The following is an excerpt from the book, Opening Days, by Richard Chiaponne (Barclay Creek Press; Hardcover; 232 pages; 6×9; June 2010). It is from the chapter titled, “Perfect: A Fly Tier’s Beginnings.”

Materials You Will Need
Hook: #8 gammarus hook (Skalka G series in my case)
Thread: 6/0 UNI thread color Tan
Weight: medium size flat lead (round wire works just as fine but flat is easier to work with)
Back: 4mm back cover, color Honey
Ribbing: .16mm mono
Body: Hare dubbing dyed light Olive. Seal dubbing dyed Hot Orange. 60 Hare/40 Seal dubbing dyed Black
Color: a light touch of black CD marker pen
Step 1: Hook Selection
Select a scud hook of appropriate size. By appropriate I mean rather large – this one is size 8 and it is …

Terrestrial insects are among the most prolific “hatches” on most trout streams and ants are particularly plentiful throughout the summer. While mayflies, stones, and caddis come and go in their seasons, ants are available for months at a time and fish feed regularly on these little morsels. Ant patterns are easy to tie and fish do not seem to develop an aversion to ants as quickly as they do to aquatic insect imitations. Abundant and tasty naturals that are easy to imitate ˗ the perfect ingredients for successful trout flies.
The …

Hans van Klinken lives in Harskamp, a little village in the center of Holland with his wonderful wife of almost 25 years Ina.  Who has gained her own fame in Canada for spectacular catches of Inconnu (See: http://www.ffinternet.com/html/canada_yukon3.htm) She started fly fishing in 1991.
Hans is 53 years old and has worked for 27 years as an instructor for the Dutch army.  He is currently commander of the Royal Dutch Army Gunner School where he and his instructors are preparing soldiers for deployment to Afghanistan.
Hans began bait fishing at the age …

How many times have you been asked to consider the question ‘What is your favourite fly?’ An impossible one to answer because it depends on so many factors. My favourite fly is the one that best matches the fish’s food type at the specific time; obviously the one that will catch the fish. That’s a cheating answer though I suppose. However, there is another way to look at the posed question. ‘Which fly would you least want to be without?’