Fly of the Month
Frost Blue Smelt
Posted on June 07 2019
Fly of the month This month's fly is the Frost Blue Smelt. This pattern was created by Dick Frost who owned the Rangeley Region Sports Shop in the late 70's and early 80's. Hook - streamer 6-10 Body - silver tinsel Thread - blue Wing - White bucktail,blue bucktail,peacock herl...
Peeking Caddis
Posted on May 06 2019
This month's fly is the Peeking Caddis. I don't have any background about this fly's origin, but it is a very popular and effective cased caddis imitation. In our area it copies the American Grannom caddis that hatches in the beginning of the summer. If you have ever been...
Lightning Bug
Posted on April 08 2019
This month's fly is the Lightning Bug. I can't find much background info on this fly. Just that it has been around since the early 90's and is mentioned as a Montana favorite. I have been using it for 10 years or so. My most effective way to...
Puterbaugh Caddis - Fly of the Month
Posted on March 05 2019
Puterbaugh Caddis The Puterbaugh Caddis was developed by Don Puterbaugh, a long time guide on the Arkansas river in Colorado. This is a high floating and versatile pattern. It can pass for a caddis or terrestrial. I have used this pattern for years and sometimes it is the only caddis...
Squirmy Wormie
Posted on February 08 2019
This month's fly is the squirmy wormie. This pattern was first created and fished by Dave Hise of North Carolina. Some fishermen wouldn't think of using this fly, (Sometimes I would be one of them.) But there is no denying its success. I first saw the fly when...
Mop Fly
Posted on January 08 2019
This month's fly is the Mop Fly. It was created by the competitive fly fishing folks. We tied it last winter one Saturday at the shop. The fly was the object of much critique and skepticism however when summer rolled around it really did catch fish. There are...
Soft Hackle Hares Ear
Posted on December 05 2018
This month’s fly is the soft hackle Hare’s Ear nymph. This is one of my favorite flies. During the summer, I use it in smaller sizes for tan Caddis hatches. It can be fished deep or swung in the surface film. In the fall, it is good in...
Green Weenie - Fly of the Month
Posted on November 05 2018
This month's fly is the Green Weenie. Variations of the Green Weenie have been around for 20 years or more. Original flies were floating, the recipe below is for one that will sink. The first fly was to imitate an inchworm, but they are used in waters that have...
Edson Tiger Light
Posted on October 08 2018
This month's fly is the Edson Tiger Light. This fly was created by Bill Edson of Portland, Maine in 1929. It is an effective pattern in our area in the fall when the the colors yellow and red catch the eye of spawning trout. Hook - Long shank streamer #...
Mickey Finn Marabou
Posted on September 05 2018
This month's fly is the Marabou Mickey Finn. The Mickey Finn was originated by John Alden Knight of Pennsylvania in the 1930's. The Marabou version is a seriously aggressive streamer. The great attractiveness of this pattern is sure to bring a strike from the big boy in the neighborhood. Hook...
Loopwing Caddis Emerger
Posted on August 07 2018
This months fly is the Loopwing Caddis Emerger. This pattern has no history that I can find. It was given to me to copy by a customer who raved about its fish catching ability. It is a fly that can look like a dun, emerger, or cripple on the...
Foamulater
Posted on July 05 2018
This month’s fly is the foamulator. The foamulator was created by Randall Kaufman of stimulator fame. This is a very effective fly on our local rivers wherever stoneflies are present. Its many pieces add many qualities to the fly: foam for great floatation, rubber legs for motion, flash, and...
Blacknose Dace
Posted on June 04 2018
This month's fly is the Blacknose Dace streamer fly. This pattern was created by Art Flick and was introduced in 1947 in his Streamside Guide. This minnow spawns in many of our area rivers during the month of June. Hook - Streamer size 12-8 Thread - Black...
Zug Bug
Posted on May 05 2018
This month’s fly is the Zug Bug. This nymph was created by Cliff Zug, first tied in the 1930s. It was created as a caddis nymph imitation. I also use it as a cased caddis imitation. Its unique features and peacock herl make it a great searching pattern when...
Gunmetal Sparklewing RS2 - Fly of the Month
Posted on April 05 2018
This month’s fly is the Gunmetal Sparkle Wing RS2. I found this pattern in the book Go-To Flies by Tony Lolli. It was created by a Colorado guide named Chris Eisenhard. This is another example of combining feeding triggers from other existing flies into a very effective creation. The standard...
F.T. Stone
Posted on March 06 2018
This month’s fly is my own creation called the F.T. Stone Nymph. I came up with the pattern many years ago and it has been a good producer from the start. I wanted to put together a big pattern that I could use as a top fly in a nymph...
Killer Caddis
Posted on February 12 2018
This month's fly is the Killer Caddis. This pattern was first introduced in Tying Glass Bead Flies, a book written by Joe Warren in 1997. I have been using this pattern for a long time. It is a must if fishing the Rapid or Magalloway in the month...
Flying Ant
Posted on December 04 2017
This month’s fly is the flying ant. I got this pattern from Randall Kaufmann’s book Tying Dry Flies. This fly isn’t used very much, but when you need it you should have it. In this area that is usually around the end of May when we get our first...
Wardens Worry - Fly of the Month
Posted on November 16 2017
This month’s fly is the Warden’s Worry streamer. This streamer was originated in 1930 by Maine Game Warden Joseph Stickney of Saco. This is not a very well-known pattern, but was very popular in the decades following its creation. Hook - streamer size 4-12 thread - black body - amber...
Slumpbuster
Posted on September 04 2017
This month’s fly is the Slumpbuster. It was created by John Barr of “Copper John” fame. It was created to look like a baitfish. The use of pine squirrel strips gives it real life in the water and the shiny body gives it just enough glitter. This is a great...
Maple Sryup
Posted on August 07 2017
This month’s fly is the Maple Syrup. This fly was created right here in Maine by Alvin Theriault of Stacyville. It is well known for its effectiveness as a Drake or Hex mayfly nymph. This is a simple pattern that has been modified in many ways and is a proven...
Andro Stone
Posted on July 03 2017
This month’s fly is the Andro Stone, created by Dan LaPointe of Gorham, NH. Dan started tying “big uglies” (stoneflies) for us this year. This fly has some great features that will add to its floatation and attractiveness. Hook - 94831 # 6 – 10 thread - orange tail -...
Bugmeister
Posted on May 07 2017
This month we are featuring the Bugmeister which was created by John Perry, a fly fishing guide from Montana. This fly has turned out to be one of the most effective attractors on the water by many accounts. I was asked to tie some for a customer and decided to...
Pseudo Minnow - Fly of the Month
Posted on April 07 2017
Not generally a fan of synthetics, Sue recently discovered “Pseudo Marabou” while trying to copy a fly for a customer and has enjoyed tying little baitfish flies with it. We’ve used a 3906 #4 or 6 hook, but a streamer hook would work well, too. It would just lesson the...
Little Green Machine
Posted on March 06 2017
This month's fly is the Little Green Machine created by Vince Wilcox of upstate New York. I have not used this pattern yet but it has a great reputation as a real fish catcher. We tied it during our Saturday tying group this winter. I will be stocking it...
Grizzly King Wulff
Posted on February 06 2017
This month’s fly is the Grizzly King Wulff. The Grizzly King fly is a wet fly originating in England in the 1800s as best I can tell. When it became a Wulff pattern I do not know. It certainly has all the necessary elements to make it a good attractor...
Black Wulff
Posted on January 05 2017
The Black Wulff is this month’s fly. Yes, the body color of the original pattern is pink. The fly was created by Dan Bailey of Montana. At the time, Lee Wulff’s new style fly was coming onto the scene. Dan Bailey became a promoter of Lee’s new high floating fly...
Sure Bet
Posted on December 01 2016
This month’s fly is the Sure Bet. It was created by Selene Dumaine right here in Maine. When asked by a local guide to make a fly that could be used on Northern Pike, she designed the Sure Bet to imitate yellow perch. Since then, it has proven effective...
A.P. Emerger
Posted on November 14 2016
This month's fly is the A.P. Emerger. A.P. stands for all purpose. The pattern was created by Denny Rickard of Oregon in the early 90's. It was used for copying the Damsel fly nymph on stillwater. I use it as a top fly nymph in larger sizes. It works...
Little Brook Trout
Posted on October 01 2016
This month’s fly is the Little Brook Trout. It was created by Sam Slaymaker of Pennsylvania in the 1960s. It was one in a series along with the Brown and Rainbow Trout. The fact is big Brook trout and salmon eat their own! This is a pretty fly like...
Brassie
Posted on September 01 2016
This month's fly is a variation of the Brassie nymph. The Brassie is a midge emerger imitation that is very effective in the fall when the spawning fish are feeding heavily on them. By adding a collar of CDC on the head of the fly you add a great deal...
Deer Hair Caddis
Posted on August 01 2016
This month’s fly is the Deer Hair Caddis. This is the Elk Hair caddis tied with whitetail hair. The fly was created by Al Troth. It is a simple, but effective pattern and the standard for imitating the ever active Caddis adult. A tip on tying the fly: Don’t...
Stimulator
Posted on July 01 2016
This month's fly is the Stimulator. It was developed by Randall Kauffmann of Oregon. This fly is one of the most popular dry flies in the western states. It is a standard for imitating stoneflies, but also is good for caddis in smaller sizes. This fly can be...
Letort Cricket
Posted on June 01 2016
The Letort Cricket is a terrestrial pattern that was developed by Ed Shenk of Pennsylvania. It was named after the spring creek that he spent most of his life fishing. This is a good summer time pattern. Hook – 2x streamer size 10-14 thread – black body – black...
Rusty Klink
Posted on May 04 2016
FLY OF THE MONTH This month’s fly is the Rusty Klinkhamer. For a while now I have been thinking about adding another color of the best-selling Klinkhamer Emerger. I have talked to fishermen who have had success with orange or rust colored ones. The color rust is used...
Early Black Stone
Posted on May 04 2016
THE FLY OF THE MONTH This month’s fly is the Early Black Stone. I saw a video of this pattern on the internet and we gave it a try at our Saturday afternoon tying group. Early Blacks are one of the first bugs to appear in the spring,...
Parachute Smelt
Posted on May 04 2016
FLY OF THE MONTH This month’s fly is the Parachute Smelt, created by Lou Zambello, a guide and part-time resident of Kennebago Lake. Lou talks about this pattern in his book Fly Fishing Northern New England’s Seasons. You want to fish this fly during the...
White Muddler Minnow - Fly of the Month
Posted on February 08 2016
We recently added the White Muddler Minnow to the store. It was created by Don Gapen of Minnesota in the late 1930’s. The fly was popularized and mass produced by Bailey’s Fly Shop of Montana. The white color is a spin-off of the original natural deer hair color. This...
Teal Strip - Fly of the Month
Posted on January 05 2016
This month’s fly is the Teal Strip. It was created by Rob Donald who for many years operated a shop in Jay, Maine. Rob closed his shop a few years ago. Many fishermen would stop on the way to Rangeley and pick up this unique pattern. The Teal Strip is...
Mansfield
Posted on December 01 2015
Fly of the Month This month’s fly is the Mansfield streamer. I know very little about the origin of this attractor pattern. It was in the Streamer selection when we bought the shop. Some fisherman will walk right to them and pick up a handful with confidence. Clearly this...
Blue Winged Olive (or B.W.O.)
Posted on November 01 2015
This month’s fly is the Blue Winged Olive (or B.W.O.). The B.W.O. is an effective fly this time of year as the water cools before winter cold sets in. The B.W.O. and midges are the only surface activity that might be happening in November. As I sit here and write...
Puterbaugh Caddis - Fly of the Month
Posted on November 01 2015
Puterbaugh Caddis The Puterbaugh Caddis was developed by Don Puterbaugh, a long time guide on the Arkansas river in Colorado. This is a high floating and versatile pattern. It can pass for a caddis or terrestrial. I have used this pattern for years and sometimes it is the only caddis...
Ausable Wulff
Posted on November 01 2015
Fly of the Month This months fly is the Ausable Wulff. The Ausable Wulff was originated by Fran Betters in 1964. He developed it for fishing the turbulent waters of the Ausable River in upstate New York. In our own area waters it is also used during the Drake...
Beadhead Pheasant Tail Nymph - Fly of the Month
Posted on October 08 2015
This months fly is the Beadhead Pheasant Tail Nymph. I do not think that any nymph has caught more fish for me over the years than this simple pattern. The pattern was originated by Frank Sawyer of England but modified to what you see here as the American style. You...
Gray Hackle.
Posted on September 01 2015
FLY OF THE MONTH This month’s fly is the Gray Hackle. This is an old pattern used for small trout and Atlantic Salmon alike. The Gray hackle is very simple to tie with only three materials. The simple soft hackle pattern is one of my most effective emergers during the...
Joe's Hopper - Fly of the Month
Posted on August 01 2015
Joe’s Hopper is one of the first grasshopper patterns. It was created first as the Michigan Hopper by Art Winnie in the 1940s. The name was changed in recognition of one of its greatest fans: Joe Brooks. This pattern also inspired the creation of the Dave’s Hopper pattern. This hopper...
Yellow Marabou Muddler
Posted on July 01 2015
This month’s fly is the Yellow Marabou Muddler. The marabou muddler is a spin-off of the muddler minnow created by Don Gapen of Minnesota in the 1930s. It is a very good attractor pattern. Yellow is my favorite color to use and is very good at drawing out the...
Electric Caddis Nymph
Posted on June 01 2015
This month’s fly is the Electric Caddis nymph. It was created by Mike Lawson of the Henry’s Fork area of Idaho. I first saw the pattern in an issue of Fly Tyer magazine, tied some up and fished it. It is a very effective pattern in early summer when the...
Pale Evening Dun
Posted on May 01 2015
FLY OF THE MONTH This month’s fly is the Pale Evening Dun. It is not known for large hatches like the Hendrickson and March Brown. It occurs during the end of the March Brown season, not large in number, but ever present. Thomas Ames, in his Hatches guide states...
