For many years I mostly just used a gold bead when tying my nymph patterns, in recent years many other colors of beads became available. I have become convinced that rainbow beads seem to attract trout better than most other bead colors. There are times when I can swear that trout are becoming used to seeing nymphs in gold, copper, black and rainbow is novel and unexpected. This may seem very unscientific, but on streams with high fishing pressure where trout are caught and released several times they might learn to key in on certain fly patterns or even colors of beads. This past September I ..read more

I have had the good fortune to pursue fish in both fresh and saltwater in various water types. If you asked me to limit my fishing to just one water type for the rest of my life, my answer would be easy. Lakes. I hope these bonus patterns from my Summer Stillwater Primer article in the Summer issue of Fly Fusion ignite the same passion and encourage you to try lakes. Tequila BoobyPearly DamselPeacock Woolly BuggerFly Craft Fullback FlashbackChromieBalanced Leech – Bruised The post Phil’s Stillwater Flies appeared first on Fly Fusion ..read more

King Charles Hook: Partridge 8/0 blind eye Eye: Silk gut Tag: round gold twist yellow silk Tail: golden pheasant crest with indian crow on top Butt: black ostrich Body: black silk on one half of the body with embossed gold tinsel x-wrapped ribbed, butted with black ostrich, round diamond studded bead Forward Body: purple, burgundy, and black seal, ribbed with round gold tinsel Wing: buzzard guinea, black with white center underwing layered over with three peacock pheasant feathers Cheeks: Bronze Impia feather under chartreuse neck feather Veiling: golden pheasant Head: black wool Bronze ..read more

Fly Fusion’s history is rooted in an idea born while sitting on a barstool in the back of Robert’s Fly Shop a couple of decades ago. Over the years we have found that a helpful tip about a local hatch, tweak on a casting technique, demo on the latest gear or hand-drawn map can change your day on the water. But, the conversations and connections made within the walls of a fly shop can ignite a passion for fly fishing that lasts a lifetime! Join us this month in celebrating the fly shops that keep our lines wet and our dry flies on top of the water! Here are a few ways you can participate AND qu ..read more

Fly Fusion magazine, in partnership with the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, the world’s leading fly-fishing film event, has launched the 5th annual Stimmies Awards. “The world of fly-fishing films and the quality of the stories being told is expanding, said Chris Bird, Fly Fusion’s Editorial Director. “The role of The Stimmies Awards is to recognize top emerging and professional filmmakers and encourage creative films that celebrate story and the fly-fishing community.” Beginning April 1, filmmakers have had the opportunity to submit their projects into one of two categories – short ..read more

We are ecstatic to feature a handful of patterns from Gordon van der Spuy’s latest book.  The Feather Mechanic II: Beyond the Pattern is a coffee table book, a keepsake and a manual all wrapped into one.  And Gordon is an artist to the core whether using a pen, canvas or vise.   As Conrad Botes writes in his testimony on the back cover, “Gordon’s drawings were created to serve a purpose, namely to explain the mechanics and nuances involved in the act of tying a fly.  It is the kind of drawing you keep looking at, even after it has done its job of explaining to you how ..read more

Each year, the Winter Issue of Fly Fusion features the latest and greatest Fly Fishing Gear put to the test by our editorial staff.  These guys and gals receive a boatload of products to use and abuse for the season before giving their honest opinion on durability, performance and bang for your (hard-earned) buck! The thing is, these fly fishing manufacturers keep raising the bar, making new and innovative, eco-friendly tools to up our game and this year there was just far too much to cover in the pages of the magazine!  So, here are a few more of our Editor’s Choice for 2024 produ ..read more

Orvis, the family-owned and operated outdoor retailer that pioneered the modern fly rod, announces its next generation of Helios rods. The new Helios is four times more accurate than its ground-breaking predecessor the Helios 3 (H3) and is 25 percent stronger and 10 percent lighter in hand. The result is an intuitive fly rod that is defining a new era in fly rod manufacturing. “Helios rods are what people think of when they think of Orvis innovation and leadership in fly fishing,” said Orvis President Simon Perkins. “We had something really special with the Helios 3, and we wanted to challenge ..read more

Announcing Fly Fusion’s Trout Tour. Tickets now on sale! A well formed excuse to get together with fly-fishing friends. Take in an epic collection of trouty fly-fishing films from Gilbert Rowley, Phil Tuttle, The Braker Bros, RA Beattie and Fly Fusion Films. Premiering in Sundance this March, the films will make their way around the American and Canadian West. Limited cities, limited tickets and monster trout. Click for tour dates and tickets! In association with the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. Presented by: Scientific Anglers, St. Croix, Skwala and Yeti. The post Announcing Fly ..read more

Producers of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) are excited to announce official selections; the most coveted collection of new fly-fishing films from around the world. IF4, presented by Bajio and Orvis, will touch down in 175 cities, feature nine official selections and is a well-formed excuse to get together with friends. Among the official selections are Pinawaca, a jungle adventure, led by popular angler and guide, Jako Lucas, in search of legendary and oversized peacock bass; Vivid Dreams, a breathtaking film about a group of friends in search of oversized sea-run brown tro ..read more