55 on the fly

Hi folks - I fished a small creek here in Western New York yesterday. The creek has not been stocked since 2006, but has a steady population of browns and a few rainbow trout. Here's one I picked up with my Wright and McGill, 7' 5wt., that I like to use with a DT4, she's an oldie but goodie.... I caught the fish on a "Graham's Cracker", a great little caddis pattern.

Hi folks - it's been a while since I posted a fly. But today, after tying up a bunch of flies for Parks Fly Shop, I had some time to tie a few Apple Caddis for my local waters. This fly is especally good on the West Branch of the Delaware River where these flies hatch in abundance. See my "Korn's Spruce Moth" video on YouTube for tying and fishing instructions, then just switch up the materials for the caddis on your streams. Materials list: #14 & 16 Dry Fly Hooks (this is a #16) Olive thread Butt section: Chartreuse GSS dubbing Mid/Thorax section: Tan dubbing Wings: Two Pheasant wing feathers, stacked and then folded back over for the head. Legs: Red Fox Squirrel dubbing

Well hi there folks... It's been a while. I hope all is well and that your busy tying flies. I haven't posted recently because, even though I have been tying lots of flies they have all been one's that I have blogged about before. But today, I started tying these neat little pink caddis larva and I thought I'd share it with you. Materia;s List: hook: #16 scud bead: 5/64" gold (1x undersized) thread: 8/0 pink abdomen: light pink DK#30 dubbing rib: pearl midge krystal flash hackle: gray partridge collar: Hareline HD4 dubbing

I've been tying dozens of these: Korn's Tinsel Caddis

Hi folks, Today I was tying up some of my Korn's Spent-wing Caddis flies with Opal Tinsel bodies.  The tinsel was a real pain in the butt to handle as it was full of static.  It was so bad I almost couldn't put it down! Then I remembered an old trick.  I ran downstairs and grabbed a dryer sheet from the laundry area and put that on my tying bench and laid my tinsel on it, bingo!  The anti-static dryer sheet solved the problem and I could get back to knocking out 15 dozen of these killer flies... Here is a photo of the Opal Tinsel body, nice and slim. Anti-cling dryer sheet does the trick... finished fly - bottom Korn's Tinsel Caddis - top

Hi folks, I've been "tied up" with my knee surgery and some other health issues as-well-as the Holidays.   Needless to say I've fallen behind on my fly tying... But now I'm back up and at them. Today I'm tying up a bunch of my favorite fly - the "Korn's Spent-wing Caddis". You can check out my YouTube video titled; "Korn's Spruce Moth".  The Spent-wing is tied using the same methods with just slightly different materials.  See my list of materials and tying instructions below.  The thing to remember is, caddis flies have a narrow wing profile, where the spruce moth's wings are wider. Korn's Spent-wing Caddis, tan version.  Tied with narrow hen pheasant feathers producing the perfect profile in the water. Hook: MFCo. #7000 Dry 14-18 Thread: Serafil 200   Rib: tag end of thread  Abdomen: DK Tan dubbing Palmered hackle: ginger rooster neck. Wing: 2 hen pheasant wing or neck feathers Steps: 1. St...

This Snowshoe Apple Caddis, with a slightly heavier hook, sits low in the water looking hurt and vulnerable.  You can add a trailing shuck like a Clacka Caddis... In fact I like the snowshoe hare wing better than a wing of Zelon or Widow's web of the Clacka. Snowshoe Apple Caddis tied and photographed by Doug Korn bottom view materials list: hook: size #16 wet fly, 1x short, 1x strong thread: tan Serafil 200/2 back 2/3rds of the body: DK#3 Apple Green front 1/3rd of the body: DK#15 Oatmeal (tan) wing: natural snowshoe hare hackle: light ginger over sparsely dubbed thorax trimmed on bottom. 

Korn's Spent-wing Apple Caddis my materials list: Hook: vintage Mustad Limerick #16 std. wet fly or current Mustad 9063 Thread: Serafil tan 200/2 or Uni-8/0 Body & Thorax: DK#3 Apple Caddis dubbing for 1/3rd of body, 1/3rd DK#27 tan dubbing for thorax. Hackle: light ginger hackle over thorax only and trimmed flat on top. Wing & Head: 2 light ginger hen feathers tied on flat and folded back to form head.

This fly is one of a series of variations of my original Korn’s SCHWARPF fly.  (Swept Custom Hackle Winged All Revised Purpose Fly) I did this step-by-step for Paul over at Franken Fly you can checkout his blog here: http://www.frankenfly.com/ Korn’s Green Lantern is a caddis pupa imitation that has been a very effective fly both here in the NY and out West in the Yellowstone National Park area.   my materials list: Hook: vintage Mustad Limerick #16 std. wet fly or current Mustad 9063 Thread: Serafil tan 200/2 or Uni-8/0 Bead: 11/0 green glass seed bead Rib: small copper wire Tail/shuck, Shellback and Wing: red fox squirrel tail tied in by the tips, divided 1/3 for tail, 2/3's for shellback and wing Body and Collar: DK#28 Green Lantern dubbing or bright emerald green dubbing of choice Step 1. Place a hook with a bead in the vise. Step 2. Start thread at bead. Tie in copper wire at the eye with wraps back to the bend of ...

This caddis imitation was inspired by two great flies.  The late Al Campbell’s SHWAPF (swept hackle wingless all purpose fly) and the Tellico  nymph of the Great Smokie Mountains.  I've been using it for about 10 years both East and West with great success...  Almost hate to let this one out of the bag, although we have been selling it at Parks Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT for the last four years or so.  Tie some up and give them a go... You'll be glad you did. tied and photographed by Doug Korn Hook: Daiichi 1550 #14-16 Bead: green glass bead 11/0 Thread: Serafil 200 or uni 8/0  Tail & Shellback: Fox Squirrel tail Note: trim tips, tie in by the tips behind the bead.  Wrap to the bend of hook, split stack; 1/3 for tail and 2/3’s for shellback and wing. Rib: heavy copper wire 28 gauge Abdomen: dubbing caddis green Shellback and Wing: fox squirrel tail pulled forward and tied off behind bead, then folded back for wing. ...

Korn's CDC Spent-wing Parachute Caddis ~  tied and photographed by Doug Korn This parachute caddis fly is a variation of the Korn's CDC Spent-wing Caddis, seen here: http://55onthefly.blogspot.com/2012/01/korns-cdc-spent-wing-caddis.html It makes a nice lead fly for the above standard CDC Spent-wing as that fly is not easy to see on the water... With the parachute this fly is easy to see and floats like a dream. Hook: MFC 7000 #14 Thread: Uni-8/0 Camel Body: tan type #1* CDC feather wrapped forward. Wing: 2 hen pheasant feathers tied flat, with a small drop of head cement spread on top. Post: white CDC type #3* puff feather on top of shank, fold in half and post up. Hackle: one natural colored type #1 or  #4* CDC feather using the Marc Petitjean Magic Tool.  Complete fly by trimming the post and the underside of the fly flat. *as per CDC feather chart by Hans Weilenmann

Well, I'm back from vacation and back in the saddle tying some flies.  Here are two photo's of my tie of Davie Mc Phail's PT Caddis Pupa a great fly for the creeks here in NY or anywhere else you have caddis flies. side view ~ notice the bug bond set on the wingcase, giving the appearance that the fly is ready to bust open. top view Pheasant Tail Caddis Pupa by Davie McPhail You can see Davie tie it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFiuS3MnaBc&feature=feedu_more My Pattern list: Hook: Scud type #14 Weight: 10-12 wraps of lead or copper wire (I use the wire) Thread: Camel brown in 8/0 Rib: dark brown flexy floss Abdomen: peacock herl dyed yellow Wingcase and Legs: pheasant tail fibers 10-12, tied with the tips a hook length over the eye.  Dub thorax and pull butts of PT over the top to form wingcase, fold legs back, tie small head, whip finish. Thorax: brown dubbing Bubble: bug bond