Part I
Fly Making Instructions
Simple Step by Step Directions to Do-it-Yourself!
by Capt. John King 12/4/10

Giving Credit ...Where Credit is Due!

Let's kick off this article by paying homage to who I consider is the father of all Mylar trolling flies.  My departed friend, Mr. George Richey of Honor, MI.  He lives on everyday in history of our Great Lakes Fishery every time you grab a Mylar fly.

George was the first to hit it huge with his "Sparkle Fly" that debuted in the later 1970s.  It was made with a clear Mylar material with UV properties.  Well ahead of it's time.  In 1984 he came out with a complete line of his Mylar Metallic Flies. 

George's products, "Richey's Custom Flies" was the gold standard in trolling flies.  So, I learned from the very best!!

   
EZ Way to Make Your Own Trolling Flies

The method featured  is with easy to use double sided and regular 3M Scotch Tape.  You do not need a fly vice, fly tying tools, thread, bobbin, or head cement.  All you need is your fingers, a good eye, and the desire to make your own tackle.  In turn, reducing your endcost by about 60%When compared to what you'd pay at "over the counter" tackle store prices.  Not to mention a great offseason project that will pay rich dividends in fish when the season rolls around.

It's no secret 2009 and 2010 were not banner years for Salmon at most ports.  With all artificial presentations ...color is used to nudge a fish into striking.  Having a huge selection at your finger tips like we're offering this winter in our fly kits makes cents.  The sky is the limit on custom color creations tailor-made for the ports you fish. Click for our winter fly kits

Our fly kits will be sold out/discontinued well before the season rolls around.  So, please do not think we're going to stock these kits year around.  There's enough materials to build 40 flies. 


Let's Begin


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1. Lay your materials out  ...3 to 3 1/2 inches is plenty
2. Peel the backing off the 2 sided tape and roll straight on the bullet head
3. Continue rolling the Mylar on with pressure on the bullet head shank
4. Material is on straight and you're ready for the next steps

1a.  Take care to use very slight tension and stretch the taped Mylar ever so slightly when applying to the bullet head. 
2a.  This fly is made with embossed glow and is named the Undertaker for obvious reasons.
3a.  On the amount of material used?  That's up to you, but experience has taught me big bushy massive flies never worked as well.
4a.  Method above is known as a reverse lay.  This causes the Mylar to actually swim/pulse with a far more lifelike presentation!  Especially, more noticeable with my BTI 10" Flashers that have a built in snap to it's roll.

Final Process in Finishing the Fly Body


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5. Wrap our special die-cut 1/4" clear Scotch Tape over the top of the Mylar
6. Overwrap with the clear tape is completed
7. Your finished creation

The secret to making flies this way ...if there is one?  It's the overwrap clear tape that binds everything together with progressive tension.  Over time the 1/4" tape will become more sticky and seals the Mylar together ...forever.  If you opt not to buy one of our fly kits, make sure you buy only 3M Clear Scotch Tape.  It will be in 1/2" rolls.  Scissors or a razor blade can spilt this tape down the center to a 1/4".  I've been using this tape as overwrap since 2004 with zero issues, complaints.  It stays stuck, is un-effected by water, and does not yellow.
Some will knock joining flies together with tape.  To the naysayers I reply, "did you ever try to remove a sticker, decal, or a piece of tape after it had been in place for a few months?"   I rest my case based on reel-facts we've all dealt with, cuz over time the glue turns into an extremely sticky hard epoxy-like substance.

Multi Colored Flies


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1. Lay your materials out  ...3 to 3 1/2 inches is plenty
2. Roll the first color straight on the bullet head
3. Wrap the second color of Mylar with light pressure on the bullet head shank
4. Wrap the final color on straight & you're ready for the next steps

1a.  The fly being built is our number one selling X-Glow Sea Green

Final Process in Finishing a Multi-Colored Fly


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5. All 3 colors installed, your fly ready for the overwrap 1/4" tape
6. Wrap our special die-cut 1/4" clear Scotch Tape over the top of the Mylar
7. Overwrap with the clear tape is completed
8.  Your finished creation is ready for leader, beads and a hook now


It was necessary to split this article into 2 pages to help keep load time for tolerable dialup users.  For more in-depth info about rigging, hook installation, leader length, storage, tips & tricks.....

Click here for Part II
 

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