How to Tie the Kwan Fly

Catching big game fish is about more than just technique and know how; It's about your fly as well. Miamian Patrick Dorsy adapted the fly to help catch bigger bone fish. His original flats fly was not as effective and so he made his bigger to go after the larger fish. Tying the Kwan fly is as easy as it looks. You can master the technique to tying Dory's Kwan fly with a little help.

Things You'll Need

  • Standard Fly Hook
  • Tying thread
  • Orange egg sac
  • Brown and tan craft yarn
  • Fine-tooth comb
  • Mason's Moustache weed guard
  • Craft glue
  • Bead eyes
  • Waterproof Felt tip marker (brown)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap some fishing-purpose tying thread backwards from the eye of the hook to where the shank starts to bend. Attach a fly-fur wing right after, using your thread to wrap the fly fur once around and then tie a small knot to secure it. Prop the fly fur by fluffing the fur. These are your wing wraps.

    • 2

      Tie in your orange egg sac over the wing wraps. (The bright color will help attract fish.)

    • 3

      Carefully tie in four lengths of brown and tan craft yarn, beginning with brown and alternating colors. This should start just before the orange sac. Secure each piece by wrapping the thread around the hook in a figure-eight motion.

    • 4

      Comb the yarn to puff it a bit and make the colors seem blended. This should resemble a crab body, along the lines of a Merkin style fly. This particular appearance is attractive to fish especially Atlantic based fish.

    • 5

      Trim the body, and glue on bead eyes to the front of the creation. Tie in Mason's Moustache weed guard just before securing the thread.

    • 6

      Using a brown waterproof marker, add several color bands to the fly-fur wing. This will create a realistic Kwan fly. No extra decoration is needed, as fish tend to be skittish when new or less familiar creatures inhabit their space.