What it is
Hareline Copic Sketch Marker is a permanent, waterproof marker used at the vise to add ink directly to tying materials or finished flies. It’s a simple way to build quick color effects without changing the way the fly is tied. The ink holds up in the water better than non-permanent pens, so the marks stay where you put them.
What to tie with it
Use it to add barring, dots, and other marking on wings, bodies, tails, legs, and heads after the fly is tied, or to pre-mark materials before you lash them on. It’s common to stripe streamer wings, dot baitfish cheeks, and darken backs, and it also works well for touching up small dry-fly parts like hackle and tails. You can use it on both small flies and large flies when you need controlled, repeatable marks.
Flies and the fish they're for
There aren’t specific example patterns listed for this marker, but it’s a standard tool for dialing in the look of flies that imitate marked or barred prey. Adding barring and spots is especially useful on baitfish-style streamers for species like smallmouth, largemouth, trout, and stripers in rivers and lakes, and it carries over to saltwater baitfish patterns for redfish and snook on flats and in backwaters. On the trout side, it’s also used to tint or mark dry-fly hackle and tails when you want a more natural, buggy finish for picky fish in clear water.
How it compares
Compared with Chartpak Ad Markers, these have a blunter chisel tip rather than offering two tip sizes.