• Fire Coachman Trude Dry Fly

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Fire Coachman Trude Dry Fly. I was searching for a fly to feature and pulled out John Shewey’s Favorite Flies for Oregon (2021) book. I turned to the Fire Coachman Trude dry fly and decided to tie one. (Note: My own RiverKeeper Soft Hackle Cripple can be found in…

  • Stranahan’s Brindle Hackle Multi Colored Body Parachute

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Chuck Stranahan’s Brindle Hackle Multi Colored Body Parachute. Most fly fishers know this fly as the Brindle Chute, a shortened name. Chuck was the owner of Chuck Stranahan’s Flies & Guides which he closed in February 2022. Chuck developed the Brindle Chute to imitate the Hecuba mayfly on his home…

  • Tying Flies with Cree Hackle

    It took more than 50 years into my fly tying journey to purchase my first Cree hackle. I wanted one because every fly tyer is supposed to want one. They’re rare to find and expensive when you finally get the chance. I always wondered what it would be like tying flies with Cree hackle. I…

  • Doug Swisher’s PMX Royal

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Swisher’s PMX Royal. Swisher’s PMX Royal is a variation of his original Madam X fly Swisher created in the 1980’s to imitate hoppers and stoneflies. This variation adds the visibility of a post, hence the name Parachute Madam X…PMX. You’ll find bodies of red, orange, and even lime…

  • Taylor’s Fat Albert

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday fly is Taylor’s Fat Albert. The fly was created by Brent Taylor in 2001. Brent guides in the Dillon, MT area and Chile, which is where the fly was initially used to imitate Cantaria beetle. I recall being introduced to a black/red version on a trip to Chile in 2005….

  • Charlie Card’s Cicada

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday fly is Charlie Card’s Cicada. I recently tied a few of these flies for a customer, which is why I’m posting this fly today. I wanted to know who was behind Card’s Cicada. Charlie Card is a well-known guide on Utah’s Green River, which is where this Cicada fly pattern…