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-eighteen

Grey Fox

Grey Fox

Compiled and Tied By Thomas C. Duncan, Sr.
Photo by James Birkholm
This fly pattern is a classic Eastern imitation of the Stenonema Fuscum, also known as the Grey Fox. This fly is extremely similar to the March Brown, (both the Eastern Stenonema Vicarium and the Western Rithrogena Morrisoni, and can be used to imitate that insect as well.

Although it was developed as an Eastern pattern, it can be used well on Western Spring Creeks for March Browns and other lightly shaded flies such as Heptagenia and as a "suble" attractor.

According for Art Flick, the Grey Fox pattern was originated by Catskills legend Preston Jennings.

The pattern is:
    Hook:   No 12.

    Silk:   Primrose.

    Tail:   Ginger cock's barbs.

    Body:  Light fawn-colored fur from Red Fox.

    Hackle:   Light grizzly wound over light ginger.

    Wing:   Flank feather of a Mallard drake.
    ~ Thomas C. Duncan, Sr.

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