Drunella Green Drake Spinner | www.johnkreft.com

Green Drake Spinner Fall

I’m in Maui where I found warmer weather than home…between 30 – 40 degrees warmer! I brought a vise, tools, and a few materials with me and am tying the wings and tail for a Green Drake Sparkle Dun. That’s right, I almost always take my fly tying materials and tools if I plan to…

Fire Coachman Trude | www.johnkreft.com

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…

Brindle Chute Dry Flies | www.johnkreft.com

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…

Flick's March Brown Nymph | www.johnkreft.com

Art Flick’s March Brown Nymph

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Art Flick’s March Brown Nymph. Since it’s March, I’m continuing to feature several March Brown Mayfly imitations. I hope you read last week’s TBT post about Art Flick’s March Brown Dry Fly. This is another one of Art Flick’s flies I found this fly in The Founding Flies…

Whiting Cree Hackle | www.johnkreft.com

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…

Swisher's PMX Royal | www.riverkeeperflies.com

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…

Condor Nymph | www.johnkreft.com

Juan’s Condor Nymph

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Juan’s Condor Nymph. OK, it might not be a true Throw Back Fly, bit it fits my theme of our recent trip to Argentina. Juan Carlos Carrera was one of our guides from SET Fly Fishing during our stay at Estancia Chochoy Mallin in NW Argentina. He pulled…