Welcome to Just Old Flies

Welcome to 'just old flies,' a section of methods and flies that used-to-be. These flies were tied with the only materials available. Long before the advent of 'modern' tying materials, they were created and improved upon at a far slower pace than todays modern counterparts; limited by materials available and the tiers imagination.

Once long gone, there existed a 'fraternity' of anglers who felt an obligation to use only the 'standard' patterns of the day. We hope to bring a bit of nostalgia to these pages and to you. And sometimes what you find here will not always be about fishing. Perhaps you will enjoy them. Perhaps you will fish the flies. Perhaps . . .


Part One hundred-eleven

Black Diamond

Black Diamond

Compiled and Tied By Thomas C. Duncan, Sr.
Photo by James Birkholm


"The Black Diamond was originated by Harry Lemire around 1963 and named for his home town in Washington. It is a tidy, dark fly that is especially effective in shallow tailouts during the summer and fall when fished using the greased-line technique."

The original pattern was described:
    Thread:  Black.

    Tag:  Silver Tinsel.

    Body:   Black Dubbing.

    Ribbing:   Flat Silver Tinsel (I used oval).

    Hackle:   Guinea Fowl.

    Wing:   Peacock sword fibres under Grey Squirrel tail.

    Eyes:   Jungle Cock eyes.

Quoted section and tying recipe from Flies for Steelhead, by Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen.

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