You should only believe some of what you see. The illusion of a baitfish created by a skilled tier can be amazing. Fly tying is an artful way of tying hair, feathers and flash onto a hook, so that it looks like a living baitfish. Try as one might, concocting a way to effectively imitate a large baitfish, such as a spring run herring or a menhaden may give even the most gifted tier fits! Anyone can tie a rag mop onto a hook, but when tying a larger pattern, your offer needs to only appear large. Too much material and you will find your creation difficult to cast. The resultant shortened casting distance will decrease the amount of fishable water that you cover, ultimately costing you fish. You may not notice until sun up, and all this time you thought that the action had slowed! An effective fly should duplicate the baitfish of the day while casting well, avoiding fouling, and it must last more than a fish or two, right?

Smoke and mirrors may catch your buddy’s eye, but it is the profile, silhouette, and action that will make your fly a hit with the resident gamefish. It is the illusion of life itself that brings home the bass! A few blended materials along with some specialized techniques and ideas will make tying these large patterns a snap.

Take a little time to practice them so that you’ll be able to include these skills in your fly tying bag of tricks. These techniques allow you to use minimal tying material to make a large pattern that is very fishable. When large bait is on the menu; these sparsely tied illusions are the perfect lure. When your fishing buddies see you tossing these large patterns with ease and grace, just shrug and leave them watching; the sound of your reel singing and their grunts and groans would be enough—but the fish you catch will be the icing on the cake!