Paul's November 2026 Fly of the Month

 Holo Midge

Hook:  Tiemco 2488 Size #16.

Thread:  UTC Ultra Thread 70 D, Black, Pink, or Fluorescent Orange. 

Bead:  5/64 Black Tungsten.

Body Rib:  Semperfli Bright Silver Wire 2mm.

Body:  Mirage Flash, Opal. 

Wing:  Antron Yarn Fluorescent White.

I love using this fly with a dry dropper rig.  With it’s flash Opal Body it’s a scaled down version of a Rainbow Warrior without the Rainbow dubbing.  One thing that I do differently from the ‘original’ recipe is use Orange thread.  I love how it reflects through the Opal Body.  I also tie some Holo’s with an Amber rather than White Wing. 

To tie this fly, place your bead on the hook and hook into your vice.  Start your thread behind the bead.  After making securing wraps cut off the tag end of your thread.  You are now going to tie in your Silver Wire Rib.  Wrap your thread rearward along the hook shank while capturing the wire.  Go back down the bend of the hook to where the barb of the hook is/or would be located.  Use your thread to create a tapered body along the hook shank. 

Next, tie in your Mirage Flash Opal Body material on the hook shank.  Wrap down to your Rib ‘tie in’ point.  You should have enough material protruding rearward to wrap the body of the fly.  Bring your thread up behind the bead.  With touching wraps bring your Body material forward and tie it off behind the bead.  Cut off the excess.  Now, bring your Silver Wire Rib forward with spiral wraps to create a segmented body.  Use counter clockwise wraps for durability.  Tie it off behind the bead and ‘helicopter’ off the butt end. 

Using a pinch wrap, tie in a small amount of Antron Yarn for your wing.  It should be approximately the thickness of the fly body.  Once you tie it in with securing wraps, cut off the butt end.  Whip finish the fly.  If I’m using Orange Thread, I’ll create a small ‘hot spot’ behind the bead.  Finally, trim your wing so that it’s approximately 2 times the length of your bead.  The fly is complete.  

Avidmax 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 October 2026 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Kinky Muddler

Hook:  Gmakatsu Big Game 4/0 SL12s.

Thread:  Clear Mono or White Danville 210 Denier Waxed.

Tail:   White Bucktail, flanked by 4 White Saddle Hackle, topped with 6 strands of Krystal Flash.

Rear Body:  White Marabou.

Front Body:  Slinky Fiber SF Blend.

Eyes:  5/16 3D Eyes, coated with Liquid Fusion or UV Resin.

This is a large piece of ‘meat’.  It’s got a broad and thick profile.  It was originally developed by a fly fisher named Johnnie King. 

To tie this fly, start your thread near the end of the hook shank near the bend.  Take securing wraps and cut off the butt end.  Prepare a clump of White Bucktail to tie in for your tail. After making securing wraps, use your fingernail to press down at the tie-in point, ensuring the Bucktail completely surrounds the hook shank.  It should extend 2 hook shank lengths beyond the bend. Next, prepare 4 White Saddle Hackle to add to your tail. You are going to tie them in on each side of the hook shank to create a ‘tented’ hackle tail.  All of the Hackle will ‘cruve in’ and should be slightly longer than the Bucktail. Take 1 wrap of thread under and around the tail.  This will help prevent the tail from fouling.  Top the tail with 4-6 strands of Krystal Flash.

Next, invert your hook.  Take a clump of White Marabou and tie it in on the bottom of the hook.  It should sweep rearward at a 45-degree angle and extend halfway down the tail.  Invert your hook and tie in a clump of White Marabou on top of the hook shank.  Again, it will sweep rearward and mirror the bottom Marabou.

With small clumps of Slinky Fiber SF Blend, you are now going to tie in an alternating series of ‘V’ tie in’s on top and under the hook shank.  They will sweep rearward at a 45 degree angle.  As you tie in each clump, it should extend ¾ of the length of the previous clump.  Continue this process until you end up behind the eye.  Whip finish and cut off your thread.  Remove the fly from the vice and comb and brush out the Slinky Fiber material rearward.  With scissors, trim and shape the fly to your desired shape.  Keep in mind that one of the benefits of this fly is it’s beefier and broader profile.  Return the fly to the vice.  Affix and glue your 3 D eyes in place.  I like to coat the eyes and surrounding area with UV Resin to ensure durability.

LIFliesMike 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 .