How-to Content

Time to grab your vise and follow along as Capt. Conner Bryant walks us through how to tie the “Marsh Creature.” This simple black and purple fly only requires a handful of basic tying materials, and is easy to crank out in batches. This is one of Conner’s top summer redfish patterns in the South Carolina lowcountry, but it looks fishy enough to fool reds from Pamlico to Port Aransas.

In saltwater fly fishing — when stronger fish, larger flies, and more extreme conditions are at play — it is critical to have a well constructed leader for success on the water. A leader is the connection between your fly line, the fly, and ultimately the fish. Understanding how to put together a well built leader helps anglers improve their chances of success on the water.

Whether you’re floating your local tailwater for trophy trout or scouring white sand flats for cruising tarpon, you can use this loop knot for giving your big streamers some added action without compromising on knot security. The Improved Homer Rhode Loop Knot is comprised of two smaller knots which tighten against one another as pressure is applied to the line. This makes the knot incredibly strong and reliable when fighting larger gamefish. With some practice, you’ll find yourself speeding through this one in no time. Here’s how we like to tie this knot in 8 simple steps.

If you’ve ever damaged the end of your fly line or had to build a new leader while out on the water, you may already know the versatility of the Perfection Loop. This loop knot is simple, strong, and very quick to complete with just a little practice. Here’s how we like to do it in 5 easy steps.

The Dragon Tail tarpon fly is a simple, effective fly originally devised for targeting tarpon along the Gulf Coast. The Dragon Tail fly has great action in the water, even with a slow retrieve, and can be tied in under 5 minutes. Here’s a tying demo using a Varivas 3/0 saltwater hook.