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 .