• Mamba Black Rufus TBT

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is a Mamba Black Rufus TBT. The Mamba Black Rufus TBT is a local fly pattern developed by Bob Gaviglio of Sunriver Fly Shop in Sunriver, OR. There is a series of Rufus flies, including the CJ Rufus, Brown Leech Rufus, Mamba Burnt Orange Rufus, and a Brookie Rufus…

  • Theodore Gordon’s Bumblepuppy

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Theodore Gordon’s Bumblepuppy. To be honest, when I heard the name of this fly, I thought it was a joke. After a little research, I think the joke is on me. I’ve been reading Mike Valla’s book entitled The Founding Flies – 43 American Masters, Their Patterns and Influences…

  • Galloup’s T & A Leech

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Galloup’s T & A Leech. I stayed at Galloup’s Slide Inn last week during our 2017 fly fishing road trip and had the opportunity to talk with Kelly about a few of his early fly patterns. I told him about my RiverKeeper Flies Throw Back Thursday fly feature and…

  • Galloup’s Zoo Cougar

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is Galloup’s Zoo Cougar. Since I’m staying at Slide Inn on the Madison River this week, I thought it appropriate to feature a few of Kelly’s flies for my Throw Back Thursday Fly feature. I spent some time with him at the shop taking photos of a few of…

  • Clouser Minnow

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Clouser Minnow. This Clouser Minnow is one a friend gave me a couple of years ago. Bob Clouser invented the Clouser Minnow in 1987 to imitate smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River. My quick research found the fly was named by Lefty Kreh as the Clouser Deep…

  • Spruce Peacock

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Spruce Peacock, a fly pattern developed by Polly Rosborough. I found this fly on a display at the International Federation of Fly Fishers Museum in Livingston, MT. I took this picture of Polly’s Spruce Peacock through the glass display in a dark room and I think it turned out…

  • Stayner Ducktail TBT

    This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Stayner Ducktail TBT. Ruel Stayner of Twin Falls, ID created this bait fish fly pattern to imitate bait fish in the lakes and reservoirs he fished. Stayner owned and operated a sporting goods store in Twin Falls and created this fly in the late 1960’s. He attempted…

  • What Are the Fish Eating

    I’m fortunate to be able to fish over 100 days per year. Why did I begin this week’s post with that statement? Well, spending that much time on the water has changed the way I fish in the last 10 years. I observe the water more. The result is I’m able to see fish rising…