• Thompson Model A Vise

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday post is about my Thompson Model A Vise. This was my very first vise. I purchased it from Wayne Doughton of Doughton’s Hardware in Salem, OR. I’m pretty sure it was 1970. This vise served me well for about 20 years before I replaced it with a McKenzie vise and…

  • Snipe and Purple

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Dark Snipe or Snipe and Purple. The Snipe and Purple is another old soft hackle fly pattern listed in The North Country Fly – Yorkshire’s Soft Hackle Tradition (2015) by Robert L. Smith. Many of these older soft hackle fly patterns come from the Yorkshire Dales in northern England….

  • Light Spanish Needle

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Light Spanish Needle. The Light Spanish Needle is another old fly pattern listed in The North Country Fly – Yorkshire’s Soft Hackle Tradition (2015) by Robert L. Smith. Many of these older soft hackle fly patterns come from the Yorkshire Dales in northern England. Wharfedale is a small area…

  • Ray Bergman Dark Spinner

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Ray Bergman Dark Spinner. The Ray Bergman Dark Spinner is a wet fly listed in his book entitled Trout (1940 – fourth printing) on page 38, Plate No. 2. I usually tie just one fly for my TBT posts. I’m not trying to make them perfect, just…

  • Ray Bergman Abbey

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Ray Bergman Abbey. The Ray Bergman Abbey is a wet fly listed in his book entitled Trout (1940 – fourth printing) on page 22, Plate No. 1. As I’ve mentioned many times, I enjoy highlighting a Bergman wet fly because it forces me to sit down and…

  • Updated April Fly Box

    I wrote a post a few years ago entitled My April Fly Box. I tried to provide some ideas for you to consider when filling your fly box. I’m encouraged this time of year because more insects begin to show in April, whereas winter seems to concentrate on small flies, like Blue Wing Olives in…

  • Quigley Film Critic

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is a Quigley Film Critic. The Quigley Film Critic imitates a mayfly emerger, specifically half nymph, half dry fly struggling to get out of the nymphal shuck. The curved hook allows the nymph half to partially sink. Here’s the description of the fly from Quigley: This emerger’s entire body…

  • Ray Bergman Pathfinder

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Ray Bergman Pathfinder. The Ray Bergman Pathfinder is a Ray Bergman wet fly listed in his book entitled Trout (1940 – fourth printing) on page 169, Plate No. 7. As I’ve mentioned many times, I enjoy highlighting a Bergman wet fly because it forces me to sit…