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?

Picket Pin 1910


Compiled By Deanna Birkholm
According to George Grant in Montana Trout Flies, this is the best known Picket Pin pattern and is Jack Boehme's adaptation of the Trude-style wing to a stonefly pattern. The only exception is that Boehme's original pattern had a wing fashioned from gopher tail hair. Westerners called this critter "picket pin" because when standing upright on alert it resembles a tether stake. Many variations of the Picket Pin fly exist. Most have substitutions in the body material.

Picket Pin 1910:

    Originator: Jack Boehme, 1910s.

    Hook: Mustad 9672, or equivalent, size 4-6.

    Thread: Black 6/0.

    Tail: Golden pheasant tippet fibers (3-5).

    Rib: Fine gold wire.

    Hackle: Brown saddle palmered over body.

    Body: Flat gold tinsel.

    Collar: White tip gray squirrel over wing.

    Wing: Gray squirrel tail.

    Head: Peacock herl.

According to George Grant in Montana Trout Flies, Enterprising Montana tiers soon saw that native materials could be rendered into durable and effective patterns. One of the first to do this, was Jack Boehme (pronounced "Bay-me") owner of a Missoula tavern and tackle shop (early Montana fly fishing retailers often associated with bars and taverns). By 1915 Boehme was offering durable patterns constructed of native hairs and feathers....the original Picket Pin, was amongst the first of many Montana flies using this wing...

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

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