Tying a Black Cricket by Davie McPhail 

He IS the best.

Well stated! I’ve learned loads about fly tying from Davie.

"suit yourself" and "take yer time" are my personal faves.

Hi Robert Rowlands, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and that you like the fly... All the very best Davie

Many Thanks Bernie....ATB Davie

Love to watch the master at his craft. Thanks very much Davie...

Hi 1chefbr, Thank you for the very kind words and wishes, a Happy New Year to you to and all the very best for 2016... ATB Davie..

Hi شجرة العائلة التفاعلية ,شجرة العائلة التفاعلية‬‎ I hope the fly does well for you and thank you for your kind words... All the very best Davie

Hi Sean, You need to put them in a safe as that would stop him and send him the bill for the flies I would.... All the very best Davie

That's what I thought. He couldn't possibly need that many crickets and grass hoppers, not to mention the steelhead flies. He didn't take any tube flies. Maybe he just doesn't know how to use them. I think most people think fly tying is easy and cheap. Not so. Some are easy but the materials are never cheap. Thanks for the advise I think I will take it. All the best to you and yours. Sean

Hi Roderick Walker, I would start with simple patterns like a wet fly with a tail, rib, body and hackle and then progressing by adding a wing on so that you get used to the proportions..Less is best, as most problems start with doing one turn too many and a little bit more dubbing and before you know it your proportions are all out so take your time and always go back if you are not happy, so enjoy your tying... All the very best Davie

Hi John Furlow, It was Turkey Biots I used but also tye some with rubber legs as they do last a bit longer than the biots... I have attached a link to the biots I used... All the very best Davie www.anglers-lodge.co.uk/product/turkey-biots-wapsi/

Hi Keith, I'm glad you enjoy watching the videos, I've attached a link which shows where the biots come from. I hope this is of some help to you... All the very best Davie www.sexyloops.com/flytying/summerbiots.shtml

***** thanks Davie, thats great more than I could find anywhere , .Ireally love the way you manage to explain some of the little techniques i have struggled with for a while . thanks agai , keep up the good work . Keith

Hi jTarry Oh Peng Yew, When I tyed this fly I did look for the longest turkey biots I could find to make the knot for the legs but I have to be honest most use rubber legs or knotted pheasant tails fibres which would be the one I would choose...I have attached a link to the hopper pre-knotted legs for you to see..I also tye them myself so I have attached a link to a video where I use a crochet hook to form the knot though you would have to do more than one fibre to get the width of the leg for a cricket...I hope this is of some help to you.. All the very best Davie ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LHUM8FBQPdk.html www.orvis.co.uk/p/legs-on-a-stick/747T?adv=19052&cm_mmc=PLAs-_-google-_-allprod-_-19052&mr:referralID=f473b962-707f-11e6-8083-005056941669&gclid=CN78qND87s4CFaQV0wodhoICXw

Thanks.

Davie McPhail b

Hi fullstrutn, Zonker patterns are excellent for representing a slug or leach and the fish do like them a lot...I've attached links to a couple of styles you may like to try... All the very best Davie ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K_Q262xLbw0.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-P25ikNsKvZg.html

Yeah think he's up grading them all to HD which is great

Hi Jonas Lundh, Yes I've started to upload all my older videos I can to HD which I hope will make them a bit better especially the popular ones..I'm glad you still enjoy them... All the very best Davie

Hi David, The stretchy foam is by far the best to use but unfortunately as you know it's not available as I have been trying to buy it since I tyed this pattern..I have used normal foam but it's not as good..If I do ever find some I'll certainly let everyone know... All the very best Davie

Thank you.

Hi Ben Parker, The goose biots do look good on this fly but if you are having problems with them then just use either knotted pheasant tail fibres or rubber legs which seam to be the most popular in this pattern now... All the very best Davie

***** thank you this video and pattern is awesome and now that I can get the legs down its great some sunfish are going to have sore lips for a while

Ben Parker or use turkey biots ... they are longer than Goose biots and easier to tie into a knot.

HiDoug Hamil, After buying the foam from a local shop and tying the fly I couldn't believe how hard it was to find the foam again. It originally came from a gentleman called Bill Skilton in America, I did contact him as he was selling on ebay but he didn't get back to me...I'm sorry I wish I could be of more help and if I do ever find a supply I will certainly let everyone know... All the very best Davie

Doug Hamil So I've seen people asking about the foam he's using and I think I found it, it's called "Evazote Foam" and it's a 1/8" thick peace of closed cell foam. I just ordered some off Amazon and I will give you guys an update when I get it in to confirm its the right stuff. Here is the link if you want to check it out. amzn.com/B0039NU09Q

HiBarca Bro, A huge thank you for the info and please let us know what you think of the foam when you get it... All the very best Davie