I’m a very opinionated person, so I (TRY) to refrain from commenting in a critical manner about Fly patterns. When I spotted the T.C.T.K. Fly, the Alarm went off in my head! “THAT looks like the Orphan of all fly patterns!”
But as usual I’m proved wrong by John’s excellent, well written tutorial. John Scott cuts through the ‘Visual’ tendency I have, to the practical and the T.C.T.K. begins to look better and better! John’s article is a great Lesson in retrieving a sample of the resident insect and copying it and taking it a step further and proving the Fly’s worth. It’s a productive formula! Find out what’s in the river, tie a fly to copy it, use the fly as a dropper and examine the response. That formula produces success!
Thanks John!
Doug
I bet all over the board, people who are heading for the Idaho fish-in are saying,I’ve got to tie some of those.
I’m buying some scud hooks and olive brown thread on the way home from work
Eric
Just remember, 90% of what a trout eats is 3/8th of an inch long and brown.
ive seen that exact bug in the stomachs of bluegill and trout taken from a local pond, Looking at the FOTW was a “DOH” moment for me
Eric
I remember tying that pattern over 15 years ago. It was a fly I had come up at my vice, and thought it was a new one. After showing it to some folks who had been fly fishing for many, many, more years than I, they told me they had tied that pattern over 20 years earlier. Not to take anything away from the fly or the tyer, but that is hardly a new pattern. (Although I’m not assuming the creator was claiming it is his own either). I think that it’s pretty much impossible to truly invent a “brand new pattern” these days.
Oh boy,
This fly has been the topic of 5 threads I have seen.
Most popular fly of the week, That I have seen. Pretty Interesting to me how A thread fly with no ribbing get soooo much attention when the super difficult and intricate ones never get a thread on them.
Im not bashing the fly, just saying its interesting that this little 20 wrap of thread fly sparks so much conversation.
BTW, I started tying these about 6 months before the FOTW and They REALLY do work!
Let’s remember it’s the fish choosing, not us. The fancy flies are fun, both to tie and fish, but it’s often simple that wins the action. I for one got right after it, and whipped up a few for my next outing to the Rogue river, my home water, here in So. OR. I know the trout and steelhead eat thousands of little brown things all the time, so thanks, John…ModocDan
Quote -A nice simple fly, easy to tie and no doubt will catch fish.
But the basic pattern has been around for quite a while.
Some with a little more elaboration. - Unquote
As some have thought I was trying to be offensive with the above remarks, I would like to say it was not intended so.
I was merely commenting on the fact that there were many very similar flies and have been for some time.
I shall refrain from any remarks of any kind in future, no matter how inoffensive I may think them.
Donald,
You were a perfect gentleman in your remarks. Besides, we want to hear from you about ANY fly!
Thanks,
Doug
As some have thought I was trying to be offensive with the above remarks, I would like to say it was not intended so.
Donald I commented on a different post and my disclaimer was longer than my post. some people look for things to take offence at.
Keep posting, your thoughts are always appreciated by many on this board.
Eric
Note, this post is not intended to slight anyones ideas values or nationality.
i started tying thread midges (thats what the fotw simply is) in 1985 when the pattern appeared in an article in fly fisherman magazine. 
the brits were probably tying thread buzzers long before that. nothing new just recycled.
norm, Exactly.