Saturday, October 28, 2023

Wren


Wren

Tail - Gray mallard 

Tip - Yellow silk

Ribbing -Yellow silk

Body - Light gray floss

Hackle - Brown 

Wing - Brown mallard

Trout - Ray Bergman

Yellow Dun


Yellow Dun

Ribbing - Yellow silk

Body - Gray fur

Hackle -Yellow

Wings - Brown mallard

Trout - Ray Bergman

Friday, October 27, 2023

Dorset



Dorset

Tail - Furnace hackle tips *
Body - Green floss

Hackle - Light brown furnace

Wing - Teal

Trout - Ray Bergman

Don Bastian Note

* Dr. Burke’s detail-oriented paintings reveal that the tail ingredient of ‘furnace hackle’ on the Dorset in the original written recipe listing (normally fibers) is clearly represented as hackle tips on the painting. See the Adirondack, where the tail recipe actually specifies hackle tips, even though Dr. Burke’s painting of that fly shows a tail of hackle fibers. The hackle tip tail adds a unique element and character to both the Adirondack and the Dorset.

Heckham Red



Heckham Red

Tip - White floss 
Tail - Turkey brown 

Ribbing - Gold tinsel

Body - Scarlet floss

Hackle - Brown hen

Wings - Bittern or light brown mottled turkey

Trout - Ray Bergman

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Ukraine


Ukraine

Thread - White

Tip - Gold tinsel

Tail - Blue over yellow duck quill

Ribbing - Blue uni stretch

Body - Yellow uni stretch

Throat - Blue over yellow hen hackle

Wing - Blue over yellow duck quill

Head - Blue and yellow sharpie marker

Martin


Martin

Tag - Gold tinsel *

Tail - Yellow and black – married **

Ribbing - Gold tinsel

Body - Yellow floss

Hackle - Deep yellow

Wing - Widgeon or gray mallard ***

Trout - Ray Bergman

Don Bastian Notes

* The gold tinsel tag is not listed in the Trout recipe, but it is visible on the color plate.

** The written recipe for the tail is ‘yellow and black-alternate.’ Differing from the usual listing for a married tail, Dr. Burke’s painting indicates a separation at the end of the tail, revealing a married tail of yellow and black with left and right sides.

*** The wing may also be teal.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Governor Alvord

Governor Alvord

Tail - Dark scarlet

Body - Peacock herl*

Hackle - Brown

Wing - Slate married to cinnamon*

Trout - Ray Bergman

Don Bastian Note

* The Governor Alvord has the unique status of being the only peacock herl-bodied fly in all of Ray Bergman’s books with a married wing. When two colors are listed for a married wing as on the Governor Alvord the sections are normally equal in width.


Saturday, October 21, 2023

Golden Girl


Golden Girl

Roderick Haig-Brown, 1940s

Tip - Gold oval tinsel (fine) 

Tag - Orange silk 

Tail - Golden pheasant crest 

Body - Gold flat tinsel

Hackle: Yellow 

Wing - Orange polar bear hair*, two golden pheasant tippet feathers 

Topping - Golden pheasant crest

*I used orange bucktail

Classic Steelhead Flies - John Shewey

The preeminent British Columbia fly-angling historian, Arthur Lingren, produced two editions of Fly Patterns of British Columbia, one of several titles he has released through Frank Amato Publications. The original edition found a waiting audience in 1996, and then in 2008, Lingren again demonstrated his grasp of historical research methodology in an expanded edition timed to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Roderick Haig-Brown, the pioneering, British-born angler who fell in love with the waters of British Columbia and penned some of fly angling’s most poignant and powerful words. Lingren’s expanded volume was subtitled The Roderick Haig-Brown Centenary Edition and it is replete with captivating details about Haig-Brown and other prominent fly designers of British Columbia. 

Of the Golden Girl, Lingren informs the reader that Haig-Brown devised this fly chiefly for winter steelhead; he wanted a simple fly dressed in shades of red and orange that would bear some resemblance to the ornate feather wing Atlantic salmon flies he knew so well from his British upbringing. “The pattern Haig-Brown developed,” explains Lingren, “was a combination of the slim-bodied Red Sandy and the golden pheasant tippet-winged Durham Ranger without many of the frills.” 

Lingren notes that the original dressing had a tail made from the small red feather of the Indian fruit crow (a South American bird of the Cotinga family), but that eventually Haig-Brown opted instead for a golden pheasant crest feather (a “topping,” to use the Atlantic salmon parlance) for the tail. Indeed, the topping-tailed version is the familiar pattern, though the fly looks nothing short of riveting when the golden pheasant crest tail is itself topped with a layer of fruit crow feathers or substitutes, such as small, scarlet-dyed hen neck feathers or likewise dyed golden pheasant throat feathers. In later versions, Haig-Brown also included a tag of orange silk, which is made all the more lustrous if underlain and tipped with flat tinsel. As evidence to that variation, Walt Johnson (in the 1990s) supplied me with copies of steelhead fly recipes submitted to the Washington Fly Fishing Club in the 1950s and 60s, including a page of patterns submitted by Haig-Brown. 

For the Golden Girl, Haig-Brown specifies a tag of orange silk, and says of the fly, “This is primarily a winter steelhead fly. Have also taken cutthroats and summer steelhead on it in sizes down to No. 8.” The other flies he included are the Quinsam Hackle, Silver Brown, and Stickle-Back.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Loyalsock

 

Loyalsock

Body - Pale yellow floss

Hackle - Black

Wing - Black

Trout - Ray Bergman

Widow

 

Widow

Ribbing - White silk

Body - Black silk floss

Hackle - Black 

Wing - Black with white stripe

Trout - Ray Bergman

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Waters

 

Waters

Tag - Gold tinsel

Tail - Scarlet tuft

Body - Peacock herl

Hackle - Black or dark grizzly

Wing - Slate goose

Head - White ostrich herl

Extended Body Grannom Caddis


Extended Body Grannom Caddis 

Balloon Caddis Variant

Hook - Curved or straight shank

Thread - Gray

Body and Thorax Cover - Grey closed cell foam 
Wing - Deer hair 

Thorax - Grey dubbing

From a Davie McPhail Video

Monday, October 16, 2023

Soo Nipi

Soo Nipi

Hook - Mustad Heritage

Thread - Black

Tag - Gold tinsel

Ribbing - Gold tinsel

Body - Black silk floss

Hackle - Light blue

Wing - White

Trout - Ray Bergman


Lake Green



Lake Green

Hook - Mustad Heritage

Thread - white under floss body, black head

Ribbing - Insect green silk (floss)
Body - Yellow floss

Hackle - Light ginger

Wing - Teal

Trout - Ray Bergman


Kate


Kate

Hook - Mustad Heritage

Thread - White under body floss, black head

Tail - Golden pheasant tippet

Ribbing - Gold tinsel

Body - Scarlet and yellow floss

Hackle - Black

Wing - Cinnamon "Orpington"

Trout - Ray Bergman

The color plate shows a gold tag, but it is not listed in the recipe

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Fish Hawk



Fish Hawk

Hook - Mustad Heritage

Thread - Black

Tail - Brown mottled turkey

Ribbing - Brown silk (floss) twisted into a rope

Body - Gold tinsel

Hackle - Brown

Wing - Brown mottled turkey, jungle eye

Trout - Ray Bergman

LA ET VOILÀ



LA ET VOILÀ 

(There You Have) Google translation

Bernard Parisien

Rear Hook - Mustad Heritage S80, #6

Thread - Red

Ribbing - Silver tinsel

Body - Blue tinsel

Connecting wire - Beadalon .018 diameter

Front hook - Mustad 9672, #2

Thread - Red

Ribbing - Silver tinsel

Body - Blue tinsel

Belly - White bucktail over silver colored flashabou

Wing - Dark blue bucktail over strands of blue krystal flash

Topping - Peacock herl

Eyes - Painted black over white

Saturday, October 14, 2023

The Seductress


The Seductress

Hook - Single or double salmon

Thread - Black

Tip/tag - Oval gold tinsel and fluorescent green silk

Tail - Peacock sword

Butt - Black ostrich herl

Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel

Body - Pale green krystal flash or substitute

Hackle - Dyed yellow guinea fowl or substitute*

Wing - Dyed yellow bucktail over dyed green bucktail

Over wing - Peacock herl

Cheek - Jungle cock

*All out of dyed yellow guinea fowl so I used yellow hen hackle

The Seductress (fabri-mouches.ca)

Friday, October 13, 2023

Golden Rod


Golden Rod

Tag - Gold tinsel
Tail - Scarlet fibers
Butt - Peacock herl
Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel
Body -- Orange seal’s fur or substitute
Hackle - Orange
Wing - A pair of Jungle cock body feather
Wet Flies - Ken Sawada

Golden Rod
Tip - None*
Tail - Crimson quill sections
Butt - Peacock herl*
Ribbing - Gold tinsel
Body - Orange floss
Hackle: Orange
Wing - Jungle cock eye

Don Bastian Note

*The peacock herl butt is listed under ‘tip’ in the written recipes. There is no tip on the Golden Rod but I believe the appearance of this fly could be enhanced by the addition of a gold tinsel tip.

Trout - Ray Bergman





Thursday, October 12, 2023

Silver Invicta


Silver Invicta

Hook - Mustad Heritage

Thread - Brown or black

Tail - Golden Pheasant Crest 

Rib - Silver Wire 

Body - Uni- Mylar Silver Body 

Hackle - Natural Red (Brown) Cock 

Throat - Blue Jay Fibers 

Wing - Hen Pheasant Quill

From a Davie McPhail Video

Jock Scott


Jock Scott

Tail - Golden pheasant crest and short scarlet tuft
Ribbing - Silver tinsel

Body - Rear ½ yellow floss, front ½ black floss

Hackle - Guinea fowl fibers

Wing - Blue, yellow, scarlet, & white-tipped turkey – married; peacock sword topping, jungle cock eye 

Trout - Ray Bergman

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

October Caddis Soft Hackle


October Caddis Soft Hackle

Hook - Curved

Bead - Black brass or tungsten

Thread - Orange

Body - Orange swannundaze or substitute

Thorax - Orange ice dubbing

Hackle - Black hen

Head - Black ice dubbing


    Feted Green

     

    Feted Green

    Hook - Mustad heritage

    Thread - Black

    Tip - Crimson floss

    Tail - Medium dark green

    Body - Medium dark green floss

    Hackle - Green

    Wing - Medium dark green

    Trout - Ray Bergman

    Sunday, October 8, 2023

    Silver Doctor



    Silver Doctor

    Hook - Mustad Heritage

    Thread - Red

    Tail - Duck or goose; yellow, blue, green & red – married

    Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel

    Body - Flat silver tinsel

    Hackle - Guinea fowl and blue

    Wing - Duck or goose - brown, red, green blue, & yellow - married

    How to Tie Flies - E C Gregg

    Other Silver Doctors

    Silver Doctor per Don Bastian Website

    Tag - Red floss

    Tail - Yellow, blue, green, red – married

    Rib - Oval silver tinsel

    Body: Flat silver tinsel

    Hackle - Mixed guinea fowl and blue 

    Wing - Married sections of duck quill: brown, guinea fowl, red, green blue, & yellow

    https://donbastianwetflies.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/silver-doctor-wet-fly-variation-with-six-strip-wing/

    Silver Doctor per Trout & Forgotten Flies

                 Tip – Scarlet floss and gold tinsel               

                               Tail – Golden pheasant crest, dash of blue                            

    Ribbing – Oval silver tinsel

    Body – Silver tinsel

    Hackle - Blue & Guinea  

    Wing – Brown turkey, teal, blue and yellow

    Trout – Ray Bergman

    Forgotten Flies – Schmookler and Sils

    Silver Doctor From Flies for Trout

    Hook - Wet style

    Thread - Red

    Tag - Flat gold tinsel

    Tail - Golden pheasant crest over which are a few barbs of blue kingfisher or similar

    Butt - Red wool

    Ribbing - Silver wire

    Body - Flat silver tinsel

    Hackle - Pale blue followed by barbs of teal flank

    Wing - Married strips of red, blue and yellow duck wing over which are strips of peacock wing or pheasant tail

    Flies for Trout - Stewart & Allen

    "Silver Doctor Wet Fly - Fly Angler's Online Volumn 12 week 8 (flyanglersonline.com)


    Friday, October 6, 2023

    Three Rivers


    Three Rivers

    Hook - Mustad Heritage

    Thread - Black

    Tip - Wide silver tinsel

    Tail - Teal

    Ribbing - Wide silver tinsel

    Body - Claret wool

    Hackle - Scarlet

    Wing - Grizzly hackle, Jungle eye

    Trout - Ray Bergman

    Thursday, October 5, 2023

    Big Lagoon


    Big Lagoon

    Hook - Mustad Heritage

    Thread - White underbody, black head

    Tail - Mix of red and yellow hackle fibers

    Body - White silk floss or other material (uni stretch) built to a proper taper and covered with oval silver tinsel

    Hackle - Optional - Sparse red and white tied under (bearded), and not wound on

    Wing - White polar bear tied along the hook shank topped with crimson red bucktail or polar bear

    Cheek - Jungle cock

    Trout - Ray Bergman

    Wednesday, October 4, 2023

    Griffen



    Griffen

    Hook - Mustad Heritage

    Thread - Black

    Tail - Red hackle

    Hackle - Grizzly tied palmer, clipped or use a small sized hackle

    Body - Peacock herl

    Wing - Grizzly hackle fibers

    Trout - Ray Bergman

    Kinross


    Kinross

    Hook - Mustad Heritage

    Thread - Black

    Tail - Barred wood duck

    Ribbing - Silver tinsel

    Body - Olive floss

    Hackle - Olive

    Wing - Dark brown turkey

    Trout - Ray Bergman

    Tuesday, October 3, 2023

    Mighty Mite

    Mighty Mite

    Hook - Curved

    Bead - Black or black nickel

    Thread - Chartreuse

    Ribbing - Fine red wire

    Gills - Pearl white/white nail polish

    Tie in a variety of colors.

    BCFlyguys

    Liquid Lady



    Liquid Lady

    (Chaoborus Pupa)

    Hook - Curved

    Bead - Black nickel brass or tungsten

    Thread - Light olive

    Horns - Black krystal flash

    Ribbing - Light olive or clear stretch tubing or v-rib

    Body - Tying thread and chirony skin or clear tinsel

    BC Flyguys


    Monday, October 2, 2023

    Holographic Gray Boy


    Holographic Gray Boy

    Hook - Curved

    Bead - Black nickel brass or tungsten

    Thread - Gray

    Breathers - White uni stretch

    Ribbing - Holographic brown flashabou

    Thorax - Burnt orange marker

    Krazy Glue 

    BCFluguys

    Hot Chocolate Chironomid

     

    Hot Chocolate Chironomid

    Hook - Curved

    Bead - Brown metallic brass or tungsten

    Thread - Brown

    Breathers - White uni stretch

    Ribbing - Copper wire

    Body -Brown holographic tinsel

    BCFlyguys

    Sunday, October 1, 2023

    Czech Nymphs

    Czech Nymph

    Tan

    Hook - Curved

    Weight - Lead free wire

    Thread - Olive

    Ribbing - Gold wire

    Shell back - Strip of zip lock bag

    Body - Tan and brown dubbing


    Czech Nymph

    Orange

    Hook - Curved

    Weight - Lead free wire

    Thread - Olive

    Ribbing - Gold wire

    Shell back - Strip of zip lock bag

    Body - Orange and brown dubbing



    Czech Nymph

    Olive

    Hook - Curved

    Weight - Lead free wire

    Thread - Olive

    Ribbing - Gold wire

    Shell back - Strip of zip lock bag

    Body - Olive and brown dubbing

    Two Toner BC Chironomid



    Two Toner BC Chironomid

    Hook - Curved

    Bead - Nickel/silver

    Breathers - White uni stretch

    Thread - Red

    Under-Body - Red tying thread and Mirage tinsel

    Over-Body - Synthetic Tapered Peacock Quill - Transparent Gray

    Thorax - Orange ice dubbing

    Producer

    Producer

    Hook - Curved

    Bead - Copper brass or tungsten

    Breather - White uni stretch

    Thread - Red and black

    Ribbing - Silver wire

    Body - Red thread transitioning to black thread

    BC Fly Guys