Dry Flies

Quill Gordon Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Tail Wing Hackle Quill Gordon Early American fly tiers, such as Theodore Gordon (photo at right), began the Catskill Dry Fly type in the late 1800’s with his Quill Gordon. Gordon is considered the American “Father of the Dry Fly” , a title…

Royal Wulff Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook or Thread Body and Tail Wing Hackle Wulff Flies Lee Wulff was an innovator. He designed the first fishing vest, popularized left-handed reels to keep the rod in the stronger right hand, created the first palming reel, and designed triangle taper lines. He designed the…

Green Paradrake Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook or Thread Extended Body Extended Body Support Tail Wingpost Hackle Paradrake The Paradrake pattern, also known as a Paradun, is an extended hair-body that was developed by Carl Richards and Doug Swisher in 1971. Richards and Swisher used hen hackle for the wing posts on…

PMD Parachute Dun Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Tail Wingpost Hackle Parachute Dun The parachute dun (Paraduns) differs from a standard dun due to the hackle being wound in a horizontal manner. The Parachute technique is generally attributed to a young Scottish fly tier by the name of Helen Todd.…

Morris May Emerger Callibaetis Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Thorax Tail Wing Ribbing Morris May Emerger The Morris May Emerger is a hybrid pattern between the Comparadun and the Quigley Cripple. Skip featured this pattern in his book, “Trout Flies for Rivers” in 2009 but the pattern itself was designed…

Milt’s Hex Paradun Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Tail Wingpost Hackle Milt’s Hex Paradun Milt’s Hex Paradun pattern is basically a bundled-fiber extension body started in front of a bundled wing post. The pattern is attributed to local guide, Milt Jensen from Chester, CA in 1980. This type of pattern…

Mercer’s Missing Link, Little Yellow May Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Thorax Ribbing Wing Downwing Hackle Mercer’s Missing Link This pattern was designed by Mike Mercer, in 2010, originally for caddis hatches. However, the design was also very effective on other hatches, such as Mayflies and Stoneflies, by modifying both…

Light Cahill Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Tail Wing Hackle Light Cahill Dan Cahill of Port Jervis, N.Y. was a brakeman on the Erie and Lackawana Railroad in 1884. He was working in the Catskills on a hot and humid day. On board was a can of brood Rainbows destined…

Quigley Cripple, Callibaetis Materials to Order Material, click the link Hook Thread Body Thorax Ribbing Tail Wing Hackle Quigley Cripple Cripples represent mayflies that are just emerging or got stuck in it’s shuck. Bob Quigley came up with his Quigley Cripple pattern in 1978 while he was fishing Fall River in Northern California. Bob’s Cripple…