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?


Filo-Herl Shrimp


By Bruce Staples


Matt Minch believes this pattern is a superior shrimp imitation because of action imparted by its legs. They are formed by securing the filo-herl at the top of the bend with its tip forming the the tail. The feather is then tied in over the herl body and overlain by the quill segment. The body, filo-herl feather and quill segment are secured together by ribbing with gold wire.

Filo-Herl Shrimp:

    Hook: Mustad 7957B, or equivalent, size 10-16.

    Thread: Dark Olive 6/0.

    Weight: Fuse Wire (No. 10)

    Tail: Tip of tannish-gray filo-herl feather from base of Hungarian partridge feather.

    Legs: Filo-herl feather.

    Rib: Fine gold wire.

    Body: Tan or olive ostrich herl.

    Case: Tan mottled turkey wing quill segment.

~ Bruce Staples

Credits: Trout Country Flies by Bruce Staples. Published by Frank Amato Publications.

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