When I lived in Utah, I used to hang out at “The Fly Line” a fly shop in Ogden, Utah. The owners were Bruce and Mims Barker. While there, I was introduced to this fly by Mims. He developed this pattern while fishing for months on the Henry’s Fork below Island Park Reservoir. They had a family residence on the banks of the Reservoir.
This pattern was written up in Terry Helleckson’s Book: “Popular Trout Patterns”. It consists primarily of wool yarn.
The tails are dark brown biots. The abdomen is tightly twisted black yarn. The wing case is pheasant tail pulled over. The hackle is a furnace. The thorax has lead-free wire for weighting.
Anyway, I will be in Box Canyon in early June and thought I would tie some up.
I can’t let this one pass. 1984, while living in West Yellowstone, my wife secured for me a “kit” of fly tying supplies put together by Jackie Matthews at Blue Ribbon Flies. We moved back to Utah in 1985 where I worked for a bank that was just across the street from The Fly Line, and I signed up for my first ever fly tying class taught by Mim’s Barker at Ogden High School. One of my first flies after mastering the basics was Mims’ Box Canyon Stone creation. I have fond memories of those days and especially of the 6 lb. hen rainbow I caught on a Box Canyon Stone (which I tied) while fishing the Box Canyon stretch of the Henry’s Fork that following year.
Great story!
I understand that Mims and Bruce are now back in Ogden, but not the fly shop.
I will see their brother Curt in June in Last Chance. He still guides for Mike Lawson.
Byron
Brings back memories. The Box Canyon Stone was an often suggested fly on the Deschutes 20 - 30 years ago. It has been displaced by a multitude of newer Stonefly nymphs. It’s similar in style to the Bird’s Stonefly nymph which was also popular.
[SIZE=2]I am able to tie flies (like nymphs) with several methods for legs, etc., as most of you probably can as well. I avoid tying the same simple fly, repeated in a variety of colours and sizes, so that all situations are covered. Usually I change up the method for legs, wingcase, wings or whatever. Lately I am getting better at simplifying patterns to the methods I prefer. It amuses me greatly, and I appreciate, that the Box Canyon Stone is basically a giant mayfly nymph tied with the same routine as an American PT nymph. When newbies wonder how they are going to match all the bugs, this is an example of how a few systems for putting stuff on hooks will cover a multitude of bugs, just change the materials and colour. Tidy work, Byron!
