Captain Ben Whalley Hollow Fleye Fly-Tying Class

An advanced fly-tying class focused on hollow tying and building big bucktail profiles for striped bass.

Captain Ben Whalley is a master fly tyer and guide best known for his exceptional work with bucktail. Fishing the Gulf of Maine, Ben spends much of his season sight fishing for large striped bass in the backwaters and on the flats. A direct student of Bob Popovics, he has refined his hollow tying skills to create Beast Fleyes and other large profile patterns that move serious fish. In this class, Ben walks through the nuance of hollow tying and shows how to build oversized baitfish profiles that hold their shape and push water. This is a technique-driven session built for experienced tiers looking to elevate their saltwater game.

Key Features

• Advanced instruction on hollow tying techniques
• Focus on building large profile bucktail patterns for big striped bass
• Step-by-step guidance on constructing Beast Fleyes and similar patterns
• Insight into tying on shanks, mono, pure bucktail, and composite loops
• Technique-based approach that applies to a wide range of saltwater patterns
• Small class size to maximize hands-on learning and interaction

Why We Like It

Ben blends time on the water with serious tying skill, and it shows in every pattern he builds. His connection to Bob Popovics and years of sight fishing for stripers in the Gulf of Maine bring real-world credibility to the bench. If you are serious about tying big profile saltwater flies that move fish, this class delivers.