Julian Tapping

Julian Tapping

  • Joined: September 4, 2017
  • Articles: 311

Fed’s Soft Hackle Swimming Nymph Variant

Soft Hackle Swimming Nymph Variants

Fed’s Soft Hackle Swimming Nymph Variant is Fed’s take on the Soft Hackle Swimming Nymph, a simple and highly suggestive fly designed to imitate a swimming or emerging nymph.

The original pattern uses rabbit fur dubbing for the body and partridge for the soft hackle.[...]

Carp Dry Fly Variant

Carp Dry Fly Variant

Fed’s Carp Dry Fly Variant is a simple but highly effective surface pattern designed for targeting cruising carp. Built around a buoyant foam post and a natural white saddle hackle body, it sits high on the water while presenting a subtle silhouette that carp find difficult to ignore.[...]

Vale Robert “Bob” Dove

Gone fishing...

On Sunday, 21 June 2026, Hastings Fly Fishers lost a valued friend and founding member, Bob Dove.

To many of us, Bob was much more than a Life Member of Hastings Fly Fishers. He helped shape the club from its very beginning.[...]

Fed’s Bonefish Squimp Variant

Fed's Bonefish Squimp Variant

The Bonefish Squimp is arguably one of the most successful shrimp patterns ever developed for saltwater fly fishing. Designed to imitate a fleeing shrimp, its realistic profile, subtle flash, and enticing movement make it a favourite for bonefish, permit, and many other species that hunt crustaceans on shallow flats.[...]

Fed’s “Last Resort” Variant

Fed's Last Resort Variant

The Last Resort is a classic soft hackle fly originally created by Tim Bedford (1909–1985) of California. Renowned for its simple construction and lifelike movement, it remains an effective trout fly that imitates emerging insects and other subsurface prey. In this article, we tie Fed’s Last Resort Soft Hackle Variant, based on the version tied by Matt O’Neal (@SavageFlies), with one notable Australian twist.[...]

Fed’s Crazy Charlie Variant

If you’re chasing whiting, bream, flathead, or even tropical species that love a flashy shrimp imitation, Fed’s Crazy Charlie Variant is a simple yet highly effective pattern worth adding to your fly box.

Inspired by a pattern from renowned South African fly tier Arno Laubscher, Fed’s Crazy Charlie Variant keeps the classic Crazy Charlie profile while introducing bold pink tones and subtle movement that can trigger aggressive strikes.[...]

Gotcha Variant

Gotcha variant

Fed’s Gotcha Variant is a highly effective saltwater shrimp fly pattern designed to imitate the small prawns and crustaceans that are a primary food source for many inshore gamefish. Based on the proven Gotcha fly design, this modern variation features a body of Fly Tyer’s Dungeon FF Braid Shrimp, creating a realistic translucent profile with subtle segmentation that closely resembles a natural shrimp.[...]

Fed’s Wonga Pigeon Minnow

Fed's Wonga Pidgeon Minnow

Fed’s Wonga Pigeon Minnow is a highly effective baitfish imitation that showcases the natural movement and mottled colouring of Wonga pigeon feathers. Designed to create a lifelike profile in the water, Fed’s Wonga Pigeon Minnow combines a fake zebra wool patch tail with four carefully positioned Wonga pigeon feathers that form the body wings.[...]

Brassie Emerger Variant

Brassie Emerger Variant

The Brassie Emerger Variant is a highly effective modern nymph and emerger pattern featured in the FFF Fly Pattern Encyclopedia. Originally designed by David Curneal, and expertly tied by Paul Fedeles, this fly blends the simplicity of a classic Brassie…