Few fly tyers bring the same blend of precision, patience, and quiet artistry to the vise as Wes Penny. Known online as Flame Lily Flies, the Vancouver Island–based tier has spent years refining his clean, translucent stillwater patterns. Wes' flies blur the line between realism and function. His dedication to proportion, thread control, and subtle detail earned him first place in the 2024 edition of our annual J. Stockard Fly Tying Contest, where his entry stood out for its technical execution and lifelike presence. But behind the winning fly lies a much deeper story—of a craftsman shaped by a childhood in Zimbabwe, a disciplined career in policing, and countless hours at the vise in pursuit of perfection.

We sat down with Wes to talk about his process, materials, and what it really takes to tie a fly that not only wins contests but also catches fish.

How to Tie an Award-Winning Fly, with Wes Penny

A day on the water (and a reminder that simple flies still win days)

You’re on Vancouver Island, right, how’s fishing been?

I am, Vancouver Island off the west coast. It’s amazing here. I spent yesterday on our local river and had an incredible day. The river’s full right now: I caught coho, chinook, rainbows, cutthroat, and even a really nice brown trout. I was basically just missing a dolly varden, and I’d have had everything that’s in there.

What fly did all that damage?

One fly all day: a basic egg pattern. With salmon spawning, the trout are following and gorging on loose eggs, nothing fancy needed.

How Wes approaches a contest fly (creativity over complexity)

When you tie specifically for a contest, what’s your process?

I stay true to what I’m tying at the time, no gimmicks. If I’m on a streamer kick, that’s where I focus. Then I ask, how can I do this differently? A lot of my tying is about adding a twist, maybe resin, maybe shifting a classic (say, a Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear) toward a wet-fly interpretation. The goal is different, not necessarily more.

So “contest-worthy” doesn’t mean maximalist?

Exactly. A contest fly doesn’t have to be elaborate; it has to be immaculately detailed: taper, proportions, wire wraps, resin depth… everything fitting properly for the photograph.

Inside the 2024 winner (and the importance of detail)

How many attempts did the 2024 winner take?

I’d tied two or three in the days before. The one I submitted came together first try that morning, but an hour later I could’ve struggled with it. The key is being very careful with detail: body taper, proportions, clean resin, disciplined ribbing. That’s what reads as 'award-winning.'

Any past entries you admire?

From 2022, Javier Lorenzo (Royal Fly Tyer) tied a small gray-and-black mayfly nymph for second place. Not super elaborate, but jaw-droppingly real. For me, that could’ve won, proof that precision beats spectacle.

Signature technique: resin segmentation (how it started and how to learn it)

Your resin segments are distinctive. How did you arrive there?

By accident. I was tying a scud with a clear resin back and thought it needed raised segmentation. I dabbed resin; it looked too rounded; wiped it; tried again. Over time— a year of on-and-off practice—I refined the spacing, quantity, and cure timing to get those crisp, raised 'plates.' Later, I pushed into clear-bodied ideas the same way: sitting at the desk and trying something different.

Can an average tier learn it?

It’s not easy, but it’s very doable. Put in time. Learn how much resin to use and where to place each segment. Don’t get frustrated with your first few flies or first few days. I’ve posted a couple of short videos showing the segmentation workflow—repetition is what makes it click.

Photographing flies: a simple, reliable setup

Your fly photos are consistently sharp. What’s your camera setup?

It’s simple. I use an iPhone 11, a very small light box with an overhead light, and one small pedestal light off to the side. I shoot with the Camera+ (Camera Plus) app—it does great macro/close-ups. I’ll click a dozen to fifteen frames, move the fly and phone for different angles, and often mount the fly on a small magnetic pedestal so I can rotate or flip it. Minimal editing—exposure/contrast—and keep the background clean and neutral so the fly and resin stand out.

Fishability vs. “show” flies (and why he still aims to fish them)

We live in a visual era; some flies are tied mainly to photograph. Where do you sit on that?

Even when a fly looks elaborate or unusual, I still want it to be fishable. With most of the resin work, I’m confident I could catch fish on it. That said, a lot of what I tie and fish is basic, just like everyone else. People have limited time—families, work, a weekend trip, so they tie what they need. Contests, though, are a great chance to challenge yourself: add elements, push technique, try something wild and different.

Your 2022 win is a good example.

I never thought I’d win. The year before, James Lund had that amazing mayfly with incredible photography—he set a high standard. Then I came with a big, 'goofy' dragon that used resin and different ideas. It was different, and that’s what appealed. Same with the resin-body direction last year.

Social media: confidence, community, and sharing your work

Posting can be intimidating—even for skilled tiers, correct? 

For sure. Social media can be very intimidating. You develop a thick skin. Some of my stuff is weird—pretty crazy—but I still post it. Most people enjoy it, and the feedback helped me get far more confident than I was three or four years ago.

There are phenomenal tyers who never post. The good news is the online tying community is engaging. Most people understand everyone ties at different levels and appreciate that you’re doing it. My advice: tie something, enter the contest, don’t stress about winning, just have fun.

Entering again in 2025 (and why he might keep it simple)

You won in 2022 and again in 2024. Will you enter this year?

I think I will, but I’ll keep it simple. When James won, he didn’t enter the following year. Sometimes it’s good to step back and let others shine. I genuinely enjoy the contest and for me being creative and participating is just as much fun as winning. Get your entries in.