Charlie Craven

2 months ago | flyfisherman.com | Charlie Craven

To me, one of the most compelling things about tying flies is that no matter how long you've done it or how many flies you've tied, there are always little tricks you learn as you go. This phenomenon happens on your twentieth Elk-hair Caddis as well as your four thousandth, and countless times between. A detailed tier is always looking for those little tweaks that make a fly one step closer to perfect and after decades of attempts, I've finally arrived (for now) at the perfect Parachute Adams.

Apr 30, 2024 | flyfisherman.com | Charlie Craven

Adult craneflies have haunted me for a long time. I recall an early morning on Colorado’s South Platte in Cheesman Canyon decades ago, when I saw my first confirmed adult cranefly skating across the surface of the water, doing its best to make it from one bank to the other. It wasn’t the cranefly itself that held my attention, it was the multiple trout that chased and slashed at it trying to end its trip prematurely.

Apr 17, 2024 | newsbreak.com | Charlie Craven

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Apr 17, 2024 | flyfisherman.com | Charlie Craven

Legendary Fly Tier Bob Quigley was clearly one of the most influential tiers of an entire generation. His trout and steelhead patterns, and his tying style, have been copied and revered for years. Honing his skills on such technical waters as Hat and Hot creeks, as well as the Fall River, Quigley developed a host of invaluable patterns that were a step above and beyond the traditional flies of his day.

Feb 25, 2024 | flyfisherman.com | Charlie Craven

As many readers know by now, I generally find Perdigons and their cousins to be pretty boring. Simple thread bodies, oversized beads, and little else. They don’t do much to flip my switch as a creative, problem-solving tier, though I have witnessed firsthand how well these simple flies actually work. I can’t say I have changed my opinion much, but Zach VanDeHey’s approach to his Picky Eater Perdigon gives me hope for the future.