Paul's February 2026 Fly of the Month

 Micro Clouser

Hook:  SL-11 H #8.

Thread:  Vevus 100. 

Pseudo Eyes:  White (M).

Belly:  Fly Tyers Dungion SB Pearl.

Wing #1:  Cream & White Bucktail with a mix of FTD SB Pearl Aura Fibers.

Wing #2:  Fly Tyers Dungeon BDG – AW Olive.

Back Flash:  Ripple Ice Peacock.

About a year ago fellow fly angler and friend, Ted Rzepski, gave me this fly.  Ted began using it because the bait stripers have been feeding on the past couple of years have tended to be tiny, less than 2” long.  It’s small size makes it a dream to cast.  I didn’t have a chance to fish it for stripers, but late summer/early fall, I took it to the upper Housatonic thinking it might be a great pattern to fish for small mouth.  I was right.  It resulted in a half dozen ‘smallies’ and 1 trout.  This fall it was one of my go to streamers.  Ted says that he’s caught largemouth bass, rainbows, hickory shad and black seabass on it. All this from a pattern originally designed for stripers.  It is a quintessential ‘cross over’ fly, great in fresh & salt water for a wide variety of species.

In the true sense of the word, this fly is a ‘Micro Clouser’.  It’s very small and should be tied sparsely. It’s not an easy tie.  Dubbing the body is not an easy task with the FTD SB Pearl.  Also, the FTD materials are great, but if you don’t have them on-hand, try comparable colors of Senyo Lazer Dub.  Don’t wonder off too much with alternative materials.  The material composition of this fly make it a fish magnet.

To tie this fly begin by laying a base of thread behind the eye to affix your Eyes.  After making securing wraps, cut off the butt end of your thread.  The eyes should be mounted approximately 2 ‘hook eye' lengths behind the eye.  Use figure 8 wraps to secure them.  Also wrap under and around the eyes.  Add a drop of head cement or UV Resin (and cure) to your thread wraps to increase durability. 

Next, you’re going to dub the body of the fly with your FTD SB Pearl Dubbing.  You may want to use a little dubbing wax to make this a little easier.  With your dubbing noddle create the body from the bend of the hook to the eyes.  Also, crisscross the eyes with your noodle. Invert your fly and prepare a sparse wing of Cream & White Bucktail.  Lay your mix of Cream & White Bucktail on your tying table.  Take a sparse amount of FTD SB Pearl Aura fibers and lay them on top of your Bucktail.  Pick them up, align the Bucktail tips, and roll all the materials together in your fingers.  Tie the prepared wing on in front of the eyes.  They should extend approximately 2 hook shank lengths beyond the bend. 

Prepare a sparse amount of Fly Tyers Dungeon BDG – AW Olive Dubbing to be aligned and tied in over the Bucktail wing. Finally, top this with 10-12 strands of Peacock Ripple Ice. You can also use Peacock Angle Hair as a substitute.  Lock in all the wing materials with securing wraps behind the hook eye.  Whip finish and apply a drop of head cement.

Trout Tornado has an excellent video on hos 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 January 2026 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Jake's Improved Zebra Midge

Hook:  The Fly Shop TFS 2500 Size #14 or Fulling Mills Grab Gape Size #16 (or wide gap hook of choice.

Thread:  Thread Black 6/0.

Bead:   Silver Tungsten 2 mm.

Tail/Shuck:  Midge Mirage Pearl/Opal.

Ribbing:  Fine Copper Wire.

Coating:  Solarez Bone Dry or UV of choice or Hard as Nails.

What makes this Zebra Midge Improved?  Well, there are two modifications that can make this pattern more productive.  First, there are  ‘Wide Gap’ hooks on the market today that will increase your hooking productivity.   Use them!  Second, the ‘Mirage Pearl Shuck’ acts as a beacon for hungry trout.  I also tie this fly in Olive.  That color is a ‘go to’ fly before and during olive hatches.   Drift it with an indicator or trail it under a dry fly.  It’s a great fly that’s super easy to tie.

To tie this fly, begin by placing your bead on the hook.  Place it in the vice.  Start your thread behind the bead and take securing wraps to lock it in place.  Cover the hook shank with a layer of thread.  Next, tie in your Pearl/Opal Merage Tail at the rear of the hook shank.  Trim your Mirage Tail so that it is approximately a hook gap in length behind the fly.  Bring your thread back up behind the bead and tie in your Copper Wire Rib.  Do this with secure wraps back down the body.  Then, use your thread to create a slightly tapered body.  Leave your thread behind the bead. 

Next, take spiral wraps up the body with your Copper Wire.  Tie it off behind the bead and ‘helicopter’ off the excess wire.  Whip finish your fly.  If you so desire you can coat the fly body with UV resin, or what I prefer to do, a coat of ‘Hard as Nails’.

Tim Camissa 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 January 2026 Fly of the Month

 Trout Killer Nymph

(A Pheasant Tail Variation)

Hook:  Curved Nymph/Caddis Hook Size #14. 

Tying thread:   UTC 70 Black.

Bead:  Tungsten Copper Bead 3.0 mm.

Weight:  .020 Non-lead wire.

Shell Back:  White or Yellow Turkey Biot.

Abdomen/Body:  3-4 Pheasant Tail Fibers.

Rib: Copper Ultra small wire.

Thorax:  2-3 Wraps of Peacock Herl or Peacock Dubbing.

Hot Spot:  Red Thread.

This is another variation of a Pheasant Tail Nymph. If you fish heavily presuured TMA’s like I do, sometimes a fly that’s a little bit different can help trigger successful days on the water.  I’ll tie this fly using White, Yellow, and Golden Biots.

To tie the Trout Killer, begin by placing your bead on your hook.  Once secured in your vice, take 8-10 wraps of Non-lead wire around the hook shank.  Slide the wraps up against the back of the bead.  With your thread take wraps behind and over the wire to lock it in place.  Bring your thread down the hook shank down the bend. The thread will cover what will become the body of the fly.

Return your thread behind the bead and tie in your Copper Wire Rib. Wrap it down to the bend of the hook.  Repeat the process tying in a Turkey Biot by the tip.  Again, wrapping down to the bend of the hook.  Next, tie in your Pheasant Tail Fibers by the tips.  The butt ends should extend off the curved back end of the hook.  Return your thread up the hook shank and leave it about a ‘bead length’ behind the bead.

Take your Pheasant Tail fibers and make ‘touching’ wraps forward to create your abdomen.  Tie them off with your thread, then trim off the butt ends.  Next, bring your Turkey Biot forward to create a ‘Shell Back’ on the nymph.  To secure it in place, use your Copper Wire by making spiral wraps around the body and Shell Back.  When you get to your thread location, lift the Biot and take a wrap or two of wire in front of it.  Tie it off and helicopter off the excess wire.  Tie and cut off your thread behind the bead.

Start and secure your Red Thread behind the bead. Take a couple Peacock Herl fibers and tie them in behind the bead.  Take 3-4 wraps to create your Thorax.  Tie and cut off the butt ends.  Now bring the tag end of your Biot forward to create a wing case.  Tie it off behind the bead.  Trim off any excess extending over the bead.  Finally, take wraps behind the bead with your red thread to create a ‘hot spot’.  Whip finish, cut off your thread and apply some head cement if desired. 

Shota Flies has a great video on how to tie this nymph 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 December 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Pink Pheasant Tail

Hook:  Hanak Jig Nymph Hook Size #14. 

Tying thread:   UTC 70 Black.

Bead:  Tungsten Metallic Pink or Hot Pink Bead 3.0 mm.

Tail:  4-5 Pheasant Tail Feather fibers - (Optional-with a tuft of GLO Bright Pink Floss).

Rib: Red or Pink Ultra small wire.

Shell Back: Pearlescent Tinsel, 1-2 strands.

Abdomen: Pheasant Tail Fibers. 

Thorax:  2-3 Wraps of Peacock Herl or Peacock Dubbing.

There are many variations of Pheasant Tail nymphs that you can fish.  This is one of my favorites.

To tie this fly, begin by placing your bead on your Jig Hook.  Secure the bead with touching wraps behind it with your thread.  Work your thread down to the bend of the hook, creating a slender tapered body.  Prepare 5-6 Pheasant Tail Fibers for your tail and body.  Tie them in with the tips rearward with securing wraps.  Take 1 thread wrap behind and under the fibers.  Now, tie in your Red Ultra wire for your rib.  Next tie in a strand of Sulky Pearlescent Tinsel.  I’ve also used Pearlescent Krystal Flash as an alternative.  The Tinsel will act as your Shell Back.

Wrap your thread back up to the bead.  Now wrap the butt ends of the Pheasant Tail fibers forward to create a smooth body/abdomen.  Tie them off and cut off the butt ends.  Bring your Pearlescent Tinsel forward to create a Shell Back (on top of the hook shank).  Tie it off in back of the bead.  Next, counter wrap your Wire Ribbing forward to create a segmented body.  Tie it off and ‘helicopter’ off the excess.  Next, behind the bead, tie in 1-2 fibers of Peacock Herl.  Take 2-3 wraps behind the bead to create a thorax.  As an alternative you can substitute Peacock Dubbing spun in a dubbing loop.  I prefer the natural peacock material whenever I can use it.  Tie off your thorax and whip finish the fly. 

Troutstrike 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 December 2025 Fly of the Month

 Carrot Soft Hackle Nymph

Hook:  Size #12-#14 2X long nymph or wet fly hook.

Thread:  6/0 Uni-Thread in Black or Orange. 

Tail:  Black Hen Hackle Fibers.

Body:  Orange Silk or Floss.

Thorax:  Small Black Chenille.

Hackle:  Brown or Black Hen Hackle.

I love fishing soft hackles and I love fishing flies with Orange features.  It’s a ‘classic’ wet fly that I’ve found particularly effective during sulphur and caddis hatches.  I’ll usually pair it with another wet fly and fish it in tandem.

To tie this fly start your thread behind the eye and lay a thread base to the bend of the hook.  Cut off the tag end of your thread.  Next, tie in your tail of Black Hen Feather fibers.  Use 10-12 fibers and tie them in so that they extend beyond the hook bend a ‘hook gap’ in length.  Wrap your thread forward over the tail butts to create a tapered uniform body. 

Now tie in your Orange Floss.  Tie it in at the front of the body and wrap down to the bend.  Bring your thread back up the shank and leave it approximately 2 ‘eye’ lengths behind the eye.  Wrap and form the body with floss and tie it off with the black thread.  You should have created a nice, tapered body. 

Next, for your thorax, tie in a length of Small Black Chenille.  Take 2 wraps of the Chenille around the hook shank and tie it off.  Cut off the butt end of the Chenille.

Prepare a Black Hen Hackle to represent the legs of the fly.  Strip the bottom feather fibers from the feather.  Tie the feather in, concave side facing down towards the hook. Take some tight securing wraps.  Take 2 wraps around the hook shank while preening the feather fibers rearward.   Tie the feather off and clip off the excess hackle.  Take additional securing wraps while stroking the hackle fibers rearward.  Create a nice, tapered fly head.  Whip finish the head and apply some head cement. 

Savage Flies has a great video on how the tie the Carrot Nymph 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 November 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Sexy Walt's Worm

Hook:  Trout Legend Jig Hook (or Jig Hook of choice), Size #14.

Thread:  70 denier or 8\0 Fluorescent Orange.

Bead:  3 mm tungsten bead, in Silver or color of choice.

Rib:  Pearlescent Krystal Flash or thin Sulky Opalescent Tinsel.

Weight (Optional):  8-10 wraps of .020 lead-free wire.

Body:  Natural Hares-mask dubbing mixed with Antron.

Hot Spot/Collar:  Fluorescent Orange Thread.

Walt's worm was developed in 1984 by a fly tyer named Walt Young of Altoona, PA.  This fly is so simple, yet it’s in my top 5 flies of all time.  Why is it so effective?  Well, it can imitate a variety of things, including sow bugs, scuds, and fresh water shrimp.  It is also an excellent representation of a caddis pupa.  Try tying it in a Natural Hares dubbing and Olive Hares dubbing.  For an alternative ‘Hot Spot’ you can also use Chartreuse Thread.

To tie this fly, insert the hook point into the small hole on the bead.  Slide it forward down the hook shank to the eye.  Next, take 5-10 wraps of lead free wire around the hook shank.  ‘Helicopter’ off the excess wire and slide the wraps against the bead.  This should lock it in place.  Start your thread on the hook shank immediately behind the wire.  Take securing wraps rearward, then cut off the tag end of the thread.  Now take thread wraps over the wire up to the bead and back down the hook shank. Next, tie in your Pearlescent Tinsel.  It should extend beyond the back of the hook bend.  After securing it use your thread to create a smooth ramp up to your wire. 

Now, with your thread back at the bend of the hook, dub a slender dubbing noodle with your Hares Ear/Antron Dubbing.  You can make your own dubbing mixture or purchase one of the many commercial mixtures that are available.  With your dubbing noodle, take wraps forward to create a smooth carrot shaped body.  End it immediately behind the bead.

With your ribbing material, take open spiral wraps up the body of the fly.  Tie it off behind the bead.  Cut off the tag end.  Secure your tying thread with additional wraps and whip finish to create your ‘Hot Spot’.  Finally, cut off the tag end of your thread.  

Tightlinesvideo 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 November 2025 Fly of the Month

 White Estaz Minkie Streamer

Hook:  TMC 5263 or streamer hook of choice, Sizes #4 to #10. 

Tying thread:   Danville 6/0 White or Black.

Wing:  White Rabbit Zonker with barred black grizzly lines.

Body:  White Pearl Medium Estaz.

Throat: Red Saddle Hackle Fibers.

Head: Wraps of Black Danville 6/0 Black, finished with UV Resin, Hard as Nails, or Head Cement. 

I love fishing ‘Bunny Flies’.  Skins come in a variety of colors.  If you so desire, you can add weight to this fly with Bead Heads, Cones, or Dumbbell Eyes.  Please be aware that this can sometimes be a very heavy fly to cast.  The Rabbit tends to hold water, and additional weight may make the fly a little ‘hingy’ when casting.  One way to cut down on this is to shorten your leader.

This is one of my favorite ‘White’ Streamers.  The Estaz makes the belly sparkle, and as with all Zonker patterns, the Rabbit undulates in the water.  I like to tie this fly on a size # 6 streamer hook.  Once your hook is in the vice, start your thread approximately ¼ hook shank behind the eye.  After making securing wraps, cut off the butt end of the thread and wrap down to the bend of the hook. 

Now, prepare your Zonker Strip to length.  The ‘raw hide’ bottom of the Zonker should extend a hook gap length beyond the bend of the hook.  On my streamers, I don’t like to make the tail too long to prevent short strikes.  The Zonker should extend from beyond the bend to the eye.  You’re better off making it longer than shorter.  You can always trim the excess off later.  For the rear tie in point, separate the Zonker Fur to establish a clean ‘tie in’ point.  I find that moistening my fingers helps to separate the Fur.  Next, take 10-12 wraps of thread around the hook shank and Zonker strip.  Lift your Zonker Strip and take a few securing wraps in front of it.  At this point I usually invert the streamer and add a drop of head cement to the rear tie in point.

Next, prepare a strip of your White Estaz for the belly.  Strip some of the flash fibers off the end to expose the string core.  Tie it on the hook shank in front of and against the Zonker Strip.  After securing it, bring your thread 2 eye lengths behind the eye.  Wrap the Estaz forward with touching wraps and tie it off.  Cut off the butt end of the Estaz.  At this point if you are not using black thread, tie off your existing thread off and start your black thread behind the eye. 

After securing the Black Thread, invert your fly.  With 12-14 fibers from a Red Saddle, tie in your Red Throat.  The Throat should extend from behind the eye to ¾ the way to the hook point.  Finally, bring your Zonker Strip forward and tie it in behind the eye.  A critical step in tying this fly is to make sure you have prepared the Zonker Strip to be long enough.  You can always trim off excess.  Create a nice Black Head with your thread.  When done whip finish the Head, cut off your excess thread, and add a drop of Head Cement to the Head of the Fly.

Trident Fly Fishing 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 .