About Kevin Foley Kevin Foley is the fly-tying instructor at Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage, Alaska. His philosophy and teachings on fly tying involve the use of natural and synthetic materials to create the illusion of life. As a scientist, having received his Master of Science in Fisheries, he believes that observation and time on…
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fly tying
Fly Tying: Trout Spey Micro Sculpin
If you haven’t noticed, we are big on Trout Spey. We like everything about it. As it continues to quickly be adopted by more fly anglers, this new method of fly fishing with two to five-weight two-handed rods should become more familiar to everyone who enjoys fishing for trout. Because Trout Spey rods are smaller,…
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Deneki Chronicles: Tying Neater Flies – 5 (More) Tips
For many of us winter means fly tying season, and last week we shared with you 5 tips for tying neater/tidier looking flies. Missed it? Not to worry, hit the link to read it right now! Knowing that Old Man Winter might keep you off the water for a couple more months, we figured we’d…
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Deneki Chronicles: Tying Neater Flies – 5 Tips
It’s been said that flies catch fly tyers, not fish. Odds are most fish don’t notice that the head of the fly is a little on the bulky side, or that your wraps are not as even as they could be. That said, a well-tied, tidy-looking fly muster confidence, and having confidence in the fly you…
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Fly Tying: AK Chovey
The AK Chovey and fly pattern is used for Kings and Coho alike. This pattern captures the image and likeness of bait, favorites of both King Salmon and Coho Salmon in the salt Capelin, Herring, and Sand Lance all being common for King Salmon and Coho, the AK Chovey is a cool and easy pattern…
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Fly Tying: Ultra Rig Mini Llama
The Dolly Llama might as well be called the “Fly of Alaska.” It has earned the reputation as the most effective fly in Alaska. Contrast, profile, and movement are essential qualities that make it very effective for trout. All that said, it is not the easiest fly to cast because of its weight. With Two-handed…
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Fly Tying: Chinook Graboid
The Graboid Leech by Midnight Sun Custom Flies is uber fishy, effective, versatile, and a great tie. Like other great patterns, the Graboid’s beauty is in its simplicity. This week in Fly Tying, we leverage the Graboid pattern and turn it into a Chinook (King) Salmon Pattern. Why not? Original Fly Design: Jonathan Farmer of…
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Fly Tying: Lefty’s Deceiver
Lefty Kreh is one of the more well-known and prominent names in the fly fishing community. If you’ve been fly fishing for any amount of time, chances are you’ve heard the name, Lefty Kreh. In a sport that can be, at times, burdened with tradition, Lefty was known to go against the grain, always trying…
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Fly Tying: Larimer’s ES Loop Leech
The beauty behind the Larimer ES Loop Leech is its simplicity with the materials. This super wiggly, swimmy pattern is effective for salmon, steelhead, and trout. The best part of this particular fly is the combination of colors you can tie it in. One of our favorite color combinations is a Chartreuse head and Black…
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Fly Tying: Tyler’s Big Pheasant Tail
Every fly angler has tied on a pheasant tail nymph at one time or another. If you have not, you should. The pheasant tail nymph is a fly that has a long history in fly fishing. Versatile, this fly can be used in a broad spectrum of watersheds across America, and yes, even in Alaska….
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