• More Mayfly Spinners

    A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about PMD spinner fly patterns and shared the Ellis Triple Wing Spinner as a TBT post. Spinners have continued to be a focus in my fly fishing and fly tying. I thought I’d share a few more mayfly spinners. Spinner fishing can be terrific. But locating the spinners…

  • Black Lives Matter

    I know all my subscribers expect to see a RiverKeeper Flies post each week. But it’s hard for me to focus on fly fishing content with all the protests and unrest about underlying issues in America today. I see you…I hear you…I’m learning. I may not have the right words, but I feel I need…

  • Ellis Triple Wing Spinner

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Ellis Triple Wing Spinner, which I tied to imitate a Rusty Spinner. I thought it was fitting to feature a mayfly spinner as this week’s TBT, since I wrote about PMD Spinner Fly Patterns in yesterday’s post. The Ellis Triple Wing Spinner can be found in Kelly…

  • PMD Spinner Fly Patterns

    I hope you read a recent post where I talked about going Back to the River and all the mayflies we’ve seen on the water. PMD fishing has been good for us on some days and that made me think, I need to restock my fly box with PMD spinner fly patterns. The spinner phase…

  • Bergman’s Ibis and White

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Ray Bergman’s Ibis and White. Bergman’s Ibis and White is a wet fly listed in his book entitled Trout (1940 – fourth printing) on page 64, Plate No. 4. As I’ve mentioned many times, I enjoy highlighting a Bergman wet fly because it forces me to sit down and tie…

  • Back to the River

    We decided to head back to the river. I think we’ve made three trips and have been fortunate to hook and land fish each trip using dry flies. The river gods have been smiling upon us and we feel fortunate to be able to enjoy the days on our home waters, the Metolius, and get…

  • Bergman’s Grackle

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Ray Bergman’s Grackle. Bergman’s Grackle is a wet fly listed in his book entitled Trout (1940 – fourth printing) on page 64, Plate No. 4. As I’ve mentioned many times, I enjoy highlighting a Bergman wet fly because it forces me to sit down and tie these elegant flies. I…

  • Missing the Salmonfly Hatch

    I’ve heard through the grapevine that fish are rising to adult salmonflies on the Deschutes River. The beginning of the hatch is here. With the lower river boat ramps closed until later this month due to social distancing guidelines, I might be missing the salmonfly hatch this year. I enjoy floating and fishing the Warm…

  • Tying Customer Flies

    Last week I talked about several flies in my Filling Customer Fly Orders post including the Heindl and detailed images of the Hemingway Caddis.. I hope you saw them. Tying customer flies is about all I’m doing while waiting to get back out on the water. This week I continued to tie a variety of flies for…