Moby Dick

Moby Dick

Hook - Nymph/streamer style

Thread - Black

Tail - Golden pheasant tippets

Body - Peacock herl

Hackle - Brown

Wing - Mallard flank

Mustang Pupa

Mustang Pupa

Hook - Mustad 3906, 3906B or equivalent
Thread - Black
Legs - Pheasant tail fibers
Larvae - Black bead glued to fluorescent green ultra-chenille
Body - Peacock herl reinforced with tying thread or fine gold wire

Head/legs - Pheasant tail fibers

Reference - FFF Fly Pattern Encyclopedia

Stimulator

Stimulator

Hook - Curved dry fly style

Thread - Orange

Tail - Deer or elk hair

Rib - Fine copper wire

Abdomen - Uni-Stretch floss, pumpkin

Hackle - Golden badger

Wing - Deer or elk hair

Front Hackle - Golden badger

Thorax - Peacock Herl

A fly style POPULARIZED (NOT CREATED) by Randall Kauffmann

Note - The recipe above is what I used but this fly can be tied in whatever 

color combination with whatever materials you currently have on hand.

ASB Chironomid

ASB Chironomid

(Anti Static Bag)

Hook - Curved

Bead - White

Thread - Chartreuse

Ribbing - Red wire

Body - Gray translucent anti static bag cut into strip

Thorax - Peacock herl

Phil's Black & Red

Phil's Black & Red

Hook - Curved shank

Bead - White brass/tungsten

Ribbing - Red wire

Body - Black thread or uni-stretch

Trout Crack

Trout Crack

Hook - Mustad C068 or equivalent

Weight - Lead or non lead wire (optional)

Thread - Match the dubbing color 

Ribbing - Tying thread or wire

Body - Dubbing

Shell back - Liquid/larva lace, d-rib, v-rib etc

Tying Notes

This fly can be tied weighted or un-weighted, in different colors, insert different color wire into liquid lace tubing for a different effect, use different colors of liquid/larva lace, v-rib, d-rib etc.

John Wilson (a legendary guide on the White River) developed this pattern.

Buckskin Nymph

Buckskin Nymph

Hook - Mustad 3906

Thread - Black

Body - Natural buckskin or synthetic equivalent

Tying Ideas

Add a tail

Add throat hackle

Add a wire rib

Add a tinsel flashback

Add a peacock herl/dubbing thorax

Tie it as a soft hackle

Tie it as a bead head

Color the buckskin with permanent markers

Be creative. Experiment.

George Bodmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado, originated this pattern.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

Murray

Murray

Hook - Streamer

Thread - Black

Tail - Red hackle fibers

Ribbing - Medium flat silver, followed by orange floss; counter wrap with fine silver wire

Body - Black floss

Throat - Orange hackle fibers

Wing - Siberian squirrel tail

Tying note - I substituted red fox squirreltail for the Siberian squirrel tail

Bean Special

Bean Special

Front hook - Nymph/wet size 6

Rear hook - Nymph/wet size 8

Connector – .018 diameter Beadalon wire

Thread - Red

Tail - Yellow hackle fibers

Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel

Body – Black floss or uni stretch

Throat - Yellow hackle fibers

Wing – 2-4 White hackle feathers

Tying note: Orientation of the rear hook may be pointed upward or downward (depicted) if desired

Reference - Tandem Streamers  -  Donald A Wilson

Frenchie

 

Frenchie

Hook - Straight or scud 

Thread - Hot orange

Bead - Gold or copper tungsten

Tail - Coq de leon or any other barred hackle fibers

Rib - Copper wire

Abdomen - Natural pheasant tail

Collar - Hot pink ice dubbing, or your favorite dubbing of any color

Brown Stonefly Creeper

Brown Stonefly Creeper

Hook - Mustad 9671, 9672 or equivalent

Thread - Brown

Weight - Lead free wire, thorax area

Tail & back shell - Pheasant tail fibers

Ribbing - Thread or gold wire

Body - Stripped hackle quill/stem, brown

Thorax - Brownish dubbing

Brassies

Years ago at one of my beginner tying classes, the instructor had us tie the Brassie, one of my favorite flies for fishing the South Platte River in Colorado which is the origin of this fly. The Deckers area of the South Platte can be very demanding and technical. Those fish have probably seen all kinds of flies but the Brassie in the right size will hook them every time.

The Brassie is a fly that can imitate both a midge and caddis larva. Here is how I was taught to tie the Brassie and some additional variations that can be very effective.

Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: copper wire

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

Brassie Variations

White Winged Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: copper wire

Wing: white zlon or pearl krystal flash

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

Spiral Ribbed Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body & Ribbing: copper wire

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

Spiral Ribbed Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: copper wire

Ribbing: black or other colored wire

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

Brassie (Herl Thorax)

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: copper wire

Thorax: peacock herl

Brassie (No Thorax)

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: copper wire

Thorax: none

Head: black thread

Bead Head Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Bead: gold or your favorite color and size

Thread: black

Body: copper wire

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

Red Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: red copper wire*

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

*Tying note: use any color wire that is available on the market for tyers

2 Wire Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: 2 strands of wire; color optional

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

3 Wire Brassie

Hook: your favorite brand, style & size

Thread: black

Body: 3 strands of wire; color optional

Thorax: muskrat dubbing

Tying Note: The flies above are just a sampling of different ideas for tying the Brassie. Try different combinations of wire, herl dubbing and wing materials. Try tying it as a soft hackle.

References

Excellent history and photos can be found in Tying Small Flies by Ed Engle and in Popular Fly Patterns by Terry Hellekson.

Skinny Nelson

Skinny Nelson

Hook - Mustad 3906 or equivalent

Thread - Black

Tail - Pheasant tail fibers

Ribbing - Fine gold wire

Body - Black thread

Wing case - Pearl tinsel

Thorax - Peacock herl