I am sure I have posted about this fly before, but am getting ready for my fishing trip in a couple of weeks and got a few of these out. This is a Rusty Para Spinner which was tied by Bob Jacklin of Jacklin’s Fly Shop in West Yellowstone. The fly is not a “picture perfect” fly. Even Bob admits it may be taken for more than one possible insects…but, it really does work.
The size is either a 10 or 8…not sure. I can attest to the fact that it works on nice Browns on the Madison. It floats like a cork, as they say and is really visible at quite a distance.
Sadly, I think I notice rust on the hook. He tied and sent them to me back in December. That’s the problem with living on Kauai. Things tend to rust quickly.
I have a half dozen of these flies (unused) from Bob that I got back in 2009. My friend bought a dozen of them at the time which we split between us. Bob also included an article on the fly that he had written, including its history and tying instructions - perhaps you also have that article, or if not I’m sure you can get it when you’re in West a couple weeks from now.
He actually called the fly the Para-Spin Spinner in that article, and says he developed the fly many years ago as a Trico imitation on the upper Madison and Hebgen Lake in sizes 18 and 20, and said it also worked well as a Rusty Spinnner in sizes 14-18.
So, it is more of a tying style than a single fly imitation. I like it.
Yes John,
In the sizes he sent me, I think it could be taken for a variety of insects. He really is an interesting fellow. My son and I spent a full day with him fishing on the Madison 2 summers ago. He shared a number of stories which were really interesting. He knows/knew so many famous fly fishermen. I wold love to work with him and write some sort of a book about his experiences and his tying/fishing methods. For example, when we were fishing the South Branch of the Madison, he spoke of guiding President Jimmy Carter and his wife along Hebgen.
Byron, I used to use grains rice in my fly containers down in Mexico to keep them from rusting and the small dessicant packs that come in vitamin bottles would be even better.
I had the chance to chat with Bob a couple seasons back and what a hoot he is. I don’t go to West Y. all that much but it was a treat and I bought a bunch of flies even though I didn’t need them. I fished a lot down from the dam where he hooked his “biggun” some years back.
This particular fly just “looks” good, especially the underside view. Thanks for sharing. There’s a good bit to be gained just by taking note of your picture and my own tying choices.
Good stuff!
Please correct me if I’m wrong, Byron, but the thing that makes this fly a bit different than some others is that after Bob wraps an oversized hackle around an Antron (or similar material) post, he applies glue at the base of the post and then mashes the post flat on top of the hackle. Originally, I believe he may have cut the post off after applying the glue.
That really secures the hackle and produces the appearance as shown from underneath in your photo.
For keeping vintage hooks from rusting, I use Indicator Drierite at the bottom of an air tight container. When it’s absorbed its fill of moisture, the granules turn from light blue to lavender. All you have to do to re-charge them is to put them in an oven on a shallow pan lined with foil for about an hour at 400 something F and they’re ready to go again. I use a de-humidifier for the rest of my tying area and that works just fine for all my regular hooks etc. Rice will work, but you can’t tell when it’s spent.
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