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 .

Paul's March 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 CDC Hendrickson Emerger

Hook:  Partridge SLP Size #12 or preferred curved emerger/nymph hook.

Thread:  Uni 8/0 Tan, Brown, or Wood Duck.

Shuck:  Dark Brown or Dark Dun Zylon, Antron, or Shuck Yarn.

Rib:  Copper wire. 

Body:  Turkey Tail Herl.

Post/Wing:  Dark Dun CDC.

Thorax:  Super Fine Hendrickson Pink Dubbing.

***This pattern can be modified to mimic any hatch by simply changing the dubbing color, post color, and/or shuck color.  Also when downsizing this fly for other hatches you may want to use Pheasant Tail Fibers for the body.

To tie this fly, start your thread a little behind the hook eye.  Lay down a thread base extending to the hook point.  Prepare your CDC wing.  For a size #12 fly use 4 CDC plums.  Align the tips of the feathers and tie them in with the tips extending over the hook eye.  They should extend about a hook gap length past the eye.  After 4-5 secure wraps, cut off the butt ends and wrap over what remains to form a smooth body base.  Continue wrapping down the bend so that you can tie in your Zylon or Antron Shuck.  After tying your shuck in, trim itso that it’s a hook gap in length.  At your shuck ‘tie-in’ point, tie in your Copper wire rib.  At the same tie in point tie in a few Turkey Tail Fibers.  Wrap your Turkey Fibers forward so that it remains flat and thin to create the body of the fly.  Leave a hook-eye space behind your wing, tie it off and remove the butt ends.  Next, make spiral wraps up the hook shank with your Copper Wire Rib.  Tie it off and ‘helicopter’ off the excess.

 Now, pull your wing back and with a series of wraps in front of it, affix it remains upright.  With your thread behind the wing, create a dubbing noddle with Hendrickson Dubbing.  Wrap in back and in front of your wing to create a thorax for your fly.  Whip finish your fly and your done. 

Dette Flies 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 March 2025 Fly of the Month

 Coyote Micro Dace

Hook:  Size #8 - #12 4X Long Streamer Hook.

Thread:  Black 6/0.

Body:  Silver or Holographic Silver Tinsel.

Belly:  White Bucktail.

Wing:  Coyote Fur over Black Bucktail.

Head:  Black Thread coated with Head Cement, Hard As Nails, or UV Resin.

While many fly fishers out there have concentrated on tying large articulated streamers in search of big trout, personally I’ve taken a different approach, tying and fishing smaller ones.  Many times, tied on a jig hook.  This fly is more of a traditional ‘New England’ type streamer.  Just tied on smaller size hooks.  I think the reason I’ve gone with smaller streamers is that it’s easy to fish them with small changes to my ‘euro-rigs’ on a lighter rod. 

To tie this fly, start your thread an eye length or two behind the eye and wrap back down to the bend.  Bring your thread back up to the tie in point.  You are now ready to tie in your Silver Tinsel body. Tie it in at your initial ‘tie-in’ point, wrap down to the bend, then back up to the ‘tie-in’ point.  Now make touching wraps up the hook shank.  Tie it off and cut off the butt end.  Traditional New England streamers are tied this way so that an even and slender body is created.

Next, prepare a small bunch of White Bucktail for your belly. The belly and wing materials should be on the sparser side.  Do not overdress this fly. To tie in the belly, invert the fly if you have a rotary vice, or do it manually. Tie it in under/behind the eye. It should extend approximately 2 hook gap lengths behind the bend.  Once secured you can cut off the butt end of the belly. Invert your fly again and tie in a small bunch of Black Bucktail for the first layer of your wing.  It should mirror the lower belly that you just tied in. Once affixed you can clip off the butt end and ‘clean up’ the fly head with thread wraps. 

Finally, prepare a bunch of Coyote Fur for your top wing.  Again, don’t overdress your fly.  The Coyote should have a mix of long guard hair as well as some under fur. Tie it in on top of your Black wing. Cut off the butt end and create a nice little head on the fly with your black thread. Whip finish it, cut your thread, and finish the head with head cement or UV resin. Your fly is done. One final note here. You could substitute other natural furs for the top wing, but I really love using coyote.  It not as stiff as Bucktail or as flaccid as squirrel.  Coyote has the perfect mix of stiffness and movement that makes this streamer attractive to fish.

Savage Flies 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 February 2025 Fly of the Month

 Grass Monkey

Hook:  Mustad 34007 Size #1.

Thread:  Black 8/0.

Eyes:  Medium Bead Chain or Nickle Dumbbell eyes.

Body:  Regular Size Estaz Tan Chenille.

Wing:  Olive Green or Tan Craft fur with stripes marked with a Permanent  Marker.

Flash:  Two strands of Gold Krystal Flash on each side of the wing.

Top Wing/Head:  Deer Hair with spun Head.

Why post this fly for the Fly of the Month since it was originally created for warm water species, like redfish, in southern waters?  I’ve posted it because it’s a great ‘Cross Over’ fly that works well for stripers.  It’s very similar to ‘kwan’ flies in that it can imitate a shrimp, a crab, or even a bait fish.  I’ve caught stripers on it.  Given it to friends that have fished Florida & Puerto Rico, and they caught a wide variety of species on it. 

To tie this fly, debarb your hook and place it in your vice.  You are going to mount your bead chain or dumbbell eyes approximately 1/3 down the hook shank.  Use

‘cris cross’ and figure 8 wraps to secure it to the hook.  I like to place a drop or two of UV Resin on my wraps to secure it firmly to the hook shank.  Next, bring your thread all the way back to the bend.  Tie in your Estaz Tan Chenille.  Palmer the Estaz forward with touching wraps, stroking the fibers backwards as you go.  Tie it off behind the eyes and cut off the excess. 

Now invert your fly in the vice.  Prepare a pencil size clump of Craft Fur for your wing.  Tie it in front of the eyes with securing wraps.  Smooth out the base taking into account tying in some Deer Hair for the top wing.  Using a magic marker, bar the Craft Fur wing.  Next, on each side of the Craft Fur Wing, tie in 2 pieces of Crystal Flash.  They should extend at least to the tip of the wing.  Prepare a chunk of Deer Hair fibers for your Top Wing.  Clip it from the hide and strip out the guard hairs and short fibers.  The Top Deer Hair wing should extend at least to the hook point.  Hold it in place on top of the Craft Hair wing.  Take 2 loose wraps and then tightly pull down to flair the butt end of the Deer Hair.  Wrap through your butts a few times with your thread.  Pull all the butts rearward and make some securing wraps in front of the deer hair.  Whip finish the fly.  While holding your Deer tips down, Trim down the butt ends of the Deer Hair to create a small circular head.  I add a drop of head cement to my Deer Hair head for extra durability. 

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 .

Paul's January 2025 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Isonychia Wet Fly

Hook:  Fulling Mill 5085 Nymph Hook, Size #12.

Thread:  UTC Brown or Wood Duck 70 denier.

Rib:  Small Gold Ultra Wire.

Tail:  6-8 Pheasant Tail Fibers.

Dorsal Stripe:  White UTC 140 Denier Thread or White Floss.

Abdomen:  Isonychia-colored Dubbing.

Thorax:  Peacock herl 3-4 strands.

Collar:  Hen Feather, mottled brown.

If you’re a fly-fisherman here in CT, you should carry a ‘life cycle’ of Iso patterns in your fly box.  Why?  Because it’s a big fly and can be found on the water from late spring to mid fall.  How big is this fly?  Usually around a size #12 to #14.  I’ve previously featured Iso flies by Preston Jennings as the ‘Fly of the Month’.  This pattern is a variation of his flies. 

To tie this fly, debarb your hook and place it in the vice.  Start your thread with securing wraps a ‘hook eye’s length’ behind the hook eye.  Cut off the butt end of your thread.  Tie in your Gold Wire Rib and make touching wraps rearward.  Wrap down to the bend of the hook.  Next, advance your thread to the original ‘tie in’ point of your thread.  Prepare a half dozen or so Pheasant Tail Fibers for your tail.  The tips should be evenly aligned.  Tie them in for your tail.  They should be approximately a hook gap in length.   Bind them down on top of the hook shank wrapping rearward.  Once secured bring your thread up to the mid-point of the hook shank. 

Tie in your White Thread Dorsal Stripe.  Wrap your rearward to secure it, making sure you keep it on top of the hook shank.  Next, dub a slim Dubbing Noodle of your Iso Dubbing.  Dub the body up the hook shank to your initial tie in point.  Next, pull your white thread over the top of the body and secure it with a few wraps.  Cut off the excess thread.  Next, make open spiral wraps up the body with your Wire Ribbing to create a segmented body.  Tie it down and ‘helicopter’ off the wire.

Next, tie in 3-4 strands of peacock herl for your thorax.  Take 3-4 turns around the hook shank.  Remember to leave room for your Collar/Hen Hackle.  Secure it with a couple wraps of thread and cut off the excess.  Next, prepare your mottled brown hen hackle for your Collar.  Ideally, the fibers on the hen feather should be approximately a hook shank in length.  Strip off the lower fibers on the feather stem.  Holding the tip of the feather in 1 hand, strip the lower fibers rearward.  Snip off the tip of the feather and then tie it in right behind the eye of the hook.  Take 2 wraps of your hackle and secure it behind the eye.  Anchor the stem behind the eye.  Snip off the excess stem.  Make a few more wraps to preen back any forward pointing fibers.  Whip finish your fly.  Apply some head cement if you desire.   

Tightlinevideo 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 .