Fly-Tying

Soft plastic lures are a must-have lure within a conventional bass angler’s tackle box, especially a Senko worm. Depending on...

First published in BCO Sport Fishing, Jan/Feb 2015 Not everyone participates in or supports competitive fly-fishing. But no matter where you stand, gear, presentation techniques or flies; all have been influenced by competitions. Developments such as no-stretch lines, beadheads and Euro nymphing are just a few of the benefits that we,

British Columbia’s storied waters are among steelheading’s most hallowed. Names like the Dean, Kispiox, and Bulkley are whispered with reverence internationally, and for many, a steelheader’s life is not complete without at least one visit to them all. I’m often asked by visiting anglers which flies they should bring, and I...

The FAB is a clever blend of two popular stillwater attractors, the Booby and the Blob, two patterns that have been the subject of previous columns. Together, these three patterns form my current stillwater attractor pattern trinity. From the research I have done, the FAB’s origins trace back to some English...

By Phil Rowley (designed by Scott Howell) Originally published in Phil's "Fly-tying" column in the November/December 2011 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. Click here to view or print the original version. Scott Howell is a renowned steelhead guru, Oregon guide and innovator within the steelhead fraternity. Along with fly-fishers such as Ed...

I was fortunate to meet Rob Texmo earlier this year. Rob is a talented tyer with a love for traditional Atlantic salmon and spey patterns, adapting the tying techniques and disciplines these flies require with great success for Pacific salmon and steelhead. Rob’s tying skill and attention to detail on...

So many distinctly separate and rewarding factors separate fly-fishing from all other sports, especially the artistic or creative aspect of fly-tying. Little is as sweet as to create a fly and to have a fish take it or for others to catch fish it. Tying started for me at an...

It’s no secret that as fish grow, their desire for large, protein-rich food sources increases, protein that often comes in...

At first glance, chironomid pupae appear simple to imitate. If you follow some basic principles, match the size of the...

By Phil Rowley Originally published in “Fly-Tying” Jan/Feb 2011 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. The General Practitioner or ‘GP’, as it is affectionately known to many, is a staple pattern for most British Columbia steelhead fly-fishers. The GP was originally designed as a prawn or shrimp imitation for Atlantic salmon by an...