5 Expert Tips for Tying Fish-Catching Nymph Patterns from Dylan Gonzales

With: theamericanflytyer

We caught up with Dylan Gonzales, a fly tyer who's mastered the art of simplicity without sacrificing results. Dylan's journey in fly tying started back in his high school days, inspired by his dad, and has since evolved into a career crafting effective patterns for the water. As a Signature Fly Tyer for Umpqua Feather Merchants and member of some of the top ProTeams in the industry, Dylan knows what works when it comes to creating flies that fish can't resist. Here’s a look at his approach to fly tying and some tips that will have your patterns catching more than just your attention.

Dylan, you’re known for creating simple yet effective fly patterns. What drew you to fly tying, and how did you first get started?

Thank you, I try to keep things easy! I began tying flies around Freshman year of High School, my Dad Eli always had a bin and a vise and every so often would pull it out and tie some bugs up. I remember coming home from school and seeing him there at the kitchen table with threads and feathers and tools and was just fascinated by it, one day he asked me to try and we spent hours together learning and I just fell in love with the idea of wrapping things on a hook. Growing up, I had played a lot of Jr. Golf and competed nationally, my dad and I spent most of our time on a golf course or traveling to one. Towards the end of our season we'd begin to tie flies and plan a trip to the San Juan and it became an escape from the stress of competition and catching fish on flies I had tyed just added to that enjoyment.

As a Signature Fly Tyer for Umpqua Feather Merchants, how do you approach designing patterns that balance simplicity with fish-catching effectiveness?

Im not sure if there is a correct answer to this question, I simply fish it. I am constantly looking at fly shops or online for new materials that help simplify the ideas of bugs I have in mind. A lot of times it's just coming up with a concept that I then add to a pattern or tweak over time. For example, The Cluck'n Baetis is a pattern I have with Umpqua that will hopefully release in 2026. It started off as tying in flash on either side of the hook to create a high water baetis, this developed over time watching my dad tie Rhyacophila with ostrich for the underbody and gut line, I  wanted to add that concept to a baetis but had to find the right material to do so. I would say wholeheartedly that designing flies that catch fish are simply that, you got to know what you want to tie, search for the materials and fish them, most the time you have to repeat this process over and over until you have something solid.

Your work with the Semperfli ProTeam, Regal ProTeam, and Renomed ProTeam is impressive. How have these partnerships influenced your craft and approach to fly tying?

  Thank you, these are teams that I've been very proud to represent as each of them have extraordinary people behind them. Semperfli with Ann and Andy Kitchener and Gary Barnes. Regal Vise with Don Barnes, Haley Smith & John Blackmer. Renomed with Phillip Hardy & Michal Ruciński. These are all people that I proudly represent and will continue to do so.
The truth of the matter is, I use these products. Going back to my younger years, that vise my dad tyed on in the kitchen was a Regal, the thread used was Semperfli and the scissors were Renomed. It's very easy to be influenced by Pro Membership in the world of fly tying but what I've learned and experienced is that the products I consistently use are of the teams I'm on, and even if I was not on these teams, I'd still be using them.

Fly fishing can be a journey. How did you first get into fly fishing, and what sparked your passion for tying flies?

I fully believe fly tying is a journey, it has taken me to the swamps of Baton Rouge and to creeks that have no names in the back country of the Pacific North West. Once again, I owe it all to my dad Eli Gonzales. I remember being 5 years old walking the upper flats of the San Juan River with my dad and a grifths gnat, we casted at rising fish and to my suprise, a fish ate it. The very first fish I casted, hooked and landed and it was awesome! A little later on in life my uncle Philip Baca bought me a Fenwick 9' 5Wt and after learning from my dad how to tie flies I began fishing everywhere from rivers that held trout to ditches along the Rio Grande that had primarily Bass and Carp. Over the years, I continued tying flies and chasing picky fish and the rest just developed into where we are now, still looking for rising fish in the flats and casting no name streamers at submerged logs.

Finally, Dylan, what are your five tips for tying effective nymph patterns that can stand out and get results on the water?

1. Know what you're trying to imitate, all to often we get involved in tying a fly that has no legitimate insect it's trying to imitate. Get involved in entomology of your local waters, take pictures, samples and find materials that coincide with what you're trying to accomplish.

2. Make sure it's durable, wether you are using a UV resin like Solarez or super glue while you whip finish, make sure the fly you tie is able to take a beating and catch a few fish before falling apart.

3. Get ideas. Go scroll through my dads @easyeflygonzales Instagram page, he has a million ideas and concepts that are years ahead of their time. It's also helpful to look into some of Rick Takahashi's books, he has tailwater patterns that he tyed 40 years ago that are being replicated today!

4. Go out and fish it. The best way to check if a fly is effective at catching fish is to get it in the water and let the fish judge you. You'll know after a hard day if the fish are interested or if you need to tweak or scrap the pattern. Nothing substitutes for experience!

5. This is by far the most important..
Tie the fly on a Regal Vise, make sure you are using Semperfli materials and when you whip finish, cut your thread with a pair or Renomed Scissors. They all got Voodoo in them and with this combination, the fish are sure to eat anything you can spin up.
Fly tying and Fly Fishing is about enjoyment, so be creative and have fun!