• Golden Demon

    How about an updated version of an old classic steelhead fly for this week’s Throw Back Thursday…the Golden Demon. Zane Grey brought this fly from New Zealand to the Rogue River in the mid-1920s.  OK, perhaps this is a spey version of the original…

  • Gray Hackle Peacock

    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?

  • San Juan Worm

    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…

  • Renegade

    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…

  • Stimulator

    It’s Thursday again and this week’s TBT fly is the Stimulator. I first learned of this fly from Randall Kaufmann’s book Tying Dry Flies. Tied many flies from that book. This is an older fly I tied many years ago. I obtained the book in the early 90’s…so old is relative, I guess.

  • Lady Caroline

    I thought it appropriate to offer the Lady Caroline as this week’s TBT fly. Yes, I just blogged about tying it in the last week in Tying Spey Flies – I’m Scared, but it’s perhaps the most famous spey fly. John Shewey in his Spey Flies & Dee Flies book suggests there is evidence “Geordie”…

  • Hares Ear Nymph

    This week’s TBT fly is the Hares Ear Nymph. It’s an old pattern and usually one of the first flies taught to beginner fly tyers. For some reason, many fly fishers start fishing this fly and then go away from it…I might be somewhat guilty as well. My quick history review shows multiple references as to…

  • Cates Turkey

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Since it is Thanksgiving, my wife thought is appropriate this week’s TBT would be the Cates Turkey. I tied one years ago on Thanksgiving. It was developed by Jerry Cate in the 1960’s at Davis Lake for Callibaetis. I think I’ll have to try it next summer! Hope you like it.

  • Parachute Adams

    This week’s TBT fly is the Parachute Adams. I’m sure you’ve used this highly effective fly. It originally was known as a Gyro fly and sold by William Mills & Son of New York. I’ve read where it was patented by William Avery Bush of Detroit MI in 1934. One entry stated Bush patented a…