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?

Fledermaus



Compiled by Deanna Birkholm
Here is another fly from Trout Country Flies, From the Greater Yellowstone Area Masters by Bruce Staples.

This fly originated along the Idaho-Montana border separating Island Park from the Centennial Valley. Jack Schneider created it for Henry's, Wade, Cliff, and Elk lakes to simulate shrimp, caddis and midge pupa and dragonfly nymphs. It was effective enough to gain nationwide popularity. Perhaps the most notable variation is that by Polly Rosborough who who substituted teal flank fibers for the squirrel tail wing and picked out dubbed guard hairs to form a beard at the bottom of the head. Some variations have a wing of red squirrel tail hair.

Fledermaus

    Originator: Jack Schneider, 1940s.

    Hook: Mustad 3906B, or equivalent, size 4-16.

    Thread: Black 3/0.

    Body: Dubbed full from muskrat fur.

    Wing: Gray squirrel tail hairs extending above bend.

Credits: Photo, recipe and quoted text from Trout Country Flies, by Bruce Staples, Published by Frank Amato Publications.

Archive of Old Flies