Blowtorch tag nymph fly tying tutorial

The Blowtorch is a variation on a pattern our Czech guide showed my Fly Fishing Team USA mates and I while fishing in the 2014 World Fly Fishing Championships. It was deadly in the Czech Republic and it has been deadly here in the USA as well. I generally fish it as the point fly on a two or three fly Euro nymphing or Czech nymphing rig but it would work just as well with a strike indictor rig.
In this tutorial you will learn how to tie this fly as well make a soft hackle nymph with oversized feathers.
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[@81MrTJB]

I'll definitely give it a go this season. Thanks for sharing!

[@seanmooney3907]

Really nice fly, I like your choice of materials on this one. Double ribs really make this one a durable fly. I hadn't thought of using crossing ribs on fishing flies. I am happy to have found your channel. I will visit the website. All the best and thanks for sharing. Sean

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

+Sean Mooney thanks! You can find the specific blog post about it here www.tacticalflyfisher.com/blog?tag=Blowtorch+Tag-nymph

[@GilbertRowley]

Great looking pattern. I'll be giving it a shot soon! Thanks Devin.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

+Gilbert Rowley Thanks Gilbert!

[@fishlipflycollective142]

used this pattern recently on the boise river and it did amazing..worked its way into my regular rotation as always D has a knack for teaching me to be a better angler

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Glad you've found success with it. It's definitely one of my favorites.

[@emilleum48]

Thank you, another amazing tie, I have never seen the hackling done exactly that way, thank you, MSG Leum

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@grigri077]

very attractive pattern. Well done Many thanks for sharing with us Pierre (from Québec, Canada)

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

+grigri077 Thanks Pierre! I've got more on the way so stay tuned.

[@theheronknowsprimewater1035]

The blowtorch has been very effective for me on the Taupo rivers the last few months. Quite often without the softhackle because I'm lazy

[@S0NS_0F_LIB3RTY]

Really dig it. Gonna tie some up and fish em here in utah.

[@oscarbarreiro4266]

I just wanted to let you know that it work factastically well in the Soca river, Slovenia. Thanks!!

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Glad to hear it!

[@OregonFishingAdventures]

Never knew u lived in Oregon till watching this video that's cool 😎

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Yep. We were in Enterprise for 3 years while I was still a fisheries biologist.

[@OregonFishingAdventures]

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 ive heard of enterprise oregon but honestly never been there lol

[@thomasnorthrup9990]

I'm convinced I could compete in European tournaments, I've never caught so many chubs in my life! 😁

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Go get em!

[@FarmyJoe76]

Great pattern! I tied it in pink glo-bright & barred cdc as a hackle substitute. It was torn to pieces by trout & fallfish on my local stream!

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Thanks FarmyJoe. I'm glad it's been working for you.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Glad it worked well for you FarmyJoe

[@gregs7568]

I'm really enjoying these videos and learning so much as I go through them all! ! What is the color of the India Hen Back that you are using in this video? There is almost a yellowish tint to the mottling on the feather. It looks yellowish on the screen, it's hard to tell. I already have the Prince Nymph Brown from Hareline and the Brown Hen Saddle from Nature's Spirit from your online shop. I'm just trying to come up with more color options and ideas.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

I think it was just an old natural india hen I used in the video but there is a lot of variation between them. I don't get too hung up on the hackle color as the body color and fluorescent tag are the main eye catching features of the fly. These days I'm usually substituting cdc for the hackle as I do it in the Soft Hackle Carrot Video.

[@everythingaction3927]

I caught my PB rainbow on one of these today

[@mesanomad55]

This fly is tearing it up for me. A pattern I’m sure rarely seen here in PA.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Glad it's working for you Steve. It's a go getter in most places I've tried it.

[@joosonkim538]

thanks, will def try this out. Any reason not just do a soft hackle with Hungarian partridge?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Partridge would work. I just prefer hen hackle because it is more durable than partridge which often gets chewed off after a few fish. CDC also works as a substitute.

[@joeduca8582]

Hi Devin, I just discovered your channel and subscribed. Nice fly. I've been following Czech style nymph tying for awhile now, I'm glad to find another competitor. Nice tip on the oversized hackle. I learned that quite awhile ago when I started tying and trying out different techniques. It's easier on a bare hook but looks like a bit of a bear behind a bead. I don't think the fish mind, but have you tried any other methods like cutting off the fibers then applying or even reverse tying them like on a bead less hook? Anyway, guess I'm thinking out loud, but you've inspired me and that's what this is all about. Thanks, looking forward to viewing the rest of your stuff.

[@lhannan2166]

Devin. I have been tying this as your book shows with the ice pink collar. Which version would you recommend? Also been tying without a full collar hackle. Instead I cut a quick V take two loose wraps and adjust the length by feather stem and then tighten it down. I wonder if either way makes a difference? But, if nothing else it is much quicker to tie. P.S. I have been fishing a couple of local waters the past two days and ALL the trout have taken that fly. Fishing it as the anchor fly or on the tag doesn't seem to make a difference. It's a winner.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

These days I probably use the Ice dub collar most often. I also use CDC hackle most of the time as well. Either way, the trout seem to like it as you've found as well.

[@shannonyork5300]

Devin, What size do you fish most with the Blowtorch? In your great book, you seem to reference a size 14 more, but that may be not be indicative.

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Shannon York I fish them most in 12-16

[@shannonyork5300]

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 Ok, thank you.

[@chriscrumbley9219]

Can you use inverted tungsten beads on jig nymphs or only use on normal nymph hooks to make them invert like a jig hook?

[@patches152]

Devin has answered this question elsewhere, but you can use both. The inverting beads are slightly heavier for the same diameter and fill some weight gaps on the full range of choices available.

[@ryantherock7664]

I would think a hackleless version would work well as would sink faster.Im no expert what would you guys say?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Ryan The Rock yes a version without hackle would sink better. That’s normally where I employ perdigons.

[@ryantherock7664]

Would peacock herl work for the body and red wool for the tag be a decent alternative?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

They certainly would work. I do prefer the extra sheen and durability of the ice dubbing and the added brightness from the fluorescent glo brite floss.

[@jdmkun]

Will this fly work year round or only in the warmer months?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

It has been very good year round for me. In fact right now it is particularly effective on my local rivers.

[@pnwpaddler]

Do you ever use cdc on this one? You use it on the Carrot...just wonder if there was a reason you would or wouldn't on the Blowtorch?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Yep. I mostly use CDC on it these days.

[@ryanmiller3967]

@@tacticalflyfisher3817 CDC instead of the orange glo-brite?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Ryan Miller no. Keep the glo brite but substitute cdc for the soft hackle.

[@ryanmiller3967]

@@tacticalflyfisher3817brain fart, I was thinking CDL.

[@alexargyros7186]

You appear to be using a jig hook in the video. Do you, in fact, prefer a jig hook for this fly?

[@tacticalflyfisher3817]

Alex, I use nymph and jig hooks interchangeably on this fly and all of my nymphs. I would say use whichever you feel more confident in.