We seem to have quite a few newer fly tyer's and there seems to be some interest in doing some more fly swaps. I'm not too interested in hosting a swap right now, so I have an alternative proposal I'd like to try.

How about a "Fly of the Month Challenge"?

Everyone would tie the same pattern and then post a picture of one of your flies.

One of the benefits to me of fly swaps was the chance to compare your flies to other tyer's work and the incentive to do your best work and to get better so that I was sharing flies that I was proud to put my name on. I think that posting a picture of your work would produce similar results, because you'd be able to compare your fly to those of others and would give you an opportunity to improve your tying skills. Having a deadline also forces me to sit down and tie.

What do you think? Anyone interested?

Here're are the details:

1. The February fly will be a traditional style pattern "Woolly Bugger". (The traditional pattern includes a marabou tail, chenille body, palmered hackle, and a wire rib; then you can add whatever else you want to add.)
2. Post a picture of one of your flies before Feb 28.
3. Have fun.
4. That's it...

Basically, just tie a fly and post a picture.

So, why am I suggesting everyone tie the same fly pattern? Personally, I learn more when I compare one of my flies to the same fly from someone. I usually get new ideas and learn new techniques.

Quick word of caution, the camera is brutally honest and it tends to highlight every mistake. I'll probably tie multiple flies and then take a picture of the best of the options.

I'll try to post some tips for taking pictures of flies soon. There are some simple techniques that can make a big difference in how a fly looks in a picture (one of the best and easiest is to crop the picture.)

For reference, here's a link to the IFFF's version of a traditional Woolly Bugger starting on page 42. You do not have to use this exact version, it is just for reference.


http://www.fedflyfishers.org/Portals/0/F...7-28-140955-453

I'm in. Not new to tying, but still struggle with the traditional dry flies. Heading out to CBSP tomorrow morning, followed by pulling a all nighter to get back onto third shift. So I'll post my picture tomorrow night on Monday morning.

Thank you. Yes, I hope all skill and experience levels will participate.

I agree with you, I struggle with traditional dry flies too. I just rarely them. If this proposal proves popular, I hope to select a variety of fly styles to force some of us (especially myself) out of our comfort zones to learn something new.

Well Rex I'll participate in any one that I have the material for each month, and if I don't have the materials I'll go get them before the deadline hopefully and participate then.

By the way Rex, I think we met before a few years back. At Supreme Bass and again at Lake Fork a few years after that.

I'm in

wooly booger-p-

maybe better pic(closeup)-p-

That is not me. I think that is Jim Bass. He is one of the casting instructors in the Fort Worth club. But, we may have met somewhere else.

Pearow, thanks for starting us off with the first fly. And it's a nice example too.

As promised. My version of a mini woolly bugger. Looks crowded to me.
#12 60� barbless jig hook
Copper Tungsten bead
Black marabou tail with a bit of black crystal flash
Black chenille body
Copper wire rib
Grizzly hackle

Cool. I like your idea; anyone can tie one a month. I make it a point to tie at least one a day. Barker; it'l fish!-p-

Thanks Gene

Here's my fly for February:

Woolly Bugger

Hook: Mustad 9672 size 6
Tail: Olive marabou
Rib: Copper wire (brassie size)
Body: Olive chenille
Hackle: Barred Chartreuse
Thread: Olive brown

So, anyone else what to participate? It's just one fly...

I don't tie, but cool pics guys!

I'll tie one soon and post a pic. Love the idea.

Here is my effort. Not a surprise, but olive is my most successful color.

I tie, but I've never been able to post a photograph. I like looking at the different variations; it generates new ideas for me.

Looks very similar to an Orvis jig bugger. My favorite fly for stocker trout.

nice flies-p-

Thanks for posting. There are some nice flies shown.

I like the fuller looking tails that most of you are tying. I need figure out how your doing that.

Rex, I take a nice strand of marabou and twist it, then cut it about the length of the shank of the hook plus another shank for security. I tie it on the hook, then with my thumb and forefinger I hold the "tail" and with the other thumb and forefinger i pinch off the excess marabou until the tail is about a hook shank long; maybe a little longer. This gives the tail more "fullness" than if you just use the actual end of the marabou. Hope you can visualize this process-p-

Thanks Pearow, that does make sense. I'll experiment with it this weekend.

However, I must say that the tail you show on your bugger fits perfectly for the photo. Symmentry is important!-p-

I don't know near enough about tying to tell you how I get the tail to look like it does, but I will say that I love the olive and chartreuse thing you have going on with your bugger. Looks very fishy.

Tied a #8 hook with grey marabou, pearl krystal flash, pearl chenille, and grey hackle.

Getting ready for a trip to a private ranch pond full of bass, they love plastic worms, these are my Bass Worms.

What's the prize for wining?

You get an excellent prize. It may be the best prize ever.


You get to keep your fly!


Actually, it is not that different from a regular fly swap where you trade flies with someone else. There is no prize for the best fly in a those swaps either, but this time you don't have to pay postage. This is just a opportunity to tie something you may not tie very often and compare your own work to that of other tyers. Just to have a little fun and maybe learn something new.

So what's the fly this month?

Thanks for your interest. The March fly details will be posted tonight. I got home late and wasn't able to post it last night. I apologize for the delay.

Well here are the results of my Woolley bugger..



Gene you are correct it fishes just fine.

This looks like fun. I have several woolly buggers that I tied recently while camping and fishing in Grand mesa Co. In the evening we would sit down and tie flies drink beer and tell stories about the fish we caught that day. I'm at work right now but I'll send pics tonight. I always bring my fly tying kit when camping out trout fishing