WFS 288 - Tying Dry Flies for Trout with Nick Pionessa

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/288

Presented By: Trxstle, Dette Flies, Togens Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Film Tour

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Nick Pionessa, a professional fly tier from New York takes us on a journey today of becoming a full-time production fly tier, tying over 100 dry flies for trout a day. We hear about the story of how he got started fly tying and eventually made a living out of it. Nick walks us through some of the most effective and requested dry fly patterns.

This episode is loaded with a bunch of dry fly tying tips. You're going to want to stop what you're doing and get on your workstation while listening to this.

Discover Nick's Top 5 Dry Fly Patterns! Learn from a pro to become a pro. If you're passionate at fly tying, you're going to love this one!

Dry Flies for Trout Show Notes with Nick Pionessa

04:13 - One of Nick's first fly rods is an Eagle Claw fly rod

04:28 - Nick took a fly tying class in high school with Jim Keech

05:15 - He does a little guiding in the great lakes

06:00 - Rick Kustich used to own a fly shop in Albion Oak Orchard, NY - his partner Bob Morrisey gave Nick his first fly tying order

10:37 - When Nick worked in a fly shop, he tied 100 trout flies a day

18:15 - Tim Flagler was on the podcast at WFS 279 and he shared some great tips on fly tying

20:01 - Nick's flies go as far as Alaska

21:27 - Last year, Nick's most popular fly was the Peacock Emerger

26:26 - Parachute Spinner

31:59 - Nick describes his technique in tying the Peacock Emerger

35:19 - Nick describes the Para-Spinner technique

36:46 - Most of Nick's parachute patterns have poly yarn material for the wing

39:55 - Calf tail is his least favorite material to work with

40:55 - The Disabled Dun Hendrickson

46:47 - If Nick could only have one dry fly, he would choose the Sparkle Dun (Craig Matthews original)

48:52 - One of the dry flies that Nick fished with the most is the Yellow Bodied Stimulator

50:10 - The Thorax by Mike Lawson lost some of the points that its originally known for

55:06 - The big no-nos in fishing the fish that are actively spawning

58:10 - For steelhead, Nick tied and used the Bill Spey a lot

1:01:40 - Collins Hackle in New York is recommended for the second time - Tim Cammisa recommends them too

1:02:30 - Nick gives some tips on tying small dry flies

You have to see what you're doing - have proper magnification, proper visibility, wear glasses if necessary Use proper thread If you're a beginner tier, use half of what you started with as far as the material - try to keep everything as thin as possible Get some good photos of the actual bug that you're trying to make a fly pattern of Be as familiar as you possibly can be with what you're trying to imitate

1:03:30 - For threads, Nick recommends Veevus 16/0

1:06:34 - Nick describes how he does his shanks

Dry Flies for Trout Conclusion with Nick Pionessa

Nick Pionessa, a professional fly tier from New York told us his story of how he became a full-time production fly tier, tying over 100 flies a day - how he got started fly tying and eventually made a living out of it. Nick mentioned some of the most effective and requested dry fly patterns.

We discovered Nick's Top 5 Dry Fly Patterns! Now we feel so much more motivated to get on that vise.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/288