Fly Fishing Reporter

Welcome to Fly Fishing Reporter!

Your guide to America’s Best Trout Streams and the fine art of fly tying. Each of our state fly fishing guides includes an interactive Google map detailing access to the best trout streams, real-time USGS stream gauge data and information on how to fish each stream.

On the Fly Fishing Reporter blog we provide articles on fly fishing destinations, fly fishing tips and fly tying videos.

We also offer up the best deals available on-line on new and used fly fishing equipment and fly tying supplies. Enjoy!

European Nymphing Techniques – Back to the Basics

So you want to learn about european nymphing techniques (euro nymphing), like the highly effective Czech nymphing or french nymphing methods, right? I’ve written a number of articles on european nymphing methods that you can review here, but if you want to learn the basics here is what you need: 1) A light spinning rod with 4 lb test line 2) A hook 3) Some worms Huh? Learn European Nymphing By Fishing Bait Yep, that’s the secret to becoming proficient in european nymphing techniques or any nymphing techniques for that matter. Learn how to fish bait. Let me explain. This occurred [...]

[Video] How to Tie a Crane Fly Larva

Tim Flagler demonstrates how to tie his version of a Crane Fly Larva in this Tightline Productions fly tying video tutorial. Crane Fly Larva Mash-Up As Tim points out in the video his Crane Fly Larva imitation is a mash-up of Frank Sawyer’s Killer Bug, the Utah Killer Bug from Tenkara Guides, the Jason Klass version of the Utah Killer bug, and Walt’s Worm by Walt Young. Wow! For a simple pattern that’s a lot of mashing! Why Tim’s Crane Fly Larva Pattern Works The secret ingredient in Tim’s Crane Fly pattern is the wool yarn he uses, Jamieson’s Shetland [...]

[Video] How to Tie Catskill Flies

Seeing this video of and blogger Matt Grobert tying a Catskill-style dry fly, here a Hendrickson, brought back fond memories. Trips to the Beaverkill River in the Catskills region of New York State with my Dad and brother some 25 years ago where a highly anticipated event. Up before dawn for the 2-hour ride to Roscoe, New York, a town dubbed “Trout Town USA”, seemed to take forever but were always worth it. Our first stop in town was usually at the Little Store, a general store of sorts, to stock up on flies and see what was hatching. Back [...]

Fly Tying Material of the Week: Beaver Dubbing

Beaver dubbing has long been recoginzied as one of the finest furs for fly tying and in particular for tying small dry flies. It makes sense if you consider that the beaver spends most of their life in water, and so has developed really fine, soft and water resistant underfur to keep warm. Beaver fur is tight yet supple making it is easier to taper dry fly bodies. Beaver dubbing is tough, holds it’s shape far better under rough wear and successive wettings than many other types of hair and does not absorb water. These properties make Beaver fur dubbing [...]

[Video] Lance Egan’s Rainbow Warrior Fly

Hans Stephenson of Dakota Angler & Outfitter demonstrates how to tie Lance Egan’s Rainbow Warrior in this fly tying video tutorial. Rainbow Warrior – What’s The Fuss? While the Rainbow Warrior is a pretty simple and rather unimpressive looking fly don’t be fooled, it’s quite deadly. Listed in George Daniel’s as one pattern he would not leave home without, the Rainbow Warrior is a tried and true pattern that’s proven itself on the international competitive fly fishing circuit. Developed by Lance Egan, a long-time member of the US fly fishing team, the Rainbow Warrior tied with a tungsten bead makes [...]

[Video] Chimarra Caddis Larva

In this fly tying video from Tightline Productions, Matt Grobert ties his version of the Chimarra Caddis Larva, a super simple fly pattern (just the way I like them). Grobert, an and blogger, demonstrates how even such a simple pattern can make for a very attractive and imitative pattern that trout will find hard to resist. Chimarra Caddisfly The Chimarra caddisfly, also known as the little black sedge, is common to the eastern and Midwestern United States. In it’s larval stage, the Chimarra caddis is bright orange to yellow and darkens to black during emergence in the Spring (weird I [...]

[Video] BWO Soft Hackle by Johhny Utah

Johnny Utah of Utah’s Fly Corner demonstrates how to tie a beautifully simple blue-winged olive (BWO) soft hackle that is deadly on the eastern PA limestone streams he fishes. BWO Soft Hackle Materials Hook: Daiichi 1550, Size 14-18 Thread: Uni 8/0, light olive Tail: Pheasant tail fibers Thorax: Tying thread Rib: X-small copper wire Thorax: Pheasant tail fibers Hackle: Grey partridge Enjoy!

[Video] Rosenbauer’s Lucky Rabbit Foot Emerger

Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions demonstrates how to tie Tom Rosenbauer’s Lucky Rabbit’s Foot Emerger in this fly tying video. What Makes it Lucky? Well it is made from a rabbit’s foot, right? Kidding aside,Tom Rosenbauer, noted author and host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast, developed this pattern some 20 years ago while a guide in Yellowstone National Park and to this day it’s still his go to emerger pattern. In fact, in a recent podcast where Tom named his top 12 dry flies that will catch fish “anywhere in the world”, there was only one emerger on [...]

[Video] Davy Wotton Cinnamon & Brown Emerger Caddis (Variant)

Master fly tyer Davie McPhail demonstrates how to tie a Cinnamon/Brown Emerger Caddis, a variant of a Davy Wotton’ emerger caddis pattern. Cinnamon & Brown Emerger Caddis Material List Hook: Fulling Mill Super Grub size 12 Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0, Orange Rib: Clear Nymph Wrap or Tinsel Body: SLF Dubbing, Cinnamon Thorax Cover: Cock Pheasant Tail Fiber or Antron Floss Wing: Deer Body Hair, Dark Brown Legs: Summer Duck (Wood Duck) Fibers Thorax: Dark Brown SLF Dubbing and Bug-Bond Horns: Cock Pheasant Tail Fibers Enjoy!

[Video] Tying a Green Royal Coachman by Davie McPhail

Davie McPhail demonstrates how to tie a Green Royal Coachman dry fly is this fly tying video tutorial. Why green? Why not. It looks great and it’s a little different from all those red ones. I’m game.