Fly-Tying

By Phil Rowley Originally published in “Fly-Tying” March/April 2011 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. Without doubt, scuds or freshwater shrimp are the premier crustaceans in British Columbia. This celebrity status is not necessarily one of popularity with many, but it is certainly one of recognition by most. But creeping and scurrying around...

By Phil Rowley Originally published in “Fly-Tying” Jan/Feb 2011 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. The General Practitioner or ‘GP’, as it is affectionately known to many, is a staple pattern for most British Columbia steelhead fly-fishers. The GP was originally designed as a prawn or shrimp imitation for Atlantic salmon by an...

By Phil Rowley (designed by Bob Taylor) Originally published in Phil’s “Fly-tying” column in the March/April 2013 issue of BC Outdoors magazine. Click here to view or print the original version. Hanging leeches under indicators is now common on most Western Canadian stillwaters. Arguably, you could spend the entire season suspending only...

By Phil Rowley From the July/August issue of BC Outdoors Biots are the tough, interlocking barbs found along the leading edge of a bird’s primary flight feather. The Prince Nymph’s signature white biot wings make it arguably the most famous pattern to integrate biots. Biots are also a common material choice for...

I have long been a fan of Randall Kaufmann’s patterns and tying techniques. His stonefly nymph is one of my favourites. A Kaufmann Stone is one of my go-to patterns when imitating larger stonefly nymphs for both trout and steelhead. Stonefly nymphs make excellent searching patterns as the larger species...

by Phil Rowley From his Fly Tying Column One of the best dragon nymph imitations is Jim Crawford’s Gomphus. Although technically not a Gomphus imitation, Gomphus or Gomphidae are most commonly found living in slow moving sections of rivers and streams, and there is no disputing this pattern’s success. The spun and...

When it comes to incorporating natural materials such as pheasant tail or peacock, many tyers shy away, critical of these natural materials’ ability to survive the rigours of a busy day of fishing. Many tyers today, myself included, rely on synthetic-based patterns coated with layers of superglue, nail polish, UV...

From Phil Rowley's Fly Tying Column In recent years European nymphing techniques have become dominant across North America. Not only the method itself but also the unique patterns fly fishers tie and use such as Spanish style nymphs. Spanish nymphs are small, thin and hard bodied. Designed to succeed in...

The FAB is a clever blend of two popular stillwater attractors, the Booby and the Blob, two patterns that have been the subject of previous columns. Together, these three patterns form my current stillwater attractor pattern trinity. From the research I have done, the FAB’s origins trace back to some English...

I was fortunate to meet Rob Texmo earlier this year. Rob is a talented tyer with a love for traditional Atlantic salmon and spey patterns, adapting the tying techniques and disciplines these flies require with great success for Pacific salmon and steelhead. Rob’s tying skill and attention to detail on...