The Green Butt Skunk has accounted for numerous fish, and since its inception around the 1950s by Dan Callaghan, it has become one of the most effective and popular steelhead flies of all time. Dan Callaghan modified the original Skunk pattern and spiced it up with a green butt. Ever since many steelheaders will have…
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fly tying
Fly Tying: Jigged Frenchie Hot Spot
It’s springtime in Alaska. The snow is melting, the days are longer, and hopefully, you’ve already replenished your windshield washer fluid. Sping also means, the streams are flowing and spring fishing will soon be upon us. Spring fishing is good for a lot of reasons but the best reason is…it’s spring and your fishing. We…
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Fly Tying: Critter Sculpin
During the October and November months in Alaska, it is the ideal time to fish with two handed rods. The water is low, the scenery is majestic and with less pressure on the river, it is downright peaceful and serene. A swing fly every two hander junky needs to have in their fly box is…
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Fly Tying: Rainbow Warrior
The days are getting longer, the sun is brighter and more intense, and the thaw freeze cycle puts our wipers to the test. All good signs that spring is coming upon us. As the rivers and streams begin to increase their flow, we can’t help but think about spring fishing, especially after a long dark…
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Fly Tying: Flashy Tube Bandit
The month of August in Alaska is a special time of year. The salmon have made their way through the rivers and have begun their prescribed order to spawn much to the delight of the eager Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Fly Anglers alike. While egg patterns tempt trout during this time, it is still…
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Fly Tying: Partridge & Orange Soft Hackle
Soft Hackles are a forgotten and underrated fly pattern in Alaska. They shouldn’t be. Soft hackles are divided into two categories; Buzz flies, which are tied with palmered hackle to represent an insect in motion, or winged flies, where the hackles are often a throat then a collar with wings set to imitate an insect…
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Fly Tying: Tools You Need
Today’s post is from Mike Brown. Mike is the owner of Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage, Alaska. A lifelong Alaskan with a passion for family, fly fishing, and fly tying. In today’s fly tying world, materials and tools are changing and advancing constantly. You see all kinds of ads telling you about how great this…
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Fly Tying: Sculpin Toad
Kevin Foley’s philosophy on fly tying involves 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 the water is as important as time spent behind the vise, and that incorporating aspects of fish biology…
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Tribute to Robert “Bob” Veverka
Sadly, on January 3, 2021, the fly fishing community has lost one of the most prolific designers and fly tyers. Bob Veverka, was a creative, strategic, and innovative fly tyer. With two of the most coveted books in the fly tying world, Spey Flies: How to Tie Them and Innovative Saltwater Flies, Bob left a…
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Fly Tying: Silvernator
Baby, it’s cold outside and with winter upon us for a lot of fly anglers, not only is it ski season but it’s also fly tying season. The Silvernator by Brian Silvey is one fly that you need to add to your fly box and lots of them. The Slivernator is a relatively quick fly…
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