Paul “the Fed” Fedeles shares his love for the Australian Wood Duck, focusing on its feathers, which, he says, are easy to work with and perfect for tying flies. In this video, Paul asks, “Why tie one when you can tie five?” Read More »

Soft Hackle Snail Variant

The Soft Hackle Snail Variant is a remarkable fly pattern hailing from Australian Fly Patterns by Peter Coulson, tied expertly by Paul Fedeles. The soft hackle snail variant is specifically designed to imitate the natural movement of snails in the water, making it an excellent choice for fishing in lakes and still waters. Read More »

Red Tag Soft Hackle Bass Flies

The Red Tag Soft Hackle Bass Fly, created by Paul Fedeles, is a clever adaptation inspired by Rick Passek’s (the FlyFish Fanatic) Red Butt Carey Special. Fedeles openly admits to borrowing heavily from Passek’s design, jokingly referring to his version as a “plagiarised” fly. Read More »

Detailed instructions on how to use large feathers on small soft hackles.

A clever technique for utilising oversized feathers on small soft tackle flies involves isolating the feather’s tip to create a triangular tie-in anchor. By extending the feather’s fibres past the hook’s edge and reorienting its stem parallel to the shank, you can wrap it as a normal soft tackle collar, securing it in place to finish the fly’s body and push the fibres rearward for a tidy finish behind the eye. Read More »

Hot Spot Soft Hackle

The Hot Spot Soft Hackle fly is a versatile and highly effective pattern in the world of fly fishing. This innovative fly pattern combines elements of traditional soft hackle flies with a modern twist, featuring a brightly coloured “hot spot” near the head of the fly that serves as a trigger point for hungry trout and other freshwater species. Read More »

soft hackle caddis pupa

Soft hackles are underrated.

This pattern was originally tied to be suggestive as a Stillwater Caddis attractor. This version has a green rib used to suggest segmentation, and a Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle. The Peacock Herl thorax gives this fly some natural iridescent qualities and the UV lime green butt and rib give it a little extra flash. Read More »