Fly fishing: the art of tying artificial flies
The art of creating artificial flies for fishing has a long history, possibly dating back to 200 A.D., according to flyfishing.com. There were descriptions of Macedonian fishermen tying red wool and two cock feathers onto a hook and throwing it with a pole and line in the water to entice fish to bite the “fly.”
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- This is a display fly used for decoration. This fly is simply too pretty to use for fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- A Don Brown Bill fish fly is pictured with a Tibor Rip Tide fly reel. This large saltwater fly is used to fish for tuna, sailfish and marlins. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured are an assortment of saltwater flies. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Theaux Le Gardeur, of Backwater Angler in Monktion, ties a Lefty Deceiver using fly tying materials that include bird feathers, deer fur, threads, synthetic dubbing on a hook. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the cockroach fly used for tarpons. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- A Dan Blanton’s Flash Tail Whistler is pictured with a Tibor Rip Tide fly reel. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is Dan Blanton’s Flash Tail Whistler, used for rock fish. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- A Lefty’s Deceiver is pictured with a Billy Pate Bonefish reel. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- A close-up picture of Theaux Le Gardeur as he ties a Lefty Deceiver using fly-tying materials that include bird feathers, deer fur, threads, and synthetic dubbing on a hook. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the saltwater fly Sar-Mul-Mac used for rockfish. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured is the Couch’s EC Batfish used to catch rockfish. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the snake fly, a version of Lefty Kreh’s Ostrich Deceiver, used for rockfish. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured is the Allie Shrimp used in fishing for Pacific salmon. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- An assortment of shad flies tied by Eric Snyder of Bel Air. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the wool head pike fly, used for pikes. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured are an assortment of small-mouth bass flies with a Bauer fly reel. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Theaux Le Gardeur of Backwater Angler in Monkton ties a Lefty Deceiver using fly tying materials that include bird feathers, deer fur, threads, and synthetic dubbing on a hook. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the Hare Sculpin used for small-mouth bass. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured is Dave Whitlock’s Crawfish, used for smallmouth bass fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is Dave Whitlock’s Near Nuff Sculpin, used for smallmouth bass fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is an assortment of dry flies pictured with a Bauer M1 Super Light fly reel. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured is the Mad Damsel dragon fly, tied by Eric Snyder of Bel Air. It’s used for trout fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is a Wing Ant fly made from materials and equipment provided by Theaux Le Gardeur of Backwater Angler in Monkton. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured are fly-tying materials that include bird feathers, rabbit skin, treads, synthetic dubbing, hooks, and vise. Flies, materials and equipments provided by Theaux Le Gardeur of Backwater Angler in Monkton. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the Adams Dry Fly. A traditional dry fly has been used for centuries in trout fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is the Royal Coachman, a traditional attractor May fly, used for trout fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- From left, flies representing the life cycles of the Sulphur mayfly: Pheasant tail nymph, Partridge & Yellow emerger, adult Sulphur Dun and Rusty Spinner. All are used for trout fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured is a Griffth’s Gnat fly in size 26 hook with a dime to give a sense of scale to the tiny fly. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- This is Tungsten Ant fly. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
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- Pictured is the size 14 caddis emerger used for trout fishing. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
According to the way they are fished, flies are usually categorized by dry, wet, nymphs, streamers and saltwater varieties. They can range in sizes of a tiny gnat tied on hook to a foot-long baitfish pattern tied on a big-game fishhook.
The way the flies are made has likely not changed for centuries. Wool or other synthetic material is wrapped on the shank of the hook to create the “body,” leaving only the barb showing. Bird feathers, animal furs or other man-made materials are tied on top of the “body” to mimic wings, antennae or legs. Some bright and shiny materials can be tied on for special effect to attract more fish.
The flies pictured in this Darkroom post are provided courtesy of Theaux Le Gardeur, of Backwater Angler in Monkton, just minutes from the Gunpowder River, one of the best wild trout streams in the nation, Le Gardeur says.
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