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The Scientific Fly Angler

Naturally Curious

Welcome to The Scientific Fly Angler

Naturally Curious

About The Scientific Fly Angler

Jason G. Freund

Welcome to my COVID project.

This page explores fly fishing and fly tying from an mostly - but not entirely - scientific point of view. Expect a random collection of fly tying, fish and stream ecology for the fly angler, and well, whatever I feel like posting at the time. From time to time, I will branch out from fly fishing into fisheries management and science.

This website and blog is for fun - not profit. I'm coming at you from Wisconsin's Driftless area but am hoping to interact with anglers from around the world. It is not necessarily a blog about Wisconsin but we are shaped by our experiences.

Send me an e-mail if you have question, comments, ideas for posts, etc.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Exploring Fly Tying Materials: Bucktails

Jason G. Freund

2 days ago12 min read

Fly Tying Materials

Exploring Fly Tying Materials: Bucktails

Bucktail is probably my favorite fly tying material because of its versatility. This post is an overview of how to use bucktail.

138 views1 comment

Buying Fly Tying Materials Online: What I Wish It Were Like!

Jason G. Freund

Jan 266 min read

Buying Fly Tying Materials Online: What I Wish It Were Like!

Buying materials online has never been easier or better than it is today - however, it could still be easier and better.

202 views3 comments

Fly Tying 101: All About Dubbing Materials and Techniques

Jason G. Freund

Jan 1210 min read

Fly Tying 101: All About Dubbing Materials and Techniques

Dubbing can be rather confusing - my goal is to avoid some of that confusion and provide methods to create flies w/ better dubbed bodies.

274 views0 comments

Fly Tying 101: All About Thread

Jason G. Freund

Dec 29, 20249 min read

Fly Tying Materials

Fly Tying 101: All About Thread

Thread is the most essential of fly tying materials (assuming you don't count the hook as a material). Fly tying thread's role is...

665 views0 comments

Seasons of the Driftless (with Fly, Food, and Drink Pairings)

Jason G. Freund

Dec 15, 202410 min read

Seasons of the Driftless (with Fly, Food, and Drink Pairings)

I present my idea of what the fishing seasons are in the Driftless Area and seasonal fly, food, and drink choices.

348 views3 comments

Fly Tying 101: All About Fly Tying Hooks

Jason G. Freund

Dec 1, 202410 min read

Fly Tying 101: All About Fly Tying Hooks

It all begins with the hook...this post is a beginner's guide to understanding hook shapes and sizes and gives some points on what to buy.

378 views0 comments

A Baker's Dozen Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns

Jason G. Freund

Nov 17, 202413 min read

Smallmouth Bass

A Baker's Dozen Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns

These are my choices for the 13 most indispensable Smallmouth Bass fly patterns - from topwaters, to streamers, to bottom bouncers.

722 views1 comment

Fly Tying 101 - A Beginners Guide to Essential Techniques

Jason G. Freund

Nov 3, 20248 min read

Fly Tying 101 - A Beginners Guide to Essential Techniques

There are three things you'll do on nearly every fly - attach the thread, add materials to the hook, and finish the fly with a knot.

640 views1 comment

History of Fly Tying in Wisconsin

Jason G. Freund

Oct 6, 20247 min read

History of Fly Tying in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a rich fly tying history and was once home to the Fly Tackle Capital of the World". Read more about Carrie Frost and others.

328 views1 comment

Stimulate Their Lateral Line: Make Fish Feel Your Fly

Jason G. Freund

Aug 11, 20246 min read

Stimulate Their Lateral Line: Make Fish Feel Your Fly

Anyone that has cast a spinner for trout understands how trout respond to vibration. Not only do they react, they react violently.

257 views0 comments

Project Terrestrial: A Terrestrial Fly Box (Part VII)

Jason G. Freund

Aug 4, 202410 min read

Project Terrestrial: A Terrestrial Fly Box (Part VII)

This is the culmination of Project Terrestrial - these are the flies I tie, buy, and fish in the Driftless Area.

328 views1 comment

Project Terrestrial: Sunken Terrestrials (Part VI)

Jason G. Freund

Jul 21, 20245 min read

Project Terrestrial: Sunken Terrestrials (Part VI)

This is a minor tactic - at least for me - but it might be worth a try when all else fails.

343 views5 comments

Book Review - Smalmouth Bass Flies: Top to Bottom (Jake Villwock)

Jason G. Freund

Jun 23, 20244 min read

Book Review - Smalmouth Bass Flies: Top to Bottom (Jake Villwock)

Jake Villwock's Smallmouth Bass Flies: Top to Bottom is an excellent reference and a great companion to other SMB books.

277 views1 comment

The Hornberg Special (Fly Pattern)

Jason G. Freund

Apr 21, 20242 min read

The Hornberg Special (Fly Pattern)

It is a classic "do everything" fly - much like the Pass Lake or "Pass Lake Special" - it is fished wet or dry.

373 views4 comments

Exploring the Fascinating Life History of Sculpin: How to Imitate Them with Flies for Trout Fishing Success

Jason G. Freund

Apr 7, 20249 min read

Exploring the Fascinating Life History of Sculpin: How to Imitate Them with Flies for Trout Fishing Success

My favorite fishes are sculpin, other than maybe Brook Trout. I will persuade you of their "coolness" - and share some fly patterns.

3,860 views3 comments

Building on the Basic Woolly Bugger - Flies You Can Tie with Techniques You Learned from the Humble Woolly Bugger

Jason G. Freund

Mar 10, 20245 min read

Building on the Basic Woolly Bugger - Flies You Can Tie with Techniques You Learned from the Humble Woolly Bugger

Now that you have mastered the Woolly Bugger, there is a wide world of tying open to you! Here are some of patterns to try after the Bugger.

513 views0 comments

Intro to Fly Tying - The Woolly Bugger

Jason G. Freund

Jan 28, 202410 min read

Intro to Fly Tying - The Woolly Bugger

There is no better fly to begin your fly tying journey than the venerable Woolly Bugger - there is a reason it is most people's first fly.

5,906 views0 comments

The Beauty in Simplicity: Why I Prefer Tying Flies I Don't Mind Losing

Jason G. Freund

Dec 17, 20236 min read

The Beauty in Simplicity: Why I Prefer Tying Flies I Don't Mind Losing

While I enjoy fly tying a lot and tie a lot more flies than I lose most years, I have a preference for flies I don't mind losing.

560 views4 comments

Imitating Forage Fishes for Big Predators

Jason G. Freund

Sep 10, 20239 min read

Musky fly fishing

Imitating Forage Fishes for Big Predators

This posts begins with fish body shapes, moves into data about what large predators eat, and then moves into how to tie baitfish imitations.

615 views0 comments

Project Muddler Minnow: Getting it Down

Jason G. Freund

Jun 25, 20235 min read

Project Muddler Minnow: Getting it Down

This post provides information about fishing muddlers and other buoyant flies by adding weight and fishing sinking lines and leaders.

1,020 views0 comments

Fishing Rod

Contact

Thanks for your interest in The Scientific Fly Angler. For more information, feel free to get in touch and I will get back to you soon!

Driftless Area, WI

jason.freund4@gmail.com

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