Chris Beech's Flies
Below are flies designed by Chris - tied by Fulling Mill
Fulling Mill - Chris Beech Fuzzle Shrimp Tan/YabbyNot your average Fuzzle Shrimp – this version is tied with SLF dubbing which is a bit stiffer, providing a fuller looking body. Great for imitating the nippers and small shrimp found on the flats – this fly is an each way bet for permit and golden trevally. Tied by Fulling Mill #1/0, #2 or #4 |
Fulling Mill - Chris Beech Itchy Trigger Light Brown/TanTied on Owner Flyliner hooks to handle brawlers such as triggers, tuskfish and blue bastards on the tropical flats. The size 4 version features 5/32 ounce eyes and the size 2 carries larger 3/16 ounce eyes to find the bottom quickly without spooking wary fish.
Tied by Fulling Mill |
Julia
Julia was created to look like something edible to several flats species, but most importantly it was made to stand out against a backkground of broken coral, sand and pebbles. Standing out in a crowd with an orange highlight, this fly was named for a formed Australian Prime Minister. Effective on everything from Trevally, Permit and Tuskfish to Slatey Bream and anything that likes to eat FOOD. Fish it on tough leaders of 9' or longer, and best fished with a loop knot. Let it stand still, crawl it along the bottom or twitch it fast - feed that fish!
Fulling Mill - Beech's Surf CandyThe perfect small bait imitation originally developed by Bob Popovics. The colours and sizes that we have chosen imitate many small bait species in Australia such as anchovies, sand sprats and white bait. Use them on everything from salmon to tailor, tuna and snapper. Tied on the Gamakatsu SL12S so they won’t let you down if you happen across a trophy! Available in match-the-hatch colours.
Tied by Fulling Mill |
Fulling Mill - Beech's Fuzzle Shrimp - OliveNot your average Fuzzle Shrimp – this version is tied with SLF dubbing which is a bit stiffer, providing a fuller looking body. Great for imitating the nippers and small shrimp found on the flats – this fly is an each way bet for permit and golden trevally.
Tied by Fulling Mill |
Chris was born in England in 1968 and immigrated to Tasmania with his family in 1970. Fishing became a passion from the age of 5 and by his early teens he was using spinning gear and wet flies to fool local trout around Launceston. Chris started fly tying in 1985 as a young sailor in the Royal Australian Navy based in Sydney, and was soon asked to tie some flies for his local fly shop. During the next few years, salt water fly fishing became popular in Australia and he began concentrating on salt water flies. His clientele expanded to include several shops and guides and he has now been a commercial fly tier for more than 30 years.
As fly fishing gained in popularity in Australia, FlyLife Magazine (www.flylife.com.au) was launched in 1995. The Editor, Dr Rob Sloane sought out Chris and asked if he would write a salt water fly tying column and provide feature articles and product reviews. The regular column ‘On The Beach’ has been in every issue and has run for more than eighteen years being one of FlyLife’s most popular (sourced from reader survey results, 2005). To this day Chris submits flies of interest, product reviews and feature articles for inspiration to FlyLife readers. Chris is also a regular contributor to print and on line media and his published articles include destination based general interest articles, primers for people interested in fly fishing and in-depth technical essays based on fly tying or fly fishing tackle.
Chris has advised local and international tackle manufacturers on the technical aspects of fly fishing tackle and flies, and has provided tying instruction at fly production factories, retail outlets and expositions to promote new product releases.