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Fly tying wax comes in a number of types and consistencies and they all have there uses.
One of the most common questions I am asked when tying flies at shows and exhibitions is, "What is that lump on your finger you keep rubbing on the thread?" That "lump" is a small amount of wax that I have warmed in my fingers and shaped into a small ball which I then stick onto the index finger of my right hand.
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The Triangle Bug as tied by Matt O’Neal from Savage Flies
Last week Matt O’Neal from the Savage Flies YouTube Channel featured a tutorial on tying the Triangle Bug. Matt did a great job tying up one of my favorite panfish patterns! The Triangle Bug is one of my most popular patterns, and it is very easy to tie, as you will see in Matt’s video.
The Triangle Bug is an unusually shaped topwater fly. The body of the fly is in the shape of a triangle, hence the name. The unique shape of this pattern serves an important purpose. Bluegills and other sunfish have notoriously small mouths, but despite this, they often take flies very deeply. It can be frustrating for the angler and harmful to the fish to remove a fly from a deeply hooked sunfish. The triangular shape of the fly was designed to keep the small-mouthed bluegill and other sunfish from swallowing it too deeply. The narrow rear portion of the fly allows the small-mouthed panfish to take the fly without difficulty and the broad front end keeps the fish from swallowing it too deeply.
I did a video on tying the Triangle Bug in the past (you will find it below), but I will be the first to admit you will enjoy Matt’s video a lot more! I also did a step-by-step tutorial you can find by using the button below.
If you don’t tie your own flies I am currently accepting orders for custom-tied Triangle Bugs. I only open up custom orders a few times yearly, closing down when the order volume gets too high. So depending on when you read this post, the link below may or may not work.
You can find all the tools and materials you need to tie the fly below. You can use the code DISCOUNT10 to save 10% on the foam cutter, hooks, foam, leg, and tailing material. I apologize in advance if you find stock on some items low right now. We had a very successful Black Friday sale that depleted a lot of inventory. More stock is on the way, and I will keep the discount code active until the end of the year for anyone that wants to purchase a cutter and materials down the road.
Please note there are only about a dozen cutters in stock right now, and once they sell out I may not see more until the next year.
I kick off fly tying season every year by enjoying a weekend of fly tying and camaraderie at the International Fly Tying Symposium. The International Fly Tying Symposium is the world’s largest show dedicated to the art of fly tying. This year there will be over 75 fly tiers in attendance and scores of vendors selling fly tying materials and fly fishing gear. If you are a fly tier or fly fisher (even if you don’t tie flies) this is a show you will not want to miss!
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Many people associate me with panfish, which is to be expected for someone running a website and blog dedicated to fly fishing for panfish. However, many folks don't know that I am a fly fishing guide specializing in fishing for trout. Although I spend countless hours chasing sunfish and bass, I spend just as much time wading trout streams throughout the country.
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Its time to get busy refilling those fly boxes!
While I tie flies year-round, my fly tying kicks up a notch during winter. As the days get shorter and the nights grow longer, I will spend fewer hours fishing, which leaves more time for fly tying. Nothing beats settling in at the tying desk for an evening of fly tying with your back warmed by a crackling fire. I often tie in the evenings after the family settles down for the night, my only company being a snoring labrador retriever curled up at my feet under the desk.
Fly tying is also a great way to pass the time on those winter days when cold, stormy weather keeps you housebound. Cabin fever can be a real problem for someone accustomed to spending most of their time outdoors. However, fly tying keeps me engaged with my favorite hobby when I can’t actually get outdoors to do it.
The official kickoff of my fly tying season usually occurs in November, generally coinciding with the annual International Fly Tying Symposium that takes place every year in New Jersey. This show is a fantastic event for the fly tier. The symposium features fly tiers from around the world, sharing the secrets of their craft.
When I first started tying flies at this event, I was tying trout flies like everyone else. Then, a few years back, I decided to share my love of warm water fly fishing, particularly fly fishing for panfish, by tying up some of my favorite panfish patterns. I did not know what to expect that first year. Would I be ridiculed for tying panfish flies among the fly tying legends that attend this event? Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that quite the opposite occurred. Every time I looked up from the vise, I saw nothing but smiling faces giving approving nods and enjoyed hours of conversation with folks that shared my love of fly fishing for panfish and bass. As it turns out, many folks enjoy (some secretly) the pleasures of fly fishing for panfish.
That time of year is rolling around again, and I look forward to the start of the show season. The International Fly Tying Symposium is the first of many fly fishing shows for me. In addition to the Fly Tying Symposium, I will be tying flies at three of the Fly Fishing Shows (Marlborough, MA - Edison, NJ - Lancaster, PA), the Maryland Fly Fishing Show, and other local events.
This year, the International Fly Tying Symposium has returned to the Double Tree Hotel in Somerset, NJ. Although the show has taken place at several locations over the 31 years it has existed, the Double Tree Hotel ranks as the favorite location with tiers and attendees alike. The show will take place Saturday and Sunday, November 12 & 13, 2022.
If you are a regular attendee of this event, stop by my table and say hello. I’ll have a little something special to give out to folks who mention this post and are fans of the website and our Facebook Group. If you have never attended this event and live in the tri-state area, I encourage you to check it out. If you are not a fly tier but enjoy fly fishing, the show still has a lot to offer, but you will not want to miss The Fly Fishing Show when it comes to town in January!
For more information on both shows, click the buttons below.
I will be redesigning the flies for sale section of the website over the next few weeks. I will be opening up fly orders again shortly and will be offering several new patterns in addition to the old favorites. Stay tuned!
