Welcome to The Scientific Fly Angler

Many fly anglers have - or think they have - removed themselves from the blood part of the sport but fly fishing is a blood sport.

The beauty of the Muddler is that it is a highly adaptable palate which you can shape to your wants and needs. I explore some options here.

There are a huge diversity of hooks for terrestrials. I use Tiemco as the standard in this post but you will find a ton of options.

What exactly "flies with soul" are, I don't know, but much like pornography, what I know them when I see it/them.

There are TONS of variations on Don Gapen's original Muddler Minnow - the Woodchuck Muddler, as best as I know - is a Wolf River original.

Don Gapen's Muddler Minnow is a classic that has evolved and been reshaped into the fly we typically see today.

The classics work. I like foam flies - but there is a time and a place for non-foam terrestrials. Here are a number of classics to consider.

Tons of links, videos, and, of course, opinions about what to look for in a fly tying vise - which is a very personal decision.

I would never pay those crazy prices - but so long as others do, the prices will continue to be crazy - capitalism at its finest (and worst)

This in NOT an anti-technology or anti-progress rant but more of a reminder that the old stuff still works.

I think the best reason to tie your own flies is that tying flies makes you a better, more observant fly angler.

Fair warning, this post is geekier than most I write but if you do choose to read on, you may learn an interesting bit of evolutionary bio.

Can you save money by tying your own flies instead of buying them? Absolutely! But what is the fun in that?

Artificial selection gave us our "fancy chicken feathers" and the gains we have seen in the last few decades is pretty amazing.

The Hippie Stomper is the perfect Driftless terrestrial, no exaggeration. It is as if it were created for the Driftless (it wasn't...)

I thought I might be the first to do the definitive study of "does the fly really matter" but it seems that a team of CRACKPOT investigators

There is a wealth of information online about how to get started fly tying - some of it is pretty good. Here is my list of ideas and answers

As fly anglers, we all learned that getting a good, drag free drift is the key to catching fish both on dry flies and on nymphs - but is it?

My lament is maybe one of disappointment or jealousy and it is maybe a bit misplaced. We are in the golden age of fancy chicken feathers!

Shop local! I mean, why would you not? Your dollars stay local and you are making the world a better place - no exaggeration.