thefeatherbender

[thefeatherbender]

Pearly CDC Bloa soft hackle spider

A very attractive grayling and trout soft hackle spider. Although very simple this deadly pattern is a true classic. The slight body and extremely mobile CDC hackle make this spider an irresistible river fly. Hook: Partridge Spider # 14 Thread: Sheer 14/0 Grey Tag: UTC small pearl tinsel Body: Mole skin fur Hackle: Natural CDC hackle

[thefeatherbender]

Pheasant tail shuttlecock

Another easy tie for a great little pattern. The pheasant tail shuttlecock is very buggy and a perfect pattern for still waters. Best fished static with a few twitches every now and then. Hook: Mustad Heritage S80AP # 14 Thread: Sheer 14/0 brown Rib: Medium bright gold copper wire Abdomen: Pheasant tail fibres Post: 2 or 3 CDC hackles Thorax: Deer hair spun in dubbing loop

[thefeatherbender]

Ginger Quill emerger

A great little emerger that is very quick to tie. An effective midge or small mayfly emerger that works all year round. Tie it in whatever colour you require, using the best colour para post for you too see at distance or low light. Hook: Mustad Heritage R50 # 16-24 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 grey Body: Stripped peacock quill ginger Post: White para post Wing: CDC

[thefeatherbender]

Renomed Fly Tying Tweezers Review

Renomed Fly Tying Tweezers are inexpensive and a joy to use, heres a short review of my favorite two. Check out the link to see the full series. Buy Renomed’s Fly Tyer series tweezers

[thefeatherbender]

Slow water caddis dry fly

An unusual slow water caddis dry fly pattern with a double wing and dense hackle, made for those days when the fish are rising steady. Slow water caddis pattern recipe Hook: Mustad Heritage Extra long Dry R43 # 14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown Body: Peacock herl Under wing: Two CDC hackles Over wing: Mottled Turkey Hackle: Grizzle saddle

[thefeatherbender]

Josh Varner’s deer hair review

The unicorn does exist! Here is another short review of the best and most consistent deer hair I have ever had my hands on. Josh doesn’t sell direct to the public but if you are lucky you can get some of this incredible product from: CharliesflyboxSlideinn

[thefeatherbender]

Alpha Caddis

A lovely little Caddis with three nice techniques for the body, wing and hackle. This pattern can be used for any of the smaller caddis species. Fish it dry or as an emerger bith work extremely well. How to tie Alpha Caddis Alpha Caddis pattern recipe Hook: Mustad Heritage R50AP # 14-18 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Grey Body: Two moose mane hairs, brown and black Wings: Two CDC…

[thefeatherbender]

Amorous Gammarus

A small fresh water shrimp that has accounted for many a fish. My favourite colours are a grey brown and this pink one I tie here. I make my own dubbing in a coffee bean grinder from a little pink and pearl Ice dubbing, some squirrel, Antron and waste Coq de Leon that is left over for individual hackles. Hook: Mustad Heritage C49SX # 10-18 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Grey Weight: Lead free…

[thefeatherbender]

Midge Emerger tied Kilnkhamer style

A midge emerger tied Klinkhamer style that can be fished all year round. Tie it in any size from a # 16 down to as small as you can manage in any colour you need. I recommend and mostly fish, gray and black. Hook: Mustad Heritage C49S # 16 & smaller Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Gray Body: Tying thread Post: Para Post white Rib: Tying thread Hackle: Medium Dun Thorax: Mahogany Super Fine…

[thefeatherbender]

Two Tone Nymph

An unusual attractor nymph, that has a few interesting techniques, that is excellent for searching pocket water. Tie it in any size and colour that you may require. Hook: Mustad Heritage S82AP # 10 Tying thread: UTC Fl. Chartreuse Tail: Pheasant tail Abdomen: UTC Fl. Chartreuse Nymph back: Pheasant Tail Thorax: Golden Olive Stickle dub Legs: Pheasant tail Wing case: Pheasant tail

[thefeatherbender]

Spring Caddis

A pattern for the arrival of the first caddis of the year. A quick almost unsinkable pattern with a little hot spot and a buggy appearance. Spring Caddis pattern recipe Hook: Mustad Heritage R50X # 14 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Olive Hot spot: GloBrite Yarn Orange Body: UNI Yarn Green Highlander Hackle/Legs: Deer hair Wing: Two CDC hackles

[thefeatherbender]

Deer Hair Dry

A must have little pattern that can be fished as a dry, wet or even an emerger. With a quill body and a deer hair hackle, this is a very buggy midge that can be fished all year round. How to tie Deer Hair Dry Deer Hair Dry recipe Hook: Mustad Heritage R50X # 12-18 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 grey Body: Yellow peacock quill Hackle: Fine deer hair

[thefeatherbender]

Snow shoe Caddis Larva

Using the snow shoe dubbing from the previous video, heres a simple but very effective caddis larva made from a single dubbing noodle. Tie them in whatever various weights, sizes and colours that you require. How to tie Snow shoe Caddis Larva Hook: Mustad Heritage C49 # 12 Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Grey Rib: Mono Shell back: Body stretch Abdomen: Snow shoe dubbing Thorax: Scud dubbing olive

[thefeatherbender]

Make the most of your deer hair

A little deer hair hack for using absolutely everything on your patch of deer hair. Not only do you get more out of each bunch that you cut of deer hair, but it also makes spinning deer hair much easier with better results.

[thefeatherbender]

My new book is now available in USA

It’s arrived! The Feather Benders Advanced Fly Tying Techniques, is now available in USA and UK. In this 2nd volume, I cover 28 patterns with varying techniques, some completely new and some traditional with my own special twist for mastering them. As with the first volume, every pattern and technique is accompanied with a QR code and link to a video demonstrating every single pattern. Get the…

[thefeatherbender]

Perfect quill wing hack

Using this simple home made tool and technique will help you measure and make perfect sized dry fly quill wings. Many fly tyers find it challenging to get perfect upright quill wings for classic dry flies, without them splitting and twisting. Follow these straightforward rules, and you will will succeed every single time!

[thefeatherbender]

Gallo de Leon

Contour feathers  The contour feathers on a bird are those that cover the body and give it it’s streamline profile, including hackles. These feathers are arranged in an overlapping pattern like roof tiles, with the water repellent tips exposed to the elements and the downy bases hidden away close to the body for insolation. The contour feathers can be everything from brilliantly coloured to…