Fly Tying Recipes & Patterns

Stew’s Killer Marabou was designed by Stew Stewart of Shingletown, California, and has become a trusted go-to for anglers looking to land trout, bass, panfish, and more. Tied here by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies, the pattern is an excellent example of simplicity meeting deadly effectiveness.Though it looks like a standard marabou streamer, the proportions and flow of materials make it behave like a much more complex fly in the water. Its seductive pulsing motion, thanks to the soft marabou, makes it perfect for enticing aggressive strikes—even in tough conditions.Materials Hook: #10 1x long wet fly Thread: Black Rib: Small wire Tail: Marabou, your choice of color Body: Tail piece, twisted and wrapped Wing: Marabou, your choice of color Head: Peacock herl How to Tie the Stew's Killer Marabou 

Tied here by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies.The Letort Cricket is another iconic pattern from legendary Pennsylvania tyer Ed Shenk. Created for the tricky spring creek trout of the Letort, this pattern is a subtle, all-black variation of Shenk’s famous Letort Hopper—designed specifically to imitate the common field cricket.Crickets are a key summer food source for trout, especially in areas with grassy banks and meadows. The Letort Cricket capitalizes on this by offering a natural, low-riding silhouette that is incredibly effective in flat, clear water.Materials Hook: #10-16 dry fly Thread: Black Body: Black fur dubbing Underwing: Turkey dyed black (or duck or goose slips) Overwing: Black deer body hair Head: Black deer body hair (spun) How to Tie the Letort Cricket 

The Yellow Sally Stimulator is a summertime dry fly classic that deserves a spot in every warm-weather fly box. Designed to imitate the smaller species of stoneflies known as Yellow Sallies, this fly shines on freestone rivers and mountain streams during late spring and summer months.In this video, author, blogger, and veteran fly tyer Matt Grobert demonstrates how he ties this effective pattern, with filming by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions. The result is a clean, durable fly that floats well and attracts aggressive takes in riffles and fast water.The Stimulator style gives it a high-floating profile with just the right amount of bushiness, and the yellow coloration matches a broad range of small stoneflies and attractor scenarios.MaterialsHook: 3X-long natural-bend hook, size 14. Thread: Olive, 6/0. Egg sac: Bright orange rabbit-fur dubbing. Rib: Fine gold wire. Abdomen: Bright yellow rabbit-fur dubbing. Rear hackle: Yellow hackle. Wing: Bleached elk hair, cleaned and stacked. Front hackle: Cree or grizzly hackle. Thorax: Bright yellow rabbit-fur dubbing.How to Tie the Yellow Sally Stimulator 

Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions.This stonefly-inspired pattern has become a must-have in nearly every trout angler’s fly box. It’s simple, rugged, and just flat-out catches fish—especially in fast water where a big profile helps grab attention.Despite its effectiveness, many tyers shy away from it due to one small but slippery issue: the rubber legs. Securing them without frustration can feel like a fight you don’t want to have. But in this video, Tim Flagler breaks down a few easy tricks that simplify the process and make tying this fly far less tedious.This pattern works equally well for trout, steelhead, and even smallmouth bass when tied in larger sizes. Swap out the colors to match local stoneflies, or experiment with flashy variations as attractors.MaterialsHook: 3X-long nymph hook, sizes 4-12. Weight: .015 lead-free wire. Thread: 6/0 or 140 Denier, black. Tails and antennae: Black Lifeflex or similar. Body: Variegated Chenille, medium, black-and-coffee. Legs: Black Spanflex or similarHow to Tie the Pat's Rubber Legs 

Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions.The Zebra Midge is a tried-and-true pattern that has earned its spot in every angler's nymph box—but a few subtle tweaks can make it even more effective. Enter the Brite Butt Zebra Midge, a variation tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, designed to grab attention in both clear and slightly stained water.What makes this version special is the addition of a bright thread “butt” near the bend of the hook. That splash of fluorescent color acts as a trigger point for trout and other species, especially in pressured or low-light conditions. Combined with a clean, segmented black body and silver ribbing, it offers contrast, movement, and just enough flash to provoke a strike.MaterialsHook: Wide-gap jig hook (here a Fulling Mill FM5125), size 20. Bead: Black tungsten slotted bead, 3/32-inch. Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-denier. Weight: Lead-free round wire, .015. Butt: Pink Glo-Brite fluorescent floss. Rib: Silver Ultra Wire, small. Body: Black tying thread. Collar: Black rabbit-fur dubbing. How to Tie the Brite Butt Zebra Midge 

Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions.Winter may slow the hatches, but it doesn’t stop the trout—or the midges. When the weather gets cold in the Northeast (or just about anywhere), tiny patterns often rule the day. Enter the Parachute Midge, a small-but-effective dry fly that holds its own in tough winter conditions.Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, this size 24 parachute-style midge is designed to be visible to both fish and anglers. A simple switch from white thread to fluorescent orange in the final steps makes this microscopic fly stand out just enough on the surface—crucial when you're trying to track your drift in flat, cold water.Despite its size, this pattern isn’t as difficult to tie as it looks. The post, thread body, and sparse hackle make it relatively straightforward, even at small sizes. It’s become one of Tim’s go-to winter dry flies for good reason.Materials Hook: Standard dry-fly hook, Daiichi 1110, size 24. Thread: Bright orange Veevus, 16/0. Tails: Grizzly saddle hackle, midge. Post: White polypropylene floating yarn. Body: Black Super Fine dubbing. Hackle: Grizzly saddle hackle, slightly oversize. How to Tie the Size 24 Parachute Midge 

Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions.Originally designed by the late Chuck Kraft, the Kreelex Fly has become a modern classic streamer thanks to its undeniable flash and movement in the water. Think of it as a turbocharged version of the Clouser Minnow—built for fish that like to chase. This pattern was designed for smallmouth bass on the James River, but its effectiveness has carried over to trout, largemouth, and even saltwater species.Tim Flagler’s version stays true to Kraft’s design—simple, quick to tie, but outrageously effective. The fly features only a few materials, but when the Kreelex Flash gets wet, it breathes and pulses with lifelike movement. The dumbbell eyes give it a jigging action that works well when stripped or bounced along the bottom.If you're fishing stained water or targeting aggressive feeders, the Kreelex is a streamer you need in your box.Materials Hook: Long-shank streamer hook (here, a Mustad Heritage R75), size 6. Thread: White, 140-denier. Belly: Silver Kreelex Fish Flash or similar. Eyes: Plated Lead Eyes, medium. Back: Gold Kreelex Fish Flash or similar. How to Tie the Kreelex 

Tied by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies on YouTube. The Foam Humpy is a simplified and more durable version of the classic Humpy — one of the most iconic attractor dry flies in fly fishing. This variation substitutes the traditional hair hump with closed-cell foam, making it much easier and faster to tie, while adding serious floatability.This is a go-anywhere, fish-anywhere kind of fly. Whether you’re working fast riffles, turbulent pocket water, or need a highly buoyant dry for a dry-dropper setup, the Foam Humpy delivers. It rides high, stays visible, and can be tied in a wide range of colors and sizes to suit nearly any trout water.Materials Hook: #12-18 dry fly Thread: Any color Tail: Moose body hair Body: 2-3mm foam, any color Wing: White calf body hair Hackle: Any color, dry fly How to Tie the Foam Humpy 

When stealth and realism matter—like when you’re stalking picky permit or bonefish—this Realistic ABC Crab is a fly that will turn heads… both angler and fish alike. Tied by Phillippa Hake from Semperfli. This is a simple and highly effective way of creating fantastic crab imitations.Materials Hook: Saltwater hook of your choice size. Body: Semperfli ABC Crab Bodies Claws, and Legs: Semperfli ABC Crab Legs, Claws and Skeletons Underbody: Lead wire if required Shell/Top: UV resin How to Tie the Realistic Crab