The Red Butt and Yellow Butt Cary Special are celebrated variations of the classic Cary Special, a fly that has earned its place as a reliable “searching pattern” among anglers. Rick Passek, known as the FlyFish Fanatic, emphasises the simplicity and effectiveness of these flies, making them ideal for beginners and seasoned fly fishers alike. Read More »

Classic streamers - Corn Buck & Mormon Girl

From BT’s Fly Tying Friday, 12 November 2021. Mike Kelly shows us two of his favourite streamer patterns – the Corn Buck Streamer and the Mormon Girl.

Be sure to watch to the end of the video – Al Beatty shares a quick dubbing tip that’s crucial for anyone attempting to apply those fuzzy fibres to the thread before wrapping them around the hook. Read More »

Fed's Fuzzy Worm

Fed’s Fuzzy Worm is a captivating fly that defies traditional aesthetics with its striking variegated yellow and black chenille body, resembling a fuzzy worm in motion. Its distinctive bushy thorax, crafted from Chocklett’s Finesse Body chenille in olive, adds an intriguing element to its appearance, making it a stand-out choice for fly anglers seeking unconventional yet effective patterns. Read More »

Fed's Rabbitt Zonkers

The Zonker Fly is crafted to mimic baitfish such as minnows or shiners, along with other potential prey like leeches. Its authentic appearance, fluid motion, and adaptable color schemes render it a potent and adaptable choice for pursuing various predatory fish species. Read More »

Sparkle Charlie Chenille Bugger

Sparkle Chenille Bugger

The Sparkle Chenille Bugger fly is a captivating variant of the classic woolly bugger, renowned for its irresistible allure to fish.

Tied on a size 12 hook and adorned with vibrant red bead chain eyes, this fly exudes an air of liveliness in the water. Read More »

Magoo flies

The Orange Bead Magoo is a very easy fly to tie. The Magoo is mainly a pulling fly but is extremely versatile.

Vern Barby, of the Victorian Fly-Fisher’s Association, writes of his Magoo:

“The Magoo is probably my signature fly. Read More »

Craig Coltman's Wendouree Cruncher

“Over the years, I’ve played around with different colour combinations and claret with yellow has proved particularly effective on Lake Wendouree, just around the corner from my Ballarat home. Hence the Wendouree Cruncher’s name: it’s proved particularly useful in a pulling team on this lake. Read More »

A really versatile wet fly that fishes well on both lakes and rivers. Tying a Black and Peacock Spider is quick and easy. When fishing gets tough, this fly fishes well as a nymph on the lake for rising fish or when they are high in the water. Read More »

Paul Fedeles' green mudeye variant

The Green Mudeye was developed by Adrienne and Peter Scheindl around 1960 to imitate the Hemi-cordulia tau or more commonly known as the Mudeye found at Lake Eucumbene in NSW.

What follows is Paul Fedeles’ variant:

Materials

  • Hook – Size 8 to 14
  • Thread – Black
  • Eyes – Melted Mudflap
  • Tail – Black make up brush
  • Body – Olive variegated chenille
  • Case – Black chenille
  • Legs – Medium TFD Black bug legs
Adrienne and Peter Scheindl’s original Green Mudeye

Tying Instructions

  1. Secure your thread to the hook, and build a bump where you want the eyes to sit.
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Drop nose minnow

Distant club members Gretchen and Al Beatty have given us permission to use their pictures and information for this month’s fly from their book How to tie LaFontaine’s Legacy Fly Patterns. There is also a video series of LaFontaine’s Legacy Fly Patterns. Read More »