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?

Bi-Fly


Compiled by Deanna Lee Birkholm
"This fly's name means that it can used for two distinct purposes; as a dry stonefly and hopper or as a streamer. The Bi-Fly appeared in Dan Bailey's first catalogs, and at one time Bailey stated that it accounted for more big fish than any pattern he offered. Eventually the Bi-Fly became replaced in wet fly usage by the Muddler Minnow and by the Sofa Pillow in dry fly usage.

Recipe Bi-Fly

Originator Dan Bailey, 1940s.

Hook: Mustad 9672, or equivalent, size 6-10.

Tail: Brown deer hair.

Body: Yellow rubber or floss.

Hackle: Grizzly.

Wing: Flared brown deer hair under a small amount of white bucktail.

Head: Spring of red yarn on top surface."

Credits: From Trout Country Flies, From Greater Yellowstone Area Masters by Bruce Staples, published by Frank Amato Publications.

Archive of Old Flies