I have started tying Rogue River half-pounder flies for the Rogue River that will be used in September and October. Most of all of the flies will be tied using a size 8 hook. Size 10 flies can also be fished successfully. The Green Butt Skunk was designed by Dan Callahen and the Red Ant was designed by Mike Kennedy.
Red Ant Fly
Group of Red Ant Flies
Green Butt Skunks
I came across a pretty neat site the other day put together by David Stenström. It has great tying and photography of some classic Catskill flies.
Started tying flies for this fall on the Rogue River. Here is a another half-pounder fly – the Red Ant. These are tied on a size 8 Mustad 36890. This is the most popular size for half-pounders.
Red Ant - Rogue River
I was very fortunate to be able to trade flies with Monte Smith during the NW Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, Oregon. I received one of his well tied streamer flies called the Copper Lake. Monte also has a blog – NW Fly Tyer.
Monte Smith's Copper Lake
Monte Smith's Copper Lake
Joe Howell is a well known steelhead tyer on the Umpqua River. He owned a flyshop called The Blue Heron. I was fortunate to meet him and visit his flyshop a couple years ago before it closed.
Below is a fly he tied called Howell’s Orange Heron.
Howell's Orange Heron
Howell's Orange Heron - Close-Up
I never met Kent Bullfinch, but was shown some of his flies by Al Brunell. The flies below were tied in 1997. Kent used what appears to be a Tyvek material for the wing cases. Some of the flies have a woven body and others use latex. These are fun flies to look at.
Kent Bulfinch Stonefly
Kent Bulfinch Stonefly
Kent Bulfinch Stonefly
Kent Bulfinch Stonefly
Kent Bulfinch Stonefly
Kent Bulfinch Stonefly
I first learned of George Grant when I attended college at Idaho State University in Southeast Idaho. I had been doing woven body flies for a while and learned of George Grant’s woven hackle flies. It was very intriguing method. He tied these complex flies commercially and also to raise money for the Big Hole River Foundation. I met Todd Collins who was an apprentice to George. Todd was very helpful in teaching me how to do the woven hackles. I haven’t tied one in years, but had fun tying them years ago. Later in Oregon I met James Flaherty who also ties amazing George Grant flies. Below is a George Grant fly that I recently acquired in an auction.
George Grant Stonefly
Stonefly Wing Buds
I made a batch of stonefly wing buds and will now offer them for sale on this site. If you have not used wing buds yet, they are made from waterproof paper and can easily be colored. They are then cut-out and used for tying stoneflies. They make great realistic stoneflies. I am offering them in a 36 pack and 12 pack. That is enough to tie 18 and 12 flies respectively as you use 2 per fly.
36 Pack – $2.50
12 Pack – $1.00
This past weekend I demonstrated how to tie my woven stonefly at the NW Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo. Here are the online instructions. If you are interested in a PDF version, please send me an email and I will get the PDF to you. Here are a a few of the images from the step by step.
Step 4a
Step 11a
Step 16b
I had a great time the last two days at the NW Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo. I had taken a lot of great pictures, but had my camera and tying stuff stolen Saturday night – so unfortunately no pictures.
I had the privileged to chat with Bill Blackstone Friday morning. The class on Rogue River half-pounders went well. I stopped by and chatted with James Flaherty and watched him tie his George Grant woven hackle flies. He does a great job with those patterns.
On Saturday I tied with my daughter Erica for the first few hours. I was excited to have her tie at a show with me for the first time. Hopefully there are many more to come. I enjoyed chatting with everybody that stopped by to watch us tie. I am working to get a step-by-step directions for the woven stoneflies that I was demonstrating tomorrow. After tying I was able to watch many good tyers. I was able to trade flies with Rockwell Hammond Jr and Monte Smith. At the banquet on Saturday night I won a wonderful spey fly plate with 24 great tyers. Then it was capped off finding out that my car had been broken into and I lost my camera and fly tying stuff. I hope to see everyone again next year.
