How to tie a Red Prince Nymph



This Bead Head Nymph Pattern is a true trout slayer.  The Red Prince is my favorite Nymph to use when I float the Colorado River.  This fly is an awesome attractor pattern and it will draw bites from fish when others won't.  I tied this Red Prince in size #12, but I have used it bigger and smaller with great success.









Watch how to tie this fly:

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Materials List:

The Red Prince is as true trout slayer.  This pattern definitely takes a beating.  I suggest using a Tiemco 3761 size #12 or #14



This nymph pattern is tied with a copper colored fly tying bead.



Of course strong thread is important for nymphs this big.



 
The tail of this fly is tied with brown goose biots.
 




The wing of this prince nymph pattern is tied with white goose biots.




The Body of this fly is tied with red half round vinyl rib.




 
The Collar of this fly is tied with a few strands of peacock hurl.



Finally, the hackle of this Red Prince Nymph is tied with brown saddle hackle.






~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Step By Step: How to tie a Red Prince Nymph

Start a nymph hook with a bead and thread.
Add two brown goose biots, splayed out, for the tail.
Tie in red half round vinyl for the rib of the fly.  Be sure to tie the ribbing in with the round side to the hook so that when you wrap it forward the round side is out.
Next, add a couple strands of peacock hurl for the the collar of the fly.

At this point, add a few turns of brown saddle hackle.  After it is tied off and clipped, created a "bed" for the wings by parting and mashing the hackle flat on top.

Finally add to white goose biots for the the wing.  Complete this fly with a few tight whip finishes.

Red Prince Nymph






The Red Prince Nymph is one of my all time favorite nymphs to use, I always seem to be running low on them... until I tie my next dozen.  I would invite you to fish with me on the Colorado River and see what I have learned about this fly.  Float trips are a short drive from Aspen, CO and the fishing is out of this world, you will be impressed!  Go to http://www.aspenflyfishing.com and book a couple days of incredible fishing.



"How to tie a
Red Prince Nymph"

How to tie a White Zonker Streamer Fly

The Zonker Fly has been around for a long time. This deadly Streamer Pattern has caught many fish over the years and I can imagine it will remain a top fly for the rest of time. Casting a white streamer is like casting a "Tracer Fly", you can watch the fish chase it down and wolf it. This White Zonker is tied with lead wire to make it heavier, but I have tied this fly many ways with great success.










Watch how to tie this fly:

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Materials List:

Zonker flies always get bites and it makes sense to use a strong streamer hook that can take the action. For this fly used a size #2 long shank streamer hook with a straight eye.

Click here to buy strong Streamer Hooks




I used Lead Wire to add weight to this fly.




Be sure to use strong fly tying thread for this streamer pattern.




The belly of this fly is tied with mylar tubing.  I have experimented with many sizes and colors and all of them get the bite.





The tail and body of this Streamer Pattern are tied with a single strip of white rabbit.





Finally, the Collar of this White Zonker is tied with a webby white hackle.  I suggest using Schlappen.
Click here to buy White Schlappen Hackles





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Step By Step: How to tie a White Zonker Streamer Fly 

Start a streamer hook with lead wire.
Use strong thread.
Surround the hook with mylar tubing and tie it off.  Leave a little material off of the back of the hook to add flash to the fly.
Add a strip of white rabbit fur. tie in the middle of the strip.  After you tie off the rabbit,whip finish at this point and cut the thread.
Restart the thread at the eye of the hook.  This will tie off the mylar tubing, be sure to trim it closely.
Finally, add a number of turns of webby white hackle for the collar of the fly.  Next pull the rabbit strip forward over the hackle and tie it off at the eye. Complete this fly with a few tight whip finishes.

White Zonker Fly




Fly fishing with streamers is one of the most fun things you can do. You will have trouble finding better fishing than on the Roaring Fork River and Colorado River.  Consider booking a guided fishing trip on your vacation to the Colorado Rockies, you will be impressed.  Go to http://www.aspenflyfishing.com



How to tie a
White Zonker Streamer Fly

How to tie an H & L Variant Dry Fly


The H and L Variant is one of the great dry fly attractor patterns. This highly visible dry fly floats well, can be seen well in low light conditions and trout eat the heck out of it.  I like to use a size #10, #12, or #14 when tying this fly. I find that an H and L works best in fast rivers when there are lots of caddis and mayflies hatching, or anywhere on the Frying Pan River.









Watch how to tie this fly:

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Materials List:

You can expect this H&L to get lots of bites.  I suggest using a strong dry fly hook that won't bend out.




I like to use a thread that is strong, but not too bulky when I tie hair wing dry flies like this one.  Danville's FlyMaster is a good choice.




The wings of this dry fly pattern are tied with Calf Body Fur.  This material is very visible even in low light situations.





Both the body and the collar of this fly are tied with peacokc hurl.





Finally, the hackle of an H & L Variant is tied with a couple of stout brown saddle hackles.
Click here to buy Brown Saddle Hackles




~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Step By Step: How to tie an H and L Variant Dry Fly

Set a strong dry fly hook in the vise.
Start the hook with thread and leave it at the midpoint of the shank.
Stack the tips of a clump of calf body fur and tie them in, tips forward for the wing of the fly.
Now part the calf body fur and separate the wings with thread. I use a figure 8 wrap and often a few wraps around each wing. Be sure not to use too much thread. Here is a view from the top of the top.
Tie in the tail of the fly by stacking another clump of calf body fur.
The body of this fly is tied by stripping a peacock hurl and wrapping it forward about 1/3rd of the way to the eye.
Next, wrap two or three turns of regular peacock hurl for the collar of the fly.
Finally, tie in two stout brown saddle hackles. Wrap the hackles both in front and behind the wings and complete the fly with a few tight whip finishes.

H and L Variant Dry Fly




Dry Fly fishing in Colorado is fantastic, especially around the Aspen area.  The rivers here are full of hungry trout that love to eat dries.  The best time of year to catch fish on dry flies is July, August and September.  If you would like to experience what dry fly fishing should be, go to http://www.aspenflyfishing.com and book a guided float trip.



How to tie an
H and L Variant Dry Fly