I will be tying up some panfish bugs at the upcoming Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts, this upcoming weekend. The Fly Fishing Show is the world’s largest show dedicated to every type of fly fishing imaginable, including us panfish junkies! If you are in the area, stop by and check out the show and be sure to stop by my table and say hello. I would love to meet you and swap some fishing tales.
Read moreFly Tying Music
The band Takénobu (image from takenobomusic.com)
Every fly tier I know has their favorite type of music to listen to while tying their favorite flies. I am no exception. In the past, I listened to various kinds of music, country, folk, new age, classical, metal, and classic rock. However, my taste has changed in recent years, and I have been consistently fly-tying to one particular artist.
Read moreWorking Class Fishing Podcast
I recently had the opportunity to appear on the Working Class Fishing podcast. I thoroughly enjoyed giving this interview. Jon and Brian were fantastic hosts. This podcast has quickly become one of my favorite fishing podcasts, and I never miss an episode.
You can find their show on all the popular listening platforms.
Read moreNotes From The Fly Tying Bench - Using Wax in Fly Tying
Fly tying wax comes in a number of types and consistencies and they all have there uses.
One of the most common questions I am asked when tying flies at shows and exhibitions is, "What is that lump on your finger you keep rubbing on the thread?" That "lump" is a small amount of wax that I have warmed in my fingers and shaped into a small ball which I then stick onto the index finger of my right hand.
Read moreNew Triangle Bug Video by Savage Flies
The Triangle Bug as tied by Matt O’Neal from Savage Flies
Last week Matt O’Neal from the Savage Flies YouTube Channel featured a tutorial on tying the Triangle Bug. Matt did a great job tying up one of my favorite panfish patterns! The Triangle Bug is one of my most popular patterns, and it is very easy to tie, as you will see in Matt’s video.
The Triangle Bug is an unusually shaped topwater fly. The body of the fly is in the shape of a triangle, hence the name. The unique shape of this pattern serves an important purpose. Bluegills and other sunfish have notoriously small mouths, but despite this, they often take flies very deeply. It can be frustrating for the angler and harmful to the fish to remove a fly from a deeply hooked sunfish. The triangular shape of the fly was designed to keep the small-mouthed bluegill and other sunfish from swallowing it too deeply. The narrow rear portion of the fly allows the small-mouthed panfish to take the fly without difficulty and the broad front end keeps the fish from swallowing it too deeply.
I did a video on tying the Triangle Bug in the past (you will find it below), but I will be the first to admit you will enjoy Matt’s video a lot more! I also did a step-by-step tutorial you can find by using the button below.
If you don’t tie your own flies I am currently accepting orders for custom-tied Triangle Bugs. I only open up custom orders a few times yearly, closing down when the order volume gets too high. So depending on when you read this post, the link below may or may not work.
You can find all the tools and materials you need to tie the fly below. You can use the code DISCOUNT10 to save 10% on the foam cutter, hooks, foam, leg, and tailing material. I apologize in advance if you find stock on some items low right now. We had a very successful Black Friday sale that depleted a lot of inventory. More stock is on the way, and I will keep the discount code active until the end of the year for anyone that wants to purchase a cutter and materials down the road.
Please note there are only about a dozen cutters in stock right now, and once they sell out I may not see more until the next year.
2mm Foam Sheets
from $1.00
Long Shank Triangle Bug Hooks
from $9.95
Calf Tails
$5.95
Barred Round Rubber Legs
from $2.50