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?

Dette Catalog


Compiled by Deanna Birkholm
Ron Brown, Livingston, Montana, received the original catalog from a friend. He was delighted with the gift, (having been a professional fly tyer for most of his life); he then ran a copy of the catalog which follows for our readers. The catalog is dated, 1935. You may have heard of some of the flies, but I'll venture many are totally unknown.

Each fly is described, and as you read through, note the detail in the descriptions - such is rarely seen today.

We appreciate having this information - perhaps some of you will have a try at tying some of what were the most popular dry flies of their time. Some of course, are still popular.

Credits: All from the Dette Dry Fly Catalog, 1935.

Archive of Old Flies