Most fly tying revolves around a few basic techniques. And these techniques are essentially all about you revolving materials around a hook. Figure that out, work on the nuance, and you’ll soon be tying and fishing good flies.

So where do you go from good?

Experience comes from trial and error. Feathers that look good on the vise might not perform underwater. Dubbing that feels buggy might trap so much air that it doesn’t sink. Colors might catch your attention… but not the fish’s.

This month I’m sharing three simple patterns from Trout & Feather. The techniques are familiar, but the nuance makes good flies better. Check out the three flies, and why I think you should give tying them a shot, below:

How can you improve on one of the best patterns in history? A few conscientious material substitutions might make for a bugger that fishes better:

Some materials are fun and easy to work with. In this video, Tim creates a 2-ingredient streamer that is quick, simple, and suitable for anything predatory:

What makes a good jig-style nymph? It has to sink, it has to have a little allure, and – in my opinion – it has to be infinitely customizable. This pattern fits the bill:

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Have any tying or fishing questions for Tim or me?

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