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?

Green Drake


Compiled by Deanna Birkholm
A description of this pattern is in the card files of flies tied at Dan Bailey's Fly Shop. {Livingston Montana] It includes that this pattern was tied in the 1950s for Eagle's store in West Yellowstone. Most demand for it was probably from anglers heading south to fish the Henry's Fork green drake emergence near Last Chance, Idaho. Whether or not this pattern was supplied to other outlets is uncertain, but it among the first commercially offered in Trout Country for the green drake.

Green Drake

    Orginator: Dan Bailey, 1950s.

    Hook: Mustad 94840, or equivalent, size 10.

    Thread: Black 6/0.

    Tail: Forked from dark moose hairs.

    Rib: Yellow thread.

    Body: Dark green dubbing.

    Wing: Folded dark teal, upright and divided.

    Hackle: Two medium olive, one grizzly.

Credits: Trout Country Flies by Bruce Staples, published by Frank Amato Publications. ~ DLB

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