Vince Wilcox's Naturally Artificial Signature Flies

Vincent Wilcox has been a signature tier for Idylwilde Flies since 2004 and has had over thirty patterns tied and sold commercially throughout North America. His flies have been featured in books such as Dave Klausmeyer's 501 Fly-Tying Tips for All Skill Levels and The Master's Fly Box, Todd Hosman's Colorado Trout Flies, Randall and Mary Kauffman's Fly Patterns, and Montana's Best Fly Fishing by Ben Romans.

Vince Wilcox's Naturally Artificial Signature Flies includes patterns that will appeal to tiers of all skill levels. Tie Vince's flies and you will catch more fish." -David Klausmeyer, Editor, Fly Tyer magazine"Vince Wilcox is the most creative and unorthodox tier of his generation. His flies are as fun to tie as they are to fish." -Ross Purnell, Editor, Fly Fisherman magazine

• Introduction A brief synopsis of what the reader can expect to accomplish by purchasing “Synthetic Synergism”, including why tiers of all levels and all regions can benefit from it. Part I Nymphs Chapter One Minute midge – A midge pattern created to be fast, efficient and of course productive. Basic rotary vise skills will be applied and lead into more complicated patterns. Chapter Two Lint Bug – A fly that has been the favorite of many anglers throughout the country. Learn how to tie the fly that started as a pocket lint request. Chapter Three Marabare – The Marabare is a guide fly, meaning it can be quickly tied and fished in a variety of situations. Combines the techniques and materials used in the minute midge and lint bug even while adding another level of sophistication by incorporating a trailing shuck. The new tungsten anodized beads give it a fresh look and a quicker descent. Chapter Four VW Emerger – This fly combines synthetics to create a midge/baetis that has been sold by the thousands. Chapter Five Madison pupa – Named after my daughter and the river, this fly will incorporate the use of eyes for additional weight and allow tiers to add a new technique to their belt. Chapter Six C-Squared – The cased caddis can be viewed as a free-living caddis from the bottom or a caddis still in its case from the top, allowing it to cover several species at once. Another technique is implemented here with the addition of collars and full wing cases. Chapter Seven T.N.T. – Caddis pupa are an important part of any tiers arsenal and this one has been a staple in fly boxes for decades. This “dynamite” fly can flat-out get it done under the most difficult conditions by fishing it deep along the bottom or just under the surface and anywhere in between. Chapter Eight Ginger Snap – Created to represent the sulphurs of the east and the PMDs of the west, the addition of a dry fly hackle on a nymph makes the collar remain stiff under water, producing a trail of tiny air bubble as it makes its way through the water. Teaching tiers how to create flies with alternative materials and think outside the bubble. Chapter Nine Little Green Machine – This fly has gained a place in fly boxes from coast to coast by producing in all situations, from still water to rivers and streams. More underlayment techniques are demonstrated to the tier to show the translucent properties of the micro tubing. Chapter Ten Big Thompson Special – A solid pattern that can be fished for caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies alike. This pattern is a quick version of the infamous Copper John that takes one quarter of the time to tie and remains just as effective. Chapter Eleven Microstone – If I could only carry one stone fly, this is the one. The first of its kind to incorporate midge tubing for an abdomen, throw on a wire rib and a wing case coated with UV knot sense and you have a stone fly designed to ride upside down to avoid snagging and more positive hook sets. Chapter Twelve Rapunzel – A true damsel in distress, this fly has been able to come to the rescue for anglers around the world. Damsels are abundant in every lake and stream and can also be fished as a Hexagenia or dragon nymph in the larger sizes. A unique design that utilizes nymph tubing burned into a set of glass eyes to hold them in place using a cautery tool and an underlayment beneath the tubing for an added touch of realism all while swimming through the water with its Cul De Chicken tail and wing pads. Chapter Thirteen 3WB – Wilcox’s Woven Water Boatman teaches tiers several different techniques, including how to use a half-hitch weave to create a lateral profile made of midge diamond braid, and a full flash wing case covered in knot sense to represent the air bubble the naturals carry on their belly. Another fly designed to ride upside down and engage the fish in a more positive manner while avoiding streambed vegetation. Chapter Fourteen Prince Charming – Prince charming is the perfect blend of natural and synthetic materials, creating a synergistic effect that makes it a shop favorite. Here we will discuss the benefits of adding the tungsten head and dry fly hackle collar as well the history behind the original Prince Nymph. Chapter Fifteen Superman – There is an added element of fun to your fishing when you are asked, “What did you get `em on?” and you can respond, “Superman.” We discuss wire abdomens and the first ever commercial fly to use knotted micro tubing for legs. Chapter Sixteen Bunny Bugger – Utilizing the newest materials and some new techniques, this bugger works for trout, bass, northern pike, salmon and steelhead. Part IIDries Chapter Seventeen Para-Variant – The first parachute fly of the book is tied using new and easy to follow techniques. This was also the first dry fly I tie having replaced the traditional quill bodies with the synthetic tubing to aide in flotation and durability. Chapter Eighteen ELC – Many anglers believe what they are witnessing in the evening is a caddis “hatch” when in fact it is the pregnant females returning to the water to drop their eggs. We discuss what to look for and the alternative ways to tie and fish this pattern. Chapter Nineteen Bevo – This caddis utilizes stripped grizzly hackle quills to represent long antennae. Add trimmed foam for wing pads to supply extra buoyancy and stability. Chapter Twenty Low Rider – This little CDC parachute mayfly has been a favorite of spring creek and tail water fisherman because of its realistic profile and addition of the high vis parachute. Chapter Twenty-One AC Caddis – Elk hair is used as a parachute as well as antennae, demonstrating to the tier how to make the wing, parachute, and antennae from one material. Chapter Twenty-Two Micro Midge – The first of its kind in production, this extended-body tube midge is easy to tie and flat out catch fish, especially during those hatches when the angler needs to drop down to fifteen feet of leader and a 7X tippet. Chapter Twenty-Three Micro Mayfly – Another first in the industry, this fly utilizes tubing as well as micro fibbets to form the tail. Add a realistic set of microscopic eyes by incorporating a cautery tool and some nymph tubing for a realistic wing. This mayfly has outstanding visibility for those anglers looking to see a size twenty from sixty feet away. Chapter Twenty-Four JC Special – This fly was created to help my long-time fishing partner John Clark see the fly better on the water. The addition of rubber legs makes the fly come alive. Hundreds of thousands of this fly have been sold, and the tying steps have never been released. Chapter Twenty-Five Dingle Berry – Articulated nymphs and streamers have been around for some time, but articulated dries were unavailable on the commercial market until I created this series. Chapter Twenty-Six Foam Sally – One of the first commercially-available flies to incorporate foam for a wing, and the first to use adhesive foams to add a mottled wing to the underside, this pattern floats like a cork even while riding in the film just as a natural would. Part IIITerrestrials Chapter Twenty-Seven Glo-Ant – Incorporating the use of a phosphate-impregnated yarn to add a glow-in-the-dark wing is a first in the industry. Tied in larger sizes, these flies can make nighttime fishing a reality for many anglers, and in the sunlight the glowing sheen gives the wing a realistic appearance on the water. All species of fish have found this one hard to resist. Chapter Twenty-Eight Herbie –Created as a cicada pattern, this beetle imitation can also be fished as a cricket with outstanding results. The No-Fray wing over the top of the foam is impossible for fish to resist and it floats like a cork too. Chapter Twenty-Nine VW Hopper – Sold by the thousands, these hoppers have taken the angling world by storm, and for good reason. The foam overlays used on this fly were the first of their kind, and the addition of a set of eyes make this fly too hard to resist for the angler and the fish. Chapter Thirty Nymphing strategies for rivers and still waters – This final section will give anglers the benefit of my thirty years of experience, providing techniques to make them more successful anglers in all situations, complete with diagrams.