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?

La Belle

Compiled by Eric Austin
Fly tied by Eric Austin
Mary Orvis Marbury writes in Favorite Flies and Their Histories:
"This bass fly was the first made by C.F. Orvis in 1879, and when tried was found to be excellent in some waters for black bass. For a long time the fly had no name, until one day somebody said it "reminded him of a pretty girl in a white muslin dress and a blue sash, it ought to be taking;" so then and there it was named La Belle."

The La Belle Recipe:

    Hook:   Large sproat bend, 1/0-5/0.

    Tail:   Red over white quill.

    Tag:   Red floss.

    Body:   Blue floss.

    Ribbing:   Silver tinsel.

    Hackle:   Blue.

    Wing:   White Quill.

This second fly is the 'fishing' version of the same fly. ~ EA

Credits: Text from Favorite Flies and Their Histories by Mary Orvis Marbury. Fly tied by Eric Austin. Color photos by James Birkholm.

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