|
|
|
Here are listed the flies I have found to be especially useful over the years all over the country. I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to begin my fly fishing in the mountains of New Mexico on the Cimarron River over 70 years ago, and go on to fly fish in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. These flies have been used in all of those places, and I depend on them. While there have been many advances in pattern design and improvements in fly tying materials, tools and books on tying, I still prefer the traditional approach, and confess I am really a dry fly fisherman at heart. While recognizing the obvious superiority of graphite for many fishing situations, I also still prefer the cane rod, a long leader, and a dry fly.
I greatly appreciate the abilities and the knowledge of the many flyfishers who know the flyfisher's entomology, and use the Latin names for the many mayflies, but, I also like to keep it simple. Here's a little rhyme for those of similar thought:
"Matching the Hatch"
Most of the time in the spring of the year,
Little gray bugs are first to appear.
Little brown bugs come next to the stream
Then little cream yellow ones soon will be seen.
In August the Trico's will have their brief fling,
Blue Wing Olives have been here since ice-out in spring.
But caddis in shades of cream, gray, olive, and brown,
Have most often been here all the year round.
Bill Cass, 1996
 |
Fly tier's Lazy Susan Here's a solution to limited space for fly tying, and keeping your tools organized. It is a three tiered lazy susan to hold most all of your tying tools, head cement, hooks, etc. It does pack a lot of items in a very small space. The small sized stack packs hold dubbing material, the hooks for immediate use are held on a small magnet imbedded in the edge. Bobbins, scissors etc. are in holes drilled in a curved strip of wood, cut out with a band saw and applied to the back edge of the base. Both round and square bottles are allowed for, so that head cement of different brands, as well as lacquer, can be kept close at hand. The whole unit is 11" in diameter, and rotates at the touch of a finger on a ball bearing lazy susan unit. It is easy to unscrew the cap of the head cement or lacquer, with this setup. When finished tying, you can pick the whole unit up and put it away on a shelf, or drop it fully loaded into a canvas tote bag to take with you on trips, or to any other location. |
Tying Suggestion
I have had good luck using the tying sequence for upright divided wing
dry flies described in J.Edson Leonard's book "Flies". He
suggests tying in and setting upright divided wings first. Then the hackle or
hackles are tied in between the wings butts toward the bend of the hook, lying
forward over the eye, hackle curving upward, and left in that position. Next
wrap thread back over the butts, using them to shape the body to a taper and
wrap back to tie in the tail. When the tail is fastened in place, put the
dubbing material on the thread, or tie in the body material and wrap it forward
up onto the hackle butts behind the wing. Lastly wrap the hackle, and tie off
with a whip finisher. If you set the wings in the correct spot you will have
ample room for a nice small head.
Here are listed a few of my favorite flies, including an original tie of the Adams, which I call the "Abigail" Adams, and, it has proven to be very effective. The use of Teal flank for the wings eliminates the "propellor" effect that poorly set hackle tips can produce, and gives the veining effect that you see in mayfly wings. Good research sources for patterns are, Art Flick's "Streamside Guide", Dick Talleur's "Mastering the Art of Fly Tying", Ray Bergman's "Trout", J. Edson Leonard's "Flies", Joseph Bates' "Atlantic Salmon Flies and Fishing" and "Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing", John Atherton's "The Fly and the Fish", Fred Arbona's "Mayflies, the Angler, and the Trout", T. Donald Overfield's "Famous Flies and their Originators", The "Index of Orvis Fly Patterns" put together by John Harder, and the Farrow Allen and Dick Stewart "Flies for Trout" and "Flies for Atlantic Salmon", which have great photographs as well as pattern descriptions. I think that every beginning tyer, and every fishing library should have a copy of Tom Rosenbauer's very fine book "The Orvis Fly Tying Guide", as Tom has filled it with many tying tips and tricks, and one of the best collections of modern and classic fly pattern collections around. It also has step-by-step tutorials for most of the different types of flies, and the photographs are first rate. Additionally, the Web has a huge number of great fly fishing and tying sites... To mention just two that have great patterns and techniques references: Harry Mason's Troutflies.com, and Hans Weilenmann's Flytier's Page.
|
PHEASANT TAIL - An adaptation of
G.E.M.Skues/Payne Collyer's old English pattern ref: "Famous Flies and
their Originators ", by T.Donald Overfield, C.& A. Black, London.
This is the one fly I would never be without, and always start with on any new
waters anywhere. Hook - 14 - 20 Light Wire Partridge Dry Fly Thread - Primrose to burnt orange, orange preferred Wings - None Hackle - Mixed Ginger and Grizzly Body - Three cock Ringneck Pheasant center tail feather fibers twisted and wrapped, then overwrapped with a few turns of fine gold wire. Tail - Mixed Ginger and Grizzly hackle fibers. |
 |
THE "ABIGAIL" ADAMS - My own female Adams
design - The Teal flank wings provide the "buggy" look
without the propellor effect that you sometimes get with hackle tips. Hook - 14 - 20 Partridge Dry Fly Thread- Black Wings - Barred Green-Wing Teal flank feather divided and upright. Hackle - Mixed Cree and Grizzly Body - Muskrat fur or a gray poly Tail - Mixed Cree and Grizzly hackle fibers Tag - A few wraps of bright chrome yellow poly to form a round bright egg sac just below the tail. |
 |
ART FLICK'S GREY FOX - From Art's
great little book "Streamside Guide." This is an extremely
useful fly, and can be tied in small sizes to imitate the pale yellow colored
flies that start to show up in late May and early June on eastern rivers. Hook - 12 - 14 Partridge Dry Fly Thread - Primrose Wings - Flank feather of a Mallard Drake Hackle - Light Grizzly wound over light ginger Body - Light fawn colored fur from a Red Fox Tail - Ginger cock's barbs |
 |
HENRYVILLE SPECIAL - Standard - The
old stand-by caddis imitation. Body colors can be varied to imitate the full
range of caddis that appear on your home river. Hook - 12 - 20 Partridge Dry Fly Thread - Olive Wings - Bunch of Lemon Wood Duck over which a pair of Mallard wing segments are tied Downwing style. Hackle - Dark Ginger Body - Light Olive floss or dubbed Olive Spectrablend Rib - Grizzly hackle palmered in open style Tail - None |
 |
HENRYVILLE SPECIAL - Dark - My
variation, to use when there are dark caddis present. I use sizes 14 and 16
most of the time. Makes a good "skittering" fly. Hook - 12 -20 Partridge Dry Fly Thread - Black or Gray Wings - Bunch of Green-Wing Teal flank fibers over which a pair of Mallard wing segments are tied Downwing style. Hackle - Grizzly and Cree mixed Body - Muskrat Rib - Grizzly hackle palmered in open style Tail - None |
 |
ART FLICK'S BLUE-WINGED OLIVE - Art
obviously thought we don't really need wings, but I put 'em on
anyway. Hook - 16 - 18 Thread - Olive Wings - None Hackle - Natural Dark Dun Body - A mixture of pulled apart olive yarn, with a small amount of muskrat fur blended with it; body should be very small and should not ontain enough fur to overcome the olive cast. (or use Olive Spectrablend or poly) |
 |
DARK SKITTERING CADDIS - This fly is
cast downstream using a long fully greased leader and line, and retrieved with
the rod held high and wiggled back and forth to make the fly
"skitter" across the surface. The fly is tied like any elk hair
caddis, but the palmered hackle is clipped. Color combinations can be varied to
match the prevailing caddis. Hook - Tiemco or Orvis dry fly light wire 14 - 16 Thread - Gray or black Wings - Dark grey Elk hair Hackle - Grizzly, palmered and clipped Body - Gray muskrat to match naturals Tail - None |
 |
Ausable Wulff - Francis Betters' great
Wulff style pattern. My favorite searching fly for fast or pocket water.The
body material should be Australian Opossum dyed rusty orange, and the tail
should be Woodchuck guard hairs, to follow Fran's original pattern. Hook - Partridge Dry Fly 8 - 16 or equivalent Thread - Hot Orange Wings - White Calf-Tail upright and divided Hackle - Brown (or Cree) and Grizzly mixed Body - Bleached Australian Opossum dyed rusty orange Tail - Guard hair from a woodchuck, or Moose body or mane |
 |
ATHERTON MEDIUM NYMPH - A very good
general purpose nymph, pattern from John Atherton's book "The Fly and
The Fish." Hook - 12 - 16 Partridge Limerick Tail - Three fibers from the long tailfeather of a cock Ringneck Pheasant tied short Thorax - Hare's Ear dubbing, with a fine oval gold tinsel rib, dubbing picked out between the ribs Body - Hare's Ear dubbing wrapped over fuse wire (optional for weighted nymph) Legs - Brown speckled English Partridge Wingcase - Bright blue wing feather of English Kingfisher, or dyed bright blue goose wing quill section laquered well when in place. |
 |
DARK NYMPH - Particularly good early
season nymph for Landlocked Salmon. I use bright orange thread on the heads of
my weighted nymphs for identification. Hook - 12 - 16 Partridge Limerick Tail - Three fibers from the long center tailfeather of the Ringneck Pheasant, tied short Thorax - Brown beaver or other dark brown fur dubbing with fine oval gold wire rib Body - Brown beaver over fuse wire for weight Legs - Brown Speckled English Partridge Wingcase - Natural dark Goose wing quill strip, laquered well when in place |
 |
GROUSE NYMPH - A buggy looking general
purpose nymph for you Ruffed Grouse hunters out there. Can be weighted by
wrapping a little fuse wire under the thorax. Hook - Partridge Limerick 8 - 12 Thread - Black Tail - Grouse tail fibers or fibers from the center tail feather of the ringneck pheasant Thorax - Hare's ear dubbing Body - Hare's Ear dubbing, with gold wire rib Legs - Grouse body feather or fibers Wingcase - Grouse tail feather fibers |
 |
GOLD-RIBBED HARE'S EAR - I think this
is the best all-round searching wet fly there is. Hook - 10 - 14 Partridge Wet Fly or Limerick Thread- Gray or Black Wing - Gray Mallard paired wing segments tied down-wing style Hackle - Brown Hen tied collar style (Some use gray hen) Body- English Hare's Ear and Mask fur dubbed Rib- Flat Gold Tinsel Tail - Brown Hackle fibers |
 |
LEADWING COACHMAN - Second only to the
Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear in utility in my experience. Hook - 10 - 14 Partridge Wet Fly or Limerick Thread - Black Wing - Paired Mallard wing segments tied downwing style Hackle - Coachman brown or Brown Hen tied collar style Body - Three strands of Peacock herl Tag - Flat gold tinsel Tail - None |
 |
ALDER - An old English pattern which
works everywhere. Must be the irridescence of the peacock herl body combined
with the "buggy" mottled hen quill of the wing. Hook - 10 - 14 Partridge Wet Fly or Limerick Thread - Black Wing - Speckled Brown Hen paired wing segments Hackle - Black Hen tied collar style Body - Peacock herl Tail - None Tag - Flat Gold Tinsel |
 |
PETER ROSS - A Scottish pattern, which
makes a good Brook Trout fly, and besides, it's pretty. Hook - Partridge Limerick 8 - 12 Thread - Black Wing - Mallard Flank feather Hackle - Black or Dark Ginger hen hackle fibers tied throat style Body - Rear two thirds oval silver tinsel, front third red seal fur or substitute, fine silver wire rib over all Tail - Golden Pheasant crest fibers |
 |
BLUE DUN - The Blue Dun, or Pale
Watery Dun, similar to a GR Hare's Ear, is a good searching wet fly, used in
tandem with a Leadwing Coachman. Hook - Partridge Wet Fly or Limerick Thread - Gray Wing- Light Gray Mallard wing fibers Hackle - Pale gray hen Body - Light gray fur dubbing Tail - Pale gray hen hackle fibers |
 |
OLIVE HERON - Another very buggy
looking pattern, which works well when there are little olive bugs around. Hook - Partridge Wet Fly 1XL or equivalent 8 - 12 Thread - Olive Wing - Wood Duck Flank feather Hackle - Olive Body - Olive fur dubbing with an olive hackle palmered through Tail - None |
 |
Little Brook Trout - One of Sam
Slaymaker's great "Trout" series of bucktails. Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent to 6XL sizes down 4 to12 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. Tail - Bright green bucktail with a little piece of red floss over. Body - Cream wool yarn. Rib - Flat silver tinsel. Wing - Sparse white bucktail over which is orange bucktail, over which is green bucktail, over which is Gray Squirrel tail. Throat - Orange bucktail or saddle hackle fibers. |
 |
Little Rainbow Trout- Another one of
Sam Slaymaker's great "Trout" series of bucktails Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent to 6XL sizes 4 to12 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. Tail - Bright green bucktail Body - Pale pink rabbit dubbing or wool yarn Rib - Flat silver tinsel Wing - Sparse white bucktail over which is pink bucktail, over which is green bucktail, over which is Badger, or Gray Squirrel tail Throat - Orange bucktail or saddle hackle fibers. |
 |
Little Brown Trout - The third of Sam
Slaymaker's great "Trout" series of bucktails. Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent to 6XL sizes 4 to12 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. Tail - Tan Ringneck Pheasant body fibers Body - White wool yarn Rib - Oval gold tinsel Wing - Sparse yellow bucktail over which is orange bucktail, over which is dyed brown squirrel tail Throat - Orange bucktail or saddle hackle fibers. |
 |
SHUSHAN POSTMASTER - The late Lew
Oatman's famous pattern, named for Al Prindle, an enthusiastic fisherman who
was Postmaster at Shushan, NY on the lower Battenkill in the 1930's and 1940's.
Pattern from John Merwin's fine book "The Battenkill." Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent 6 - 10 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. I always use white thread when tying any fly with a floss body. Keeps the colors bright. Tail -Brown-mottled Turkey fibers tied short Body -Light Yellow floss or dubbing with flat gold tinsel rib Wing -Fox Squirrel tail fibers tied to reach the middle of the tail Throat - Red hackle fibers tied collar style |
 |
BATTENKILL SHINER - Another Lew Oatman
pattern from John Merwin's book, which he states is his favorite streamer for
the Battenkill. Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent 6 - 10 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. Tail - Gray hackle fibers Butt - A few turns of red floss Body - White floss Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel over white floss only Throat - Gray hackle fibers Wing - Two medium-blue saddle hackles under two silver-badger saddle hackles |
 |
GRAY GHOST - Probably the most famous
New England streamer, it was originated by Carrie Stevens. Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent hook to 6XL sizes down to 12 Thread - White monocord finished with black head. Body - Golden-yellow floss with flat silver tinsel rib Wing - Strands of Peacock herl over which is a Golden Pheasant crest feather curving down, and four gray saddle hackles Throat - Sparse white Bucktail, and short Golden Pheasant crest feather curving up Shoulders - Silver Pheasant body feather Cheeks - Jungle Cock eyes |
 |
GREEN GHOST - This variation of the
Gray Ghost is a good choice for early season Landlocks on the Connecticut River
where it enters First Connecticut Lake. Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent to 6XL sizes down to 12 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. Body - Orange floss ribbed with flat silver tinsel Wing - Peacock herl over which is a Golden Pheasant crest feather curving down and four green saddle hackles Throat - Sparse white bucktail or polar bear and a short Golden Pheasant crest feather curving up Shoulders - Silver Pheasant body feather Cheeks - Jungle Cock eyes |
 |
SUPERVISOR - The winning fly in the
1996 early season at ice-out on the upper Connecticut River. Hook - Mustad 9575 or equivalent to 6XL sizes to 12 Thread - White monocord finished with a black monocord head. Tail - Red wool short Body - Flat silver tinsel ribbed with oval silver tinsel Wing - Sparse white bucktail over which are four light blue saddle hackles topped by several strands of peacock herl Shoulders - Green saddle hackle 2/3 length of wing Cheeks - Jungle Cock eye |
Page designed by, and all flies tied, and photographed by Bill Cass
Send comments, questions, etc to: Bill Cass
Last Updated 10/21/2009
