The Birds Stone Fly was created by Cal Bird and is this week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly. Cal Bird had a small fly shop in San Francisco in the 1940s and 50s. At least that’s what my quick Internet search found. An interesting side note is he lived across the street from Frank Matarelli. Does…
Have you ever heard the term “throw back Thursday”? Seems to be fairly common on Facebook these days. So, several weeks ago I decided to start my own version. It will be my new Throw Back Thursday Fly posts. What does that mean, you ask? Good question. I post pictures of old flies along with…
Today’s Throw Back Thursday is another fly from one of the vintage fly wallets in my collection. And I don’t know the name of it. This wet fly is one I’d fish as a hatching caddis, swimming towards the surface. Perhaps a size 12? If you know what it is, please let me know…a Black Gnat?
It’s the middle of winter and the major hatch on the river these days are Blue Wing Olives. I get confused what to call these bugs…Blue Wing Olives…Blue Wings… BWOs…Baetis … I’m no expert, but I think they are all the same insect. Or close enough for a fly fisher. To be sure, I consulted one…
Look out your window and you’ll be convinced it’s a good time to attend a winter Fly Tying and Fly Fishing show. If you get a chance, attend one of the shows in your area and learn new techniques or check out new fly patterns and gear. I just returned from the Western Idaho Fly…
A Grey Hackle Peacock is this week’s Throw Back Thursday fly. An old one I found in one of my vintage fly wallets. Notice the leader tied into the fly. We don’t tie them like that anymore. Like I said – OLD. A wet fly originated in the 1700’s. Have any in your fly box?
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog Tying Spey Flies – I’m Scared! Well, I’m back to report I’ve successfully tied another spey fly! Actually…two. If you recall, I wanted to tie some spey flies and settled on the Lady Caroline, an old-time pattern from the 1800’s. Here was my first fly: I didn’t…
San Juan Worm. Yup, a worm is this week’s Throw Back Thursday fly from the archives. Developed in the 1970’s by Jim Aubrey for the San Juan River in New Mexico, it’s accounted for many fish and worked so well, the “San Juan Shuffle” is outlawed on some rivers. The “Shuffle” is a technique where…
Another year has come and gone. For many, it’s a time of reflection and celebration of year end. Seems like an appropriate time to reflect about all I’ve done on my website this year. I started the RiverKeeper Flies blog as a way to combine my passion of fly fishing & fly tying with an ability to…
Today’s Throw Back Thursday fly is the Renegade, an attractor fly developed in 1928 by Taylor “Beartracks” Williams. It’s said the original fly had all white hackle and was changed to brown/white when “Beartracks” moved to Sun Valley. Another story states George Herter claimed it was an English fly pattern named the Marryat, tied by Mrs…
