glass Bead.

Tail: 8-10 Furnace Hen Fibers. 

Body: Chartreuse Ultra Micro Chenille.

Collar/Hackle: Furnace Hen Feather.

This fly comes from fellow HFFA member Bill Goeben.  Bill is one of the most experienced fly fishermen and tyers that I know. He’s also one of the best fly-tying instructors out there.  This is one of his ‘go to’ flies in the spring.  With its Halloween colors, I’ve named it the Goblin.  Fish it like any other wet fly.

To tie this fly, debarb your hook.  Next, place your Orange Bead on it and place it in the vice.  Start your thread behind the bead and make 8-10 securing wraps. Cut off the tag end and bring your thread down your hook shank to the bend.  Tie in 8-10 Hen Furnace Fibers.   They should extend approximately a hook gap length from the hook shank.  Once secured, tie in your Chartreuse Ultra Micro Chenille at the tail tie in point.  Bring your thread down the hook shank and leave it behind the bead.

With your Chenille, make touching wraps up the hook shank to create the body of the fly.  Tie it off behind the bead with a few securing wraps.  Cut off the excess Chenille.  Prepare a Hen Furnace Hackle for your Collar.  Strip the excess hackle fibers from the base of the feather and tie it in behind the bead. Next, with hackle pliers, make 2-3 wraps behind the bead. Tie the Hackle off and clip off the excess feather tip.  Whip finish your fly and apply head cement if you desire.

 If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .