https://bugcrafters.com fly tying and fly fishing for everyone... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:59:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 158381895 https://bugcrafters.com/2026/06/22/the-woolly-worm-a-foundation-fly-in-american-fly-tying/ https://bugcrafters.com/2026/06/22/the-woolly-worm-a-foundation-fly-in-american-fly-tying/#respond Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:58:38 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6424   Few flies earn the title of “foundation pattern,” but the Woolly Worm belongs squarely in that category. Long before modern synthetics, tungsten beads, and hyper-realistic imitations, the Woolly Worm proved that motion, texture, and versatility matter more than detail. For fly tiers and anglers alike, it remains one of the most important patterns ever […]]]> https://bugcrafters.com/2026/06/22/the-woolly-worm-a-foundation-fly-in-american-fly-tying/feed/ 0 6424 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/12/16/norvice/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:00:30 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6394 Many years ago, Norm Norlander, came to the fly tying show in Mountain Home, Arkansas. At that time, he brought a truck load of his Novice System with him.  He sold them all.  I bought one and have use it ever since. There are a number of things I like about his fly tying system. […]]]> 6394 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/11/30/tying-small-flies/ https://bugcrafters.com/2025/11/30/tying-small-flies/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2025 18:15:38 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6377   I have been tying flies since the 1980’s. Generally, I avoid tying small files (size 18 or smaller) because initially I thought they would be hard to tie, now because I can’t see well enough to tie them onto my tippet. After talking with Cecil Woodman at the Branson Fly Fest, I became encouraged […]]]> https://bugcrafters.com/2025/11/30/tying-small-flies/feed/ 3 6377 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/10/18/skunk-wooly-worm/ https://bugcrafters.com/2025/10/18/skunk-wooly-worm/#comments Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:31:09 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6348 John McKim wrote Fly Tying – Adventures in Fur, Feathers and Fun in 1982. It was one of the first fly tying books I bought while trying to learn how to tie flies. John is an author, former directory of the Federation of Fly Fishers (before the name change) and an artist. In this book […]]]> https://bugcrafters.com/2025/10/18/skunk-wooly-worm/feed/ 1 6348 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/10/15/branson-2025-white-river-fly-fishers/ https://bugcrafters.com/2025/10/15/branson-2025-white-river-fly-fishers/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:23:40 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6331 The Fly Fishing Expo in Branson, MO occurred this last weekend.  Sponsored by the White River Fly Fishers and spear headed by Dennis Stead and other volunteers, it was a big success.  It seemed to me to be bigger than last year. As usual I got to see a lot of old friends and make […]]]> https://bugcrafters.com/2025/10/15/branson-2025-white-river-fly-fishers/feed/ 1 6331 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/09/30/flyfest-2025-ffi/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:34:12 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6319   As I said in my previous Post, I like going to Fly Fishing shows. Michael Ames and I just returned from FlyFest  2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  This show was billed as a gathering of fly fishers and was a big success.  The first in person gathering since covid.    Although it was not […]]]> 6319 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/06/10/woven-body-damselfly-nymph/ https://bugcrafters.com/2025/06/10/woven-body-damselfly-nymph/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:27:38 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6289 I like going to fly fishing shows.  Recently I attended the Annual Sowbug Roundup in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The show usually occurs in late May. I have demonstrated fly tying at this show for years.  It’s a chance to see old friends, make new friends, and invariably I learn something new.  This year was no […]]]> https://bugcrafters.com/2025/06/10/woven-body-damselfly-nymph/feed/ 1 6289 https://bugcrafters.com/2025/05/02/triangle-bug/ Fri, 02 May 2025 19:59:48 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6234 The Triangle Bug is a foam panfish fly that is quick and east to tie. The shape of the fly also makes it harder for the fish to swallow, provided the fishes mouth is not too large   This fly is tied on a Lightening Strike SN3 2XH 3XlL hook size 10. The tying thread […]]]> 6234 https://bugcrafters.com/2023/11/10/dubbing-spinner/ Fri, 10 Nov 2023 21:24:36 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6215 Dubbing brushes and hackle brushes are used in various fly patterns. They are a way to add a lot of bulk to large flies, such as game changer or salt water flies.  But their use is not limited to large flies . Using the dubbing loop technique, small dubbed fly bodies are also easy to […]]]> 6215 https://bugcrafters.com/2022/11/30/tips-for-new-fly-tyers/ https://bugcrafters.com/2022/11/30/tips-for-new-fly-tyers/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2022 21:52:45 +0000 https://bugcrafters.com/?p=6195 https://bugcrafters.com/2022/11/30/tips-for-new-fly-tyers/feed/ 1 6195