• The Parson

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Parson. It’s a fly I found in a fly box someone gave me several years ago. It’s an interesting fly and perhaps I’ll get around to tying my own version someday.  Here is an excerpt from A Book on Angling by Francis Francis, the first edition published in…

  • Swannundaze Midge

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Swannundaze Midge. The fly was developed by Boyd Aigner of Seattle Washington in the 1980’s.  The Swannundaze Midge is one I tied many years ago that I found in Randall Kaufmann’s Tying Nymphs book. Tying Nymphs and Tying Dry Flies were two important books for me and I tied many…

  • Timberline Emerger TBT

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Timberline Emerger TBT. The Timberline Emerger is one of Randall Kaufmann’s flies I read about and tied many years ago. It’s another great pattern from his Tying Nymphs book, published in 1994. Kaufmann’s book was one of the first color fly tying books I ever owned, along with it’s…

  • On the Road to Montana

    We got up yesterday, packed the last few items and now we’re on the road to Montana. I’m a “just in time” fly tyer on occasion, and yesterday was no exception. I took the wheel for the first three hours or driving and got into the passenger seat. What to do? You guessed it…tie a…

  • Wilson Ant

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Wilson Ant. I haven’t tied a Ray Bergman fly recently, so I thought I’d pull out his book Trout (1938) and the Wilson Ant spoke to me. You’ll find this fly on Plate No. 9, page 254. I like the elegance and simplicity of a Ray Bergman wet fly. I’ve…

  • Montana Fly Fishing Road Trip

    In a week, I’ll be headed out on another Montana fly fishing road trip. I live in a beautiful place called Central Oregon, but there’s something about Big Sky country that makes me want to return. One of our destinations in Montana will be the International Federation of Fly Fisher’s Fair in Livingston. My wife…

  • Steelhead Caddis

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Steelhead Caddis. The Steelhead Caddis was created by Bill McMillan in 1975 as a low-water variation of the Muddler Minnow. This fly is fished dry on the surface with a trailing wake, making a commotion to get the steelhead’s attention. Use a riffling hitch or cast the fly…

  • Next Cast Flyfishers Master Class

    Last week I helped my wife lead what I’m calling the Next Cast Flyfishers master class outing at East Lake. Six flyfishers between ages 11 and 15 were invited to attend the outing, the first of it’s kind for our club. These kids have participated in numerous Next Cast activities, including multiple Fish Camps, river clean-ups,…