3 must-know hacks for fly fishing in the weeds

The Bend Back

When fishing in weeds that are sparse yet still snaggy, I often use a bend back pattern (above). These are streamer flies craftily designed so they swim with the hook pointing up, where it’s buried in the wing. Although mostly used in saltwater, many freshwater bucktail-style streamers can be tied as bend back flies. To ensure they work, the hook shank should be bent about 15 degrees—just enough so the wing extends back at the correct angle to cover the hook point. Bend back flies come in all sizes, but they’re the best option for smaller flies.