Although you may think that they look challenging, heres a quick and easy selection of patterns to tie. I’v chosen five each of the following: Dry flies, Nymphs, Streamers and wet flies.
All these patterns are not only great for honing your techniques, but they are also extremely effective fishing patterns. Remember! Once the basic skills are mastered to perfection, they become the advanced techniques. Good luck with them!
5 Easy dry flies to tie
Dyret
This pattern has proved itself now over many years and has become a must have pattern for most trout and grayling fishermen in Scandinavia.
- Hook: Mustad R30 # 10
- Tying thread: Dyneema
- Head & Tail: Natural roe deer hair
- Hackle: Brown variant cock hackle
- Body: Olive Superfine dubbing
X Caddis
This is a variant of the original John Juracek’s & Craig Mathews pattern of a little egg laying caddis. In smaller sizes it also works well when midge fishing.
Hook: Ahrex FW501 #14Tail: Z-LonBody: Pheasant tail fibresRib: Fine silver wireThorax: Olive superfine dubbingWing: Yearling elk hair
Adult blue Damsel
This adult blue damsel is a semi realistic but easy pattern to tie.
- Hook: Mustad R30 # 12
- Thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
- Detached body: Braided backing line coloured
- Wings: 2 dun cock hackles
- Thorax: 2mm blue foam & Blue ice dubbing
- Hackle: Grizzle dyed blue
Quick sight midge
This extremely easy but very effective quick sight midge is especially for those of us who have some problems seeing small flies at a distance and at night. This pattern has never failed me, especially with big fish that are feeding on midges. It will float all day long and beyond…
- Hook: Mustad C49S # 12
- Tying thread: Dyneema or GSP
- Body: Tying thread coloured with felt pen
- Rib: Dyneema
- Post: Poly yarn
- Hackle: CDC fibres spun in a dubbing loop
IOBO
The original IOBO emerger or IOBO Humpy, as it is also known, was designed by Jack Tucker and for years was a somewhat secret pattern, only known to the privileged few. But this tiny non-specific emerger caught on fast and should not be under estimated, it is truly a deadly pattern, and a absolute must have pattern for all grayling fishermen.
Hook: Mustad C49S # 16-22Tying thread: GreyTrailing shuck: Two strands of crystal flashBody/wing: One CDC hackle
5 Easy nymph flies to tie
Zebra midge
Hook: Barbless grub hook # 12-20Bead: 2.8 mm silver slotted Tungsten beadTying thread: Sheer 14/0 BlackRib: UTC Ultra wire silverThorax: Peacock herl
Pheasant tail nymph
Heres my version of the Phasant tail nymph by Frank Sawyer
- Hook: Standard nymph hook # 8-16
- Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown
- Tail: Pheasant tail fibres
- Rib: Bright copper wire
- Abdomen: Pheasant tail fibres
- Wing case: Peasant tail fibres
- Thorax: Peacock herl
- Legs: Pheasant tail fibres
Montana nymph
- Hook: Standard nymph hook # 6-12
- Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
- Tail: Black hackle fibres
- Abdomen: Black chenille
- Wing case: Black chenille
- Thorax: Green chenille
- Hackle: Black cock
- Head: Black
Scruffy Brassie
Hook: Mustad C49SNP # 6-22
Tying thread: Dyneema
Body: Copper wire
Head: Mixed hares ear dubbing
Grey goose nymph
Frank Sawyer’s grey goose nymph that he developed for mayfly nymph feeding trout and grayling in Swedish Lapland.
5 Easy streamers flies to tie
The Dog Nobbler
Wooly bugger
Most fly fishermen have at one time or another fished with or a variant of the wooly bugger. This is without doubt one of the modern classics, that has only grown in popularity, and not without reason! The Wooly bugger is known as a fish catcher the world over. Its often named when a fishermen is asked, if you could fish with only one fly, what would it be ?
3M Minnow
A great little minnow pattern made from Marabou, Mylar & Mallard flank. It has worked well for sea run browns but should also be just as effective for browns and bows.
The Cormorant
Although a quick and easy tie, this is one of the most popular and effective mini lures of recent years.
Blue flash damsel
One of the most popular patterns in the UK in recent years. When using marabou, the key to getting it right, is to get as much animation in the pattern as possible, it helps using the right marabou in combination with a heavy tungsten bead to attain the optimal swimming and jigging action.
- Hook: Mustad R75 #8 streamer
- Head: 3.6 mm Tungsten bead
- Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Olive
- Tail: Olive marabou & 4 strands Boosted wrinkle winter blue
- Body: UNI Holo tinsel blue
- Body hackle: Webby olive cock hackle
- Collar: Olive marabou spun in dubbing loop
Easy wet flies to tie
Coch-y-Bonddu
This well known Welsh pattern represents a small beetle of the same name (red & black) that is found along the river and lake banks of the Welsh countryside. One of the classic peacock herl patterns that trout just love. Here’s the correct way of tying it.
- Hook: Mustad S70 # 10
- Tying thread: Black sheer 14/0
- Butt: Fine flat gold tinsel
- Body: Peacock herl
- Rib: Tying thread
- Hackle: Furnace hen hackle
Zulu Blue
Another classic wet fly that has for the most been forgotten but its well worth blowing the dust off this one especially if you are fishing sea run browns in fresh water.
- Hook: Mustad S60 # 8
- Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 black
- Tag: Red silk floss
- Rib: Medium flat tinsel
- Body: Black seals fur
- Body hackle: Black cock
- Hackle: Blue hen hackle
Cruncher
An extremely popular pattern in the UK that is used from both boat and bank. The cruncher has many variants, this is the standard that can be tied on different hook weights and fished all year round.
Bibio
One of the most highly regarded Irish wet flies tied here for both trout and sea trout. Not only a killer pattern but a great fly for the new beginner to tie and have success with.
- Hook: Mustad S70 # 8
- Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 black
- Rib: Fine oval tinsel silver
- Body: Black & Red seals fur dubbing
- Hackle: Black cock
- Cheeks: Jungle cock
Hares ear soft hackle
A quick and easy Hares ear soft hackle / wet fly that will work just about anywhere. Fish it up-stream as an emerger / semi dry, let it drift down stream and as it passes you give it a pull and swing it down and across as a wet fly.
- Hook: Mustad S70 # 12
- Tying thread: Sheer brown 14/0
- Tail: Wood duck
- Rib: Oval gold tinsel
- Body: Hares ear dubbing
- Hackle: Brown hen hackle
