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?

Headlight


Compiled by Deanna Lee Birkholm
"In Montana Trout Flies, George Grant states he realized early in his fly fishing experience that dry flies tied of natural deer hair could be particularly invisible on rough water. His answer to this problem was to weave acrylic yarn at the head of his dry attractor patterns such as the Gray Buck and Flat Wing Buck. Thus the Headlight is really a variation of these flies, but its unique structure deserves notice.

Recipe Headlight

Originator: George Grant, 1940s.

Hook: Mustad 96840, or equivalent, size 8-12.

Thread: Yellow Monocord 3/0.

Hackle: Woven deer hair including tips and cellular butts.

Head: Woven red, yellow or orange acrylic yarn.

Body: Tying thread.

Tail: Six to ten badger guard hairs."

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

Archive of Old Flies