March Brown Adult | www.johnkreft.com

Confusing Mayfly Names

Do you know the names of all the bugs you see on the river or lake? Do you need to know these names to catch fish? Not at all. Fly fishers have developed their own common names over the years for many bugs in order to share information about recent fishing trips. I have to…

Poxyback Baetis | www.johnkreft.com

Poxyback Baetis

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Poxyback Baetis. This is an older fly pattern I found in Randall Kaufmann’s book Tying Nymphs (1994). Kaufmann’s book, along with his Tying Dry Flies, was one of the first color fly tying books I purchased. Tying Nymphs taught me new techniques, materials, and flies to tie. The Poxyback…

Provider Box | www.johnkreft.com

Stock Up on Trout Flies

I’m headed back to the vise this week to stock up on trout flies. I finished my last “plate” fly for the season. It was an Atlantic Salmon fly called the Blue Charm, a “Simple Strip Wing”, my contribution for a Central Oregon Fly Tying Guild fly plate. This plate will be at the NW…

Dark Stone Nymph | www.johnkreft.com

Rosborough Dark Stone

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Rosborough Dark Stone Nymph. I found the fly on display at the International Federation of Fly Fishers Museum in Livingston, MT and took this picture of the Rosborough Dark Stone Nymph through the glass display in a dark room. I think it turned out quite well. It was…

Casual Dress | www.johnkreft.com

Rosborough Casual Dress Nymph

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Rosborough Casual Dress Nymph. I found the fly on display at the International Federation of Fly Fishers Museum in Livingston, MT and took this picture of the Rosborough Casual Dress Nymph through the glass display in a dark room. I think it turned out quite well. It was one…

Metolius Rainbow Rosy Cheeks | www.johnkreft.com

Fishing Changes in November

I’ve said for the last couple of years the fish gods flip a switch and the fishing changes in November. But this year, the weather forecast is such that I might get another week of good fishing. Each day is different and the hatches are getting shorter, just like daylight hours. What this means is…

Madison River - Relaxed Fishing | www.johnkreft.com

Montana Fly Box

Over the last few weeks, I’ve written about our Montana Road Trip where we fished the Madison, Depuy Spring Creek, Stillwater, and Slough Creek & the Lamar. I thought I’d provide a summary of the effective flies we used in our Montana fly box. When selecting flies, I always try to imitate the insects I think…