Tying a Bomber Salmon Dry Fly with Davie McPhail

Materials Used;
Hook, Partridge CS42 size 6
Thread, Black
Tail, White Calf
Body, Natural or dyed Grey Deer Hair
Body Hackle, Natural or Dyed Brown Cock Hackle
Wing, White Calf

[@newhampshireoutdoornetwork9505]

I've watched alot of other videos about spinning deer hair and your video helped me more than most of them

[@johnmcdonald9977]

Every time I watch on of your videos I want to get out all my gear and start again. Truth is I am hopeless at it!

[@seanmooney3907]

You were certainly right about one thing. These flies make a mess when you are tying them. I do love spinning deer hair. I have many more places to get good deer hair in Maine, USA. We have a hunt every year. I get my buck tails fresh off the deer, but it is of course cleaned and dry. I want to learn to dye them next. Feathers are difficult enough to get the right color sometimes. I am learning every day though. Thanks for sharing Davie. God Bless and all the best to you and your family. Sean

[@anonym1anonym243]

Thank you sir for a great tutorial! Your videos has always been a great inspiration, since I caught my first Atlantic salmon!

[@deppipesdavey5471]

I keep the mess for dubbing,i have landed many salmon and sea trout in north wales with this fly.thank you mr mcphail.

[@mlevesque33]

I always enjoy watching your fly tying videos Davie.

[@rescul2418]

If you can get carribou fur you will find your bombers to float like a cork. Best floating fur i have ever used. Cheers and love your videos.

[@dieselvsgas1]

I wanted to know to make these the right way for a while now... thank you for much.

[@lonewizzard8456]

Bomber tying instructions. Love it!

[@Tictacpanter]

I love this pattern. I've found it particularly favourable to cutthroat in British Columbia in the early summer when cast to create large surface drag on the river. Rainbows seem to love it too. Never caught a salmon on it.

[@noelange1]

Another winner, thanks Davie

[@Zircon_215]

Nice. Since, as you say, you don't tie many of these, you can make a nice cheap hair packer by taking an old plastic ball point pen ... front part, if it's one of those screw together types ... and enlarging the hole where the refill comes out a little. A box cutter or X-Acto knife will do that job nicely.

[@gregevans85]

Pleasure to watch and inspiring.

[@zibinxu1802]

The blue shirt DAVIE MCPHAIL , I like your video very. Thank you!

[@DocSpratley33]

You are a consummate pro! another great tie!

[@mikelundrigan2285]

I have tied hundreds of these style "bugs" over the years and agree with "Blue Charm" to trim the bottom flat. I usually do not add a front wing. Mine are tied as "buck bugs" as we call them in Newfoundland. Three of the most popular "bugs" are the Green Machine" which has a bright green body with a brown hackle and another is the "Bee" alternating bands of black and yellow with a black or brown hackle. The other one is the "Orange bug" very light color body with orange hackle...I usually use caribou hair. Caribou is more buoyant and softer than deer hair. I also use moose which is stiffer than deer and perhaps a little less buoyant. None of the bugs have a wing. A tube, like a pen with the refill removed of sufficient size to slide over the hook shank makes an excellent "free" hair packer to tighten up the body. Be careful not to push to hard or you will push the body right over the tail and down the curve of the shank. If one was.making a " bomber" one would add the wing after most of the body had been packed with the pen or similar tube having left sufficient space before the eye, a drop of crazy glue can help secure the wing when tied this way.

[@pepepepert]

Mike Lundrigan Hey Mike, A bee that we have found that worked well is to just use yellow or yellow and orange deer hair then Black double hackled "wing". The big brook trout and salmon seem to love it.

[@marber2251]

ok thank you davie and felicitations for your work

[@Glepperd]

Another excellent video!

[@ArcticFlies56]

Another "home run" Davie. I'll tie a few and see how they fish this summer when I fish Lake Ontario and the rivers that run into it. Best regards.

[@fervonderassen9642]

Thank you, Mr McPhail. I had a slight problem with your accent, so I turned on the subtitles. You should try it yourself. They are a scream!😂

[@GeorgeSemel]

Yep they maybe a pain to tie and yep there is a mess afterward but its worth it for that 20 lb Atlantic Salmon that you just landed!

[@lenhowl]

Dandy bug there, well done.

[@krikauflyfishing]

Very nice work.

[@frankwice4864]

Yes they are a big job to tie but they work and in some very unexpected places. I just spent a week on the Guadalupe river in central Texas. The only thing that was working was squishy worms fished from a boat. I tried it fished under a thingamabob and it’s bloody terrible it cast so I went to a Newfoundland bomber and cleaned up. I had been told that dry flys don’t work on that river but nobody told the trout

[@craZduck19]

incredible how you can scissor trim deer hair so well

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Nice bomber mr Mcphail. If you ever tie some more, try the split wing version for a more bug like look.

[@DavieMcPhail]

HiDominique LeBlanc, I was tying some today with the split wing....ATB Davie

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Always a pleasure to see you tie.

[@mikehuntsmels9680]

hey dominique i see you have a french name, so i was wondering if you fish in the province of quebec , i fish in the south shore of montreal for big bass and big rainbow trout, if you fish in the province where do you fish, in gaspé for salmon or for other species. thank you.

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Yes. Oui. Je pêche en Gaspésie, Charlevoix, Laval, St-Jerôme fly fishing​

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

fly fishing​ if you want to go fishing someday, just ask

[@zibinxu1802]

I am in the Chinese, I love the most is your video

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi ZIBIN XU, I am glad that you enjoy the videos and that you can see then in China... All the very best Davie

[@zibinxu1802]

***** I saw your videos on KZbin first time, and I am really enjoy watching your videos, I have download lots of your videos, and watch it times and times. I like you very much, and you just like my fly fishing teacher. Best wishes Tony Xu

[@nilsirnd4345]

Hi Davie! This fly is very beautiful and I really liked it. You also heard about the effectiveness of this fly here in South America, where did it go?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi @nilsirnd4345, If I remember right I tyed these for a friend that was fishing at the Salmon Lodge on the Grand Cascapedia a water I would love to fish..I'm glad you liked the fly.. All the very best Davie

[@shire-lee]

a lot less messy if you tie a few at a time just go outside and trim them...that's what I do anyways.

[@johnmcguigan6717]

Hi Davy, just as a matter of interest, how would you feel about rating your flies for effectiveness and when to use them!

[@jiovannji]

This is the right way to tie this fly but I would use a foam for the body.

[@Bob-bs6wv]

Mr. McPhail - try using a regular dinner fork to push your deer hair together for a tighter body. No special tools need be purchased.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Bob, I've never tried a fork to push the deer hair together, I'm certainly going to give it a go as I'm sure it would work a treat...Thank you for the tip.. All the very best Davie..

[@StrijelacObi]

Une des plus productives mouches ici au Quebec, (Canada).

[@mikehuntsmels9680]

oui cest les mouche les plus productive dans mon coffre, je peche lachigan et la grosse truite arc en ciel avec des bomber et cest vraiment la plus productive, que peche tu avec les bomber et ou ?

[@StrijelacObi]

Moi je peche le Saumon en Gaspesie : Matane ,Sainte-Anne

[@mikehuntsmels9680]

ah ok je planifie d'y allez en 2017 a matane est ce que cest bonet quelle coin sont bon,moi je peche la riviere richelieu autour de montreal cest une grande riviere

[@jimslade]

Cornho

[@sigurdurmarolafsson4183]

It's funny that I was fishing this fly " the wrong way" but still catching á good number of grilse. I was "skate-ing/riffle hitch-ing it" but an American angler told me it was supposed to be fished like a dryfly for trout. I still use "my way" more.

[@АлександрНовиков-ф5х]

"Вкусненькая" личинка (куколка)!

[@smackinbaits6693]

wonder if this works on brown trout as well. we don't have a lot of atlantics where I am. but we have loads of brown trout, coho, chinook and steelhead.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ricky G, Yes they certainly catch trout and I'm sure even coho, chinook and steelhead, there's many colour combinations but this is by far the most popular... All the very best Davie

[@smackinbaits6693]

Thanks Dave, Your videos are awesome. I tend to make more nymphs for now. but would like to start doing dry flies. particularly for steelhead and brown trout..

[@liamharris6780]

nice fly but do they work here in irish and scottish rivers

[@nicolelewis1828]

Davie thanks for this video. I tied one last night using your methods. My question is how do you measure the hackle? Does this matter? The one I tied it seems like the hackle is too long. Take care!

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Nicole Lewis, I have tyed versions of these over the years some with a very short hackle and others with a long and they have all caught so tye them to suit yourself as I'm sure they will fish for you and then you will find the length you like on your flies and water....I'm glad you enjoyed the video... All the very best Davie

[@chrismelvin8200]

Can you let us know what type of super glue and varnish you use? I just started spinning deer hair - love it.. Thanks for the video.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Chris Melvin, I've attached links to the superglue and the varnish I use on my flies...I'm glad you are enjoy tying and watching the videos... All the very best Davie www.veniard.com/product897/section154/no1-cellire www.loctiteproducts.com/p/sg_brush/overview/Loctite-Super-Glue-Brush-On.htm

[@danielcaballerofernandez3860]

Hello Davie, could you answer me a question please? Do you think this particular patern can be use to catch carp and be effective? In Spain we use a similar patern bug withoug the fur and sometimes without the feather, and it's really useful with carps.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Daniel, I used to work at a trout fishery and we also had a loch with carp in it. I tyed deer hair pattern to catch them for the guests which the carp took for a piece of bread and a dog biscuit so I would say yes to your question as it will work ok... All the very best Davie..

[@danielcaballerofernandez3860]

I'm grateful. Thank you for your advices and congratulation for your works.

[@stephenrosenfeld833]

I so appreciate all your videos! They are so helpful - and reassuring. "Take your time" is my new mantra. Are you really using calf tail as you state, or calf body hair for your bombers? The calf tails we get here (in New Brunswick, Canada) look like tails and aren't flattened like yours. Thanks again!

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Stephen, I use both but the calf tail is far easier to find here than the body and as you know body is far better than the tail...Thank you for letting me know how much you enjoy the videos and take your time as they would say and enjoy tying your flies... All the very best Davie

[@salar2521]

Davie with Partridge discontinuing the CS42 bomber hook what do you recommend for a replacement/equivalent? Thank you in advance for your help. - Jim

[@timmyallen5655]

The story I heard was A guy was fishing for salmon and getting no results with any of the flys He was using .He took one last haul on the cigar he was smoking and pitched the butt into the pool in front of him he watched as it drifted down stream and a large salmon took it down . A this fly was the result . The cigar butt fly .

[@JamesFrenchmedic8]

Dear Davie, great video; Is that calf tail or calf body fur?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi James, I used the body fur which I prefer though I have used both...All the very best Davie..

[@ericlong9085]

Hows it going davie, do you fish this pattern in scotland

[@fritzraddatz5980]

You not only use Fly-Steamer Hooks. I use also Butthook´s it is cheaper.

[@jeromemarion42]

Hi Davie I generally use calf for my wings, but yours are more " slim " to my mind! What kind of fur do you used for Wing and tail ? Thanks ( sorry bad comprehension in english, more clear when i read ;)

[@markinnis8404]

Calf body

[@joeg5414]

looks like a real pain in the rear😂maybe I should tie a bunch and get better at deer hair

[@lewismcgregor5330]

Cheers

[@tattvamasi_1]

👍👍👏👏

[@marber2251]

bonjour davie. de quelle type de mouche s'agit-il, es ce une mouche de pierre ou autre chose merci.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi marber 22, It could represent a stonefly but to be honest it doesn't represent anything but it has become the top dry fly pattern for salmon, steelhead and many other fish..I have attached a link to a website that gives some history behind the Bomber DryFly... www.fishmadman.com/dry-fly/bomber-styling/ All the very best Davie

[@dundalkfishing7373]

Where do u buy your materials

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Dundalk Fishing, I have bought materials over the years from many sources, I've used Veniards, Wapsi, Harline and a few others. I will also source materials on the internet from eBay but you just have to be prepared to dye your own as this makes a difference.. All the very best Davie

[@dundalkfishing7373]

Davie McPhail thanks for that

[@GamersUnion101]

What's that hackle

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ryan Noel, I used a Saddle Cock hackle on the body which suits the fly perfectly... All the very best Davie

[@bornhunter2885]

All deer hair is hollow!

[@GamersUnion101]

What kind of hackle is that

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ryan Noel, I've attached a link to the hackles I used in the video.... www.cliff-harvey-angling.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=2141 ATB Davie...

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Jerome Marion, I mostly use the body fur which I prefer but you need to look through the packets to get the length you like as this is what I do... I've attached a link to some I found on the internet so that you can see what it's like... All the very best Davie www.flytying.ru/item1848.htm