It’s been a fun summer of filling some fly tying orders, both for individuals as well as TCO Fly Shop – State College. There was also a Topwater Smallmouth Flies class that I taught at TCO back at the end of June, which is always fun. Here are some patterns from custom orders that I’ve been filling.

These first pictures were for an individual who wanted an assortment of flies to take up to a lake further north. This was a fun assortment to put together because of the big differences in sizes for the patterns, from small crayfish to 6″ baitfish.

Another order was for a buddy who needed some Chocklett Craws for smallmouth. These use the Chocklett Factory Craw kits, in a size small (with an Ahrex XO774 size 4 hook, 15mm shank + 15mm Spawn jig shank). The feathers are a blend of Whiting American Hen Saddles in dirty lavender and sucker orange, plus some grizzly variant schlappen in olive with pheasant rump feathers laid over top.

Another order was for someone who was purchasing some flies for friends. The selection is pictured below.

By the way, the Flymen Fishing Company large sculpin helmets are not being made anymore, so I am looking into other options for that amount of weight. So far I have liked medium tungsten eyes with some lead-free wire wraps along with an EP Tarantula brush, but am experimenting for the smaller sizes (as the Bandito helmets are still around, but are not always easy to come by). The tungsten eyes are also not ideal due to the current prices of tungsten. TCO State College is getting an order of medium and mini-sized sculpins soon with the helmets, and then I already have ideas for how I would like to tie that platform moving forward. More on that soon.