Hi Folks,
I have lost my pattern for the picket pin fly (it is an old pattern but very effective for trout as well as blugills). I have tried to use the search feature on the faol site and either my computer is having a problem or there might be something with the site. I also searched the fly archives but did not find the pattern. Would appreciate any help you can give at this juncture.
Try this search, “Picket Pin-Old Flies-Fly Angler’s OnLine week 179” I hope this will help. John
[url=http://home.comcast.net/~bassman540/johnsfliesandswaps.html:286ba]http://home.comcast.net/~bassman540/johnsfliesandswaps.html[/url:286ba]
I wish you all everlasting flies and tight lines.
bassman beat me to it as far as FAOL. There’s another good picture and recipe at [url=http://www.flyfishinginmaine.com/patterns/:c7890]http://www.flyfishinginmaine.com/patterns/[/url:c7890]
Mike
There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
Hans Weilenmann has what you need. [url=http://www.danica.com/flytier/ttrexler/picket_pin.htm:b501f]http://www.danica.com/flytier/ttrexler/picket_pin.htm[/url:b501f]
Thank you everyone for the prompt responses!
JC I thought I was getting better at his computer thing but I gues I still have a ways to go!
What JC was referring to is the “Keyword Search” on the top left of your computer screen.
All you have to do is key in the words “Picket Pin Fly”, and you would find this …
[b]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. Sometimes what you find here will not always be about fishing. Perhaps you will enjoy them. Perhaps you will fish the flies. Perhaps . . .
Part 115
Picket Pin
Compiled by Deanna Birkholm
"Picket Pins, with bodies of red, yellow, silver and gold, are the names given to hair flies made by Jack Boehme, of Missoula, Montana.
Jack has been tying flies for western waters since 1915.
Picket Pins are Jack’s own patterns. They are dressed from the tails of ground squirrels. The cowboys gave the ground squirrel the name of picket pin as the animal, when sitting upright on the prairie, looks like a picket pin used to picket out their horses. They are a favorite hair fly in the Northwest.
Jack Boehme also has tied flies for use in the Madison River, known throughout the angling world as a producer of record rainbows. One of those is his namesake, 'Boehme’s Fancy."
The 'Big Trout’and ‘Cutthroat’ are also his creations for use in the Rogue and Klamath Rivers."
Publisher’s Note: Ground squirrels are actually Richardson Ground Squirrels which in most of the west are commonly called gophers, similar to prairie dogs.
The pattern shown is described in Forgotten Flies as:
Tag: Fine gold tinsel (optional) Black.
Tail: Two tips of brown hackle or brown hackle fibers.
Body: Peacock herl.
Rib: Fine oval gold tinsel, or gold wire in smallers sizes counter-wrapped to reinforce the palmered body hackle.
Wing: Gray squirrel tail.
Head: Peacock herl over black thread.
Notes: While recognized primarily as a wet fly, the Picket Pin is also very effective when tied in larger sizes and fished as a streamer.
Quoted section from Fly Patterns and Their Origins, by Harold Hinsdill Smedley, published by Westshore Publications. Color photo and recipe from Forgotten Flies. We appreciate use permission![/b]
~ Parnelli
Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Swam three little fishies and a mama fishie too
“Swim” said the mama fishie, “Swim if you can”
And they swam and they swam all over the dam
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 28 June 2005).]
And yet another right here at FAOL! [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/atlantic/hairwing/hwpicketpin.html:fe77c]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/atlantic/hairwing/hwpicketpin.html[/url:fe77c]
Also, there are several variations of the venerable Picket Pin. Some have tinsel bodies.
Happy Trails!
Ronn
Ronn Lucas ties the Picket Pin as I learned it when I was about 14 or so years old from an old man in my community. I’m not gonna say how many years ago that was…