Learn How to Tie Two Very Simple and Effective Egg Patterns!

We just wanted to quickly share with you guys and gals two extremely easy to make and effective egg patterns to use during the spring and fall spawning runs. First, let's start with Lee's Ale Egg. While we don't share his apparent disdain for pegged beads (because there's a right and a wrong way of doing things), we do love flies that we can tie in 2 minutes or under that catch fish. He's shown everyone the photos, and these catch do work. If you enjoyed his video, and would like to learn more and get the materials necessary to tie these, follow this link! Here's the vid...

This next video is of the Egg Over Easy. Rick Murphy and I were playing around with different types of chenille, and he came up with this pattern tied with Trilobal Antron Chenille...




I use these with a ton of confidence during the spawn runs, and almost always catch fish with them. Our favorite color combination is the one being tied in the video. They also work great on Spinney Reservoir the first 3-4 weeks after ice-off!

Fly Tying 101 - The San Juan Worm

The San Juan Worm has been a staple in many guides boxes over the years. Considered taboo by fly tying and flyfishing purists. There is no denying that tying the San Juan has become an art form, spawning many variations on the theme. Some tyers prefer the front of the fly to be longer than the tail or visa versa, some like to put a big tungsten bead on for additional weight, and there is no shortage of imaginative ways to use new synthetics in an attempt to make the perfect fish catching Annelid.

That creative control is what I think people love about fly tying, and for a pattern that takes roughly 2 minutes to tie you can do a lot with this very simple design. The beauty of the San Juan is that there are always annelids/worms in some shape or form in the river system. This is why it never hurts to have a worm as your lead fly on a multiple fly rig. My personal favorite time to fish them is after a bump in flows, or I like to use a red San Juan as my lead fly during the spawn.

San Juan Worm Recipe

Hook: TMC 2488 Scud hook in your favorite size

Thread: Your favorite color 8/0 or 70 denier

Worm body: You favorite color standard ultra chenille.

For a look at a really cool variation of the San Juan Worm tied by Jamie Roth click here! He literally took a basic San Juan Worm and covered it in epoxy and it looks like it would rip lips under the right condition! For a look at the San Juan tied with a Pearl Core Braid follow this link. As always if you have any questions or would like to schedule me for a guided trip shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com

For more tying videos click HERE.

How To Tie - Kleis's Mysis

First, a little background behind my inspiration for this fly. Let it be known that I'm not the first person to use Glow in the Dark Flashabou for a Mysis Shrimp pattern, nor will I be the last. I just got tired of it not being shared with the general public. This is a simple pattern to tie (under 5 minutes), and you would be hard pressed to find a more realistic representation of a dead Mysis shrimp than this. Kristen and I took Kleis's Mysis to the Taylor, and owned fish all day while other anglers watched. In fact, that day on the Taylor was the first time Kristen landed a fish there, and she didn't stop at one.

Every sample I've collected of Mysis over the years has that paddle shaped looking tail called a Statocyst. This "tail" is something I rarely see represented in Mysis patterns, which surprises me because of how much emphasis is put on profile in fly-tying. Another trait that you will see if you google "Mysis shrimp" and look at the images is the appearance of an orange spot on some dead shrimp. I've been told that the orange spot is the egg sack of the female, though I haven't done the research yet to confirm. This is my reason for using orange for the eyes. And since I started putting orange eyes on my shrimp imitations I have done nothing but kick butt with Mysis on both the Blue River below Dillon, and the Taylor Catch and Release. No, I haven't taken these to the Pan yet, so if anybody wants to "borrow" a few, or tie some up and take them there to see how they do please let me know.

Here is the complete recipe...

Kleis's Mysis

Hook: Tiemco 2487 sizes 10-14
Thread: 14/0 or 8/0 (white)
Eyes: Fine Round Rubber in either orange, black, red, pink, purple
Legs: Widow's Web (white)
Swimming Legs/"thorax": 3 strands Ostrich Herl (white)
Carapace/Flashback: Lagartun French Mini-FlatBraid
Abdomen: 2 strands of Glow in the Dark Flashabou
Rib: x-sm silver wire
Tail/Statocyst: Lagartun French Mini-FlatBraid
Shell back: Thick Clear Cure Goo covered in head cement.

If you appreciate this video and my posts be sure to subscribe to Colorado Flyfishing Magazine and like our facebook page. For all other questions, or to schedule the creator of this bug for a guided trip, send me an email to jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com

Tight lines!

Learn How To Tye The Hybrid Hopper!

My two favorite attractor dry flies on the planet are the Parachute Hopper and the Stimulator.  To this day it is impossible to find a more realistic hopper imitation than Schroeder's Parachute.  Like many people I have only ever had one complaint about this pattern.  The wing on the Parachute Hopper is made from mottled turkey feather that falls apart and absorbs water after only landing a few fish.  The obvious solution is to change the wing material.  Other changes I made to the design were to use the hook (TMC 200R) and the thorax of a Stimulator.  

Tying a parachute is a time consuming step so I figured why not simplify the parachute hopper and lose the chute.  I also love the contrast between brown hackle and any bright colored dubbing used as an under body.  It is for this reason that I combined the two patterns to make the Hybrid Hopper.  Making the abdomen and legs similar to the Parachute Hopper, and a wing and thorax similar to the Stimulator.  My advice to all you trout bums is to sleep in late on your next day off.  Show up anywhere on the South Platte river after 2pm with a dozen of these, and take your time wadering up.  Maybe even have a chat with one of the many early birds that are now calling it a day.  Then spend the rest of your afternoon pounding the bank and covering water while you have the entire river to yourself.  I promise it will be one of the best trips you do all year!  Tight Lines!         

Fly Tying Instructional Videos

Kleis's Hybrid Hopper


Kleis's Mojo Midge



Bubble-Back Midge



Egg Over Easy



The Cheesman Emerger



Scudzilla



The Purple Haze



The Shotglass Baetis



The Bling Bug

How To Tye The Scudzilla

Hey everyone check out this "how to" video of Rick Murphy tying his signature Scud Shrimp pattern that he calls the Scudzilla.  One of the things that I have learned from Rick is most of the time Scud Shrimp swim with their bodies extended and straight.  Moral to the story is that the typical hunchback style Scud patterns you see aren't always a good representation of what the fish are seeing in our lakes and reservoirs.  Another thing you will notice if you see Scuds in our local waters is that they grow to very large sizes, and this especially holds true for the nutrient rich reservoirs in park county which is where this pattern really shines.  Now is a great time to throw eggs, chironomid  pupa, and last and maybe most important the Scud Shrimp.  For all the materials needed to tye this simple and effective stillwater pattern stop by Anglers Covey off of highway 24 and 21st street.  For availability and to schedule me for a guided trip send me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com

Sweet Bass And Pike Fly

Just thought id share this pattern I found on facebook with you guys.  It's a simple pattern that I think has great bass and pike catching potential.

The Purple Haze Is Up!

Tying The Cheesman Emerger

Video of Chris Ramos tying his signature pattern the Cheesman Emerger.  The hook size ranges from size 20-24  This is a killer bug for trout slaying on the South Platte.  Check it out!  As always postive feedback and requests is encouraged.  If you would rather buy these tiny bugs they are available at Anglers Covey.

Egg Over Easy in HD

Jon Kleis Tying the Bling Bug Egg