We’ve had some cold temperatures here in Central PA, which means it’s a great time to be sitting down at the vice and tying up some patterns for spring. (Don’t get me wrong, winter is one of my favorite times to be on the water, but not when it’s in the teens with a colder wind chill…)

There are a handful of orders that I’m working, the biggest of which just got finished and delivered to TCO State College this week: an assortment of smallmouth bass streamers that will be out on shelves closer to spring. The assortment includes: 6 full-size Swingin’ D’s, 8 Cold-Water Nuts (a Circus Peanut variation by Mike Schultz), 8 Finesse Swingin’ D’s, and 8 Jig-style Leggy Boi Changers. Some pictures of the flies are below:

There are some new MFC materials that I’ve been using and enjoying: Mottled Schlappen feathers (the brown/black ones are on the Flank-Backed Finesse D at the top of this post) and Senyo’s Super Satin Chenille (the 10mm and 20mm sizes – great, non-flashy material for bodies). The MFC Barred Marabou and Buggerbou have become my go-to for most of my marabou feathers, too (the number of quality feathers per package is great). While I’m a big fan of dubbing loops with rabbit fur, the MFC Bunny Brushes are great for tying up heads in a pinch.

Other orders coming down the line include some sculpins and a few saltwater Muddlers for snook. When I was doing the smallmouth order I tied some of those patterns for my own box too. The other week I picked up Pheasant Tail Simplicity (Craig Mathews, Yvon Chouinard, Mauro Mazzo), which inspired me to get some pheasant tail patterns tied up (nymphs, soft hackles, even dries and a saltwater pheasant tail that would be great for carp). More to come. What have you been tying lately?