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?

Mormon Girl


Compiled by Deanna Lee Birkholm
"This patterm bring together three famous names in western fly fishing: the Mormon Girl pattern, Bob Carmichael and Roy Donnelly. All coverged in Jackson Hole to create this beauty. Donnelly, employed by Carmichael, gained reknown for several patterns. Jack Dennis remembers his grandfather using this pattern and Carmichael credits it as one of his most popular patterns in a note published in J. Edson Leonards Flies. It popularity however, has waned because of streamers tied with new materials. It fishes as effectively as newer matters.

Recipe Mormon Girl

Originator: Roy Donnelly, 1940s.

Hook: Mustad 9672, or equivalent, size 4-10.

Thread: Black 6/0.

Tail: Golden pheasant tippet fibers.

Rib: Embossed flat gold tinsel.

Rear Body: Red floss.

Front Body: Yellow chenille.

Hackle: Soft grizzly hackle.

Wing: 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