Fly-Tying

By Phil Rowley Originally published in “Fly-Tying” March/April 2011 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. Without doubt, scuds or freshwater shrimp are the premier crustaceans in British Columbia. This celebrity status is not necessarily one of popularity with many, but it is certainly one of recognition by most. But creeping and scurrying around...

From Phil Rowley's Fly-Tying Column I divide fly patterns into three basic categories, suggestive, imitative and attractor. Each pattern category has a set of conditions when I am most likely to use them. Imitative patterns work best when a match the hatch philosophy is required, a common occurrence during the spring...

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by Phil Rowley From his Fly Tying Column One of the best dragon nymph imitations is Jim Crawford’s Gomphus. Although technically not a Gomphus imitation, Gomphus or Gomphidae are most commonly found living in slow moving sections of rivers and streams, and there is no disputing this pattern’s success. The spun and...

by Phil Rowley Originally published in “Fly-Tying” May 2011 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. It has been said that trout spend up to 90% of their time feeding beneath the surface, often just above the bottom. With this fact in mind it only makes sense to want to get our flies down...

By Phil Rowley (designed by Bob Taylor) Originally published in Phil’s “Fly-tying” column in the March/April 2013 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. Click here to view or print the original version. Hanging leeches under indicators is now common on most Western Canadian stillwaters. Arguably, you could spend the entire season suspending only...

The Surf Candy is one of a number of proven baitfish patterns designed and developed by New Jersey fly fisher and author Bob Popovics. Bob has spent years along the eastern seaboard of the United States chasing striped bass, bluefish and false albacore on the fly perfecting his innovative designs...

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...

From Phil Rowley's Fly Tying Column In recent years European nymphing techniques have become dominant across North America. Not only the method itself but also the unique patterns fly fishers tie and use such as Spanish style nymphs. Spanish nymphs are small, thin and hard bodied. Designed to succeed in...

by Phil Rowley (designed by Aaron Goodis)Originally published in "Fly-Tying" column of BC Outdoors magazine in the September/October 2011 issue. Each year, from mid-summer through to early fall, pink salmon return to spawn along BC’s coastal beaches, estuaries, rivers and streams – often in staggering numbers. While Vancouver Island waters are...