Start by wrapping thread to hook bend(1).

Now cut a clump of Neer Hair about 1/4" thick( you'll probably need 3 or more of these clumps depending on the size of the fly, but only cut 1 at a time to cut down on waste). Measure the first piece a little longer than the overall length of the fly. So, if you want a 3" fly, make the hair 3 & 1/4 in. to allow for cutting.   Now tie it down with 5-6 tight wraps, each in front of the other(2).   

Now fold the tag end back over itself and tie down with tight wraps, and bring the thread in front of the tie in point. Apply glue to thread(3).  

Now trim the folded piece shorter than the tail(4).

Tie in the next bunch shorter than the previous bunch using the same 5 wrap, fold over, tie down and trim method used on the last bunch(5,6).  

Apply glue to these wraps and rotate the fly upside down. Tie in the next clump the same as above, shorter than the main piece. Fold over, tie down, and trim the tag end the same as above(7).  

Now poke the hook point through the bunch that was just tied in(8).

Remove the fly from the vise and finish pulling the fibers back over the hook(9).

From here till the fly is finished is just repeating the above steps, making each bunch shorter than the one before it till you get to the hook eye(10,11,12,13,14).  

When you finish the bunches on the top and bottom, tie in a short bunch on each side of the fly to cover the visible hook shank(15,16).

Trim the tag ends and wrap a clean, tapered head and tie off the thread.   This is what the roughly finished fly looks like(17).

Now comb out the fibers(18). 

Now, trim with and against the fibers, ending up with a nicely tapered body(19,20,21).    

Now apply stick on eyes on both sides of the fly, just behind the thread head(22).

Either epoxy or silicone can be used to finish the fly. I'm using silicone for this fly(23).  

Put a small bead of silicone on a Popsicle stick or something similar. Apply a little to each side of the head(24,25). 

Wet your finger with either Photo-Flo or saliva and smooth the silicone over the head. Leave it to dry for a few minutes and apply a second coat. Here is what the finished product looks like(26,27). 

By tying this fly in different lengths and sizes, this fly can be used effectively for many species.

Tying Tips, featured »

[4 Aug 2010 | 5 Comments | ]
Tying Tips: Streamside Fly Tying Vise

This week’s typing tip is in response to a question by Hatches reader, Nick S. from Boise, ID. Nick wanted to know if we had any suggestions for a small, lightweight fly tying vise to use streamside, or on backcountry fly-in/ hike-in fly fishing trips.

Book Reviews & Excerpts, featured »

[2 Aug 2010 | 2 Comments | ]
Book Review: Trout Stream Insects by Dick Pobst

GLOBE PEQUOT ( THE LYONS PRESS, FALCON), November 1997
Binding Type: Hardcover
Retail Price: $16.95 at the Hatches Store
ISBN: 1-55821-067-9
“The trout’s biggest advantage is selectivity, and we can counteract it only by knowing the insects that make up his diet.  This is the reason for the study of stream entomology by the angler, and it is often the weak link in his skill.”
-Ernest Schwiebert
Trout Stream Insects: An Orvis Streamside Guide is by no means a new book.  However, since it was first published in 1990, it has successfully been introducing novice …

Product Spotlight, featured »

[26 Jul 2010 | No Comment | ]
Product Spotlight: Petitjean TT Bobbin

Called the “bobbin of bobbins,” Marc Petitjean’s “Thread Through Bobbin,” aims to solve a few classic design limitations of standard bobbins.

Articles, featured »

[21 Jul 2010 | No Comment | ]
Spring Olives by Russ Forney

Sand Creek is a pretty little piece of trout water that harbors some very fussy fish. Clear water in a small creek demands a quiet approach; casting from the bank is a good strategy when fishing small flies to springtime trout. Photo by Russ Forney
Springtime in Wyoming can be pretty elusive. Just when the first flush of prairie wildflowers sweetens the air, the next storm buries them under a foot of snow. Somewhere between the first Meadowlark and the last new calf, winter finally begins to relax its icy grip. …

Tying Tips, Videos, featured »

[16 Jul 2010 | 3 Comments | ]
Tying Tips: Working with Rubber Legs

With rubber legs showing up in more and more fly patterns, one common problem fly tier’s are facing is that they get in the way when tying a whip finish knot. In this week’s Tying Tips, Hatches Magazine staff member Alex Cerveniak shares three quick and easy ways to keep those rubber legs out of the way.



Hatches is an annual publication with a strong devotion to professional writing, beautiful photography and informative articles pertaining to both the artistic and practical aspects of fly tying. Each issue features 13 featured articles that span a massive 96 pages.

Fall 2010

Price: $6.95
Click Here
For More Info

Fall 2009

Price: $6.95
Click Here
For More Info

Fall 2008

Price: $6.95
Click Here
For More Info

Fall 2007

Sold Out. No longer available
Price: $6.95

What Our Readers Are Saying

I agree with the feedback you have received about Hatches. This is by far the best magazine I have seen that shares the wealth of knowledge without the additional 30 pages of vendor advertisements. I understand they are needed revenue but it is refreshing to see the quality of your articles etc. without having to thumb through all of the ads. I also take three other periodicals that are OK but no where nearly as good as Hatches. I wish you continued success and would like the opportunity to have 3 year subscriptions some time. Thanks again for all of your hard work and excellent presentation in Hatches. Best of luck, I wish you a long life and can\'t wait until you are recognized as the number one periodical presenting fly fishing knowledge.

I received my issue of Hatches this weekend and I have not been able to put it down. I have subscribed to many fly fishing and fly tying mags before. Yours is the first that I have seen that I can get some use out of. Nearly every article is something that pertains to me and I need all the help I can get. I don\'t know how you can keep this up but I will be watching for my next issue. Thank for all the hard work the staff has done. Very well done. Thank you.