3 Key Tips for Tying Realistic Flies from Wes Penny of @flamelilyflies

From: flamelilyflies

We recently caught up with Wes Penny of @flamelilyflies, a passionate fly tier whose journey began in Zimbabwe and has taken him across the globe. After a career in policing, he found a new calling in fly tying, blending creativity with function. In this interview, we dive into his techniques, favorite materials, and the inspiration behind his unique patterns. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your fly tying to the next level, his insights are sure to inspire.

Where are you from, and how did you first get into fly tying? Was there a specific moment or influence that sparked your passion for it?

I was born in Zimbabwe and came to Canada when I was five. We lived in Kitimat BC for a number of years and I would fish the Kitimat River with my dad, mostly bobber and worms as a young boy but eventually casting big spoons for salmon. I remember my dad fishing for tiger fish and bream in Africa. As a young adult I lived In Victoria, BC and began a 25 year career in policing. While I always enjoyed fishing it wasn’t something I had much time, if any, to do. 

Fly tying came about as a result of fly fishing, which is just that normal progression. I was about 40 years old and on a holiday with my girlfriend. We were traveling through the Kootenays in central BC and stopped at a rest stop along the Kootenay River. There was no one around so I grabbed a spin casting rod I kept under my truck seat. I don’t think I had touched it in 10 years. I had no license, completely unaware of regulations and hadn’t fished in years, and I told my girlfriend to yell if anyone else arrived. I caught a small trout on a Mepps lure and was giggling like a little kid. After we left she said she didn’t know I enjoyed fishing so much. I told her that I loved fishing and used to fish with my dad, and that one day I’d really like to learn how to fly fish. A few weeks later on my birthday she gave me a Fenwick fly rod and reel, flies, and lessons at the local fly shop. That was the beginning of it all and I still have and use that old Fenwick.  She had always told me that I needed to find my passion and little did I know it would lead to a passion for fly tying. I love to fly fish but my real passion is in tying and being creative. And it all came about because of a special gift.

After I retired from policing I started working at Douglas Lake Ranch near Kamloops BC. Known as the largest working cattle ranch in Canada, it also had a recreational component that focused on fly fishing at several private access lakes that were professionally managed by the ranch. I worked there for about 7 years and was able to fish as much as I wanted. The winters were long and cold however so evenings were filled learning to tie flies, mostly chironomids because  that was the main technique for fishing for large rainbow trout. So I tied thousands of chironomids and they were not very good. I tied them too big and too fat. In fact I still have a couple fly boxes that have hundred of chironomids I have never used. But that was the progression of fishing to tying, and then just putting in the time, practice, and interest to get better at both. Really not much different than most anglers who enjoy the sport.  I clearly recall looking at Instagram around 2019 and seeing photos of scuds and other patterns that were tied with resin and had floating hotspots and bright pink colours and I was amazed.

In 2021 I  fully retired and left the ranch. I moved back to Vancouver Island settling in Lake Cowichan and right close to the Cowichan River.  My years of stillwater fishing gave way to fishing the river, learning how to euro nymph and tie river patterns.  I target brown and rainbow trout year round as well as winter run steelhead, and coho salmon in the fall. 

Fly tying can be both an art and a science. How do you balance creativity with functionality when designing a new fly pattern?

I’m fortunate to be able to spend as much time tying as I want but eventually I got to the point that I just didn’t need any more fishing flies. So I began to look at fly patterns and think about how they could be tied differently but still keep the same general appearance. I would experiment with different materials, colours, and techniques.  I thouroughly enjoy looking at all the flies on Instagram and appreciate the skill and passion so many people show. But it’s also where I get inspiration and ideas.  I would say my goal is to be different and unique and hopefully  folks enjoy seeing what I do.  Personally my flies have to be fishable. I don’t think there’s any point in tying a fly that you’d never fish and I think to maintain credibility its important that I wouldn’t hesitate to fish them. Occasionally I might come up with something that’s pure art but most of the time flies have to be able to fool a fish or two. 

When I first started sharing on social media I was terrified and had very little confidence. It wasn’t until after I was asked to join a few pro teams that I began  to have more belief in my abilities and gain some confidence.  I also strongly believe in sharing and I’m always delighted to answer any questions. 

As a fly tyer, you must have learned a lot along the way. What’s one of the biggest mistakes you see beginners make, and how can they avoid it?

One of the things I struggled with the most when I first started tying was keeping a slim profile and avoiding bulk and buildup on my flies. I remember watching a ton of older tying videos where the tier would make 6 or 8 thread wraps, talk about what he was doing, then pick up his bobbin and make another 6 or 8 thread wraps before carrying on.   I think  thread control is the most important aspect of tying, it’s the foundation of everything you add to a hook. Every thread wrap you put on your hook should have a specific purpose and never make extra wraps that you just don’t need. I find that two to four good wraps is more than enough to hold materials in place. You’ll find that you won’t end up crowding the hook eye or having bulk where you don’t want it. Use a good quality thread, counterspin often to keep it as flat as you can, and wrap only as much as you need. There’s a specific reason for that old fly tying mantra “less is more”. 

For someone wanting to tie more realistic flies, what are your top three tips to help them improve their technique?

So much of the science and entomology for fly tying has already been done for us and it’s readily available. It’s so easy to look up a specific insect and see detailed photos and patterns that have already been done.

Look at the colours and profile and pick the materials you think would best suit the fly you want to tie. There are no rules in what you should use so use your imagination. 

I believe profile and size are the two most important factors to consider. Keep the profile foremost while adding materials.

Use the rotary function of the vice to control wire or material wraps, resin application, or just to see what the other side of the fly looks like. When I apply resin I can control how it flows and keep it in place just by turning the fly in the vise. I almost never wrap wire ribs without using the rotary function. If you keep your hand steady and hold the wire it will wrap itself very evenly and cleanly spaced just by turned the vise.

Don’t be defeated if it doesn’t work out, try again. You will end up with several fishable flies and maybe one that is photo worthy, if that’s your goal. Always tie with the intention to challenge yourself and improve your skills and techniques. It takes a ton of patience and practice to be a skilled fly tier.

The materials you use can make a big difference in the end product. Do you have a favorite material or tool you can’t tie without?

I mentioned earlier that thread control was so important in fly tying. The single biggest thing that made me a better tier was when I was introduced to Textreme Power Thread. It’s an extremely strong thread that lays very flat when counter spun and creates almost no thread buildup. You will likely never break it in normal fly tying. There are similar alternatives from other manufacturers but I really like Power Thread and use it in probably 80% of my tying.  It really helps in keeping the profile slim and also makes a huge difference when you need to place materials if your space is really tight.  It is also perfect for tying in deer hair when counter spun flat. You can tie the hair in tight without cutting it. 

Without sounding like Im promoting, my favourite tool is a Norvise bobbin. I don’t think I could go back to a standard bobbin. The Norvise bobbin saves me so much time and gives me way more thread control. Not having to roll the spool back up to get rid of slack is life changing. 

What’s next for you and @flamelilyflies? Any new fly patterns or goals you’re excited to work on in the future?

It’s very very difficult to come up with something new in fly tying. I’ve been fortunate to develop some resin techniques that, as far as I know, had not been done before and I’ll continue to experiment with resin. One of my biggest challenges will be improving my technical abilities to keep current with social media. I don’t tie commercially so being able to present my patterns in a way that people enjoy is always a priority.  Today’s fly tying videos are so exceptionally detailed and presented, and they motivate me to improve in that area.  

My instagram page is @flamelilyflies    The national flower of Zimbabwe (my birth country) is the Flame Lily and I use it to honour my heritage.