Soft Hackle Emerger Pattern Description: The Soft Hackle Emerger is an old pattern for me that I originally came up with back in my guiding days. I developed this pattern as an alternative to the ubiquitous RS-II. I have since discovered why this pattern has produced so well for me. It seems that Baetis do

Graphic Caddis Pattern Description: The Graphic Caddis is another pattern from John Barr.  John developed this pattern to mimic the emerging caddis pupae, as it swims from the river bottom to the surface. There has been a lot of talk about the air bubble carried by caddis pupae these days, and John has added that

Caddistrophic Pupa Pattern Description: Most insects have a certain streamlined appeal, but caddis pupae just look like something you pulled out of your nose. Their gnarley legs, gelatinous bodies, and budding wings combine to form one of the most unpleasant-looking bugs on earth, but trout love them. The Caddistrophic Pupa is built on a light

Flashback Pheasant Tail Pattern Description: One of the most effective flies ever created. Plain and simple with a glimmering flashback wingcase. Imitates every kind of mayfly nymph from Callibaetis to plain old Baetis and does it well. Materials Needed: Hook: TMC 100SP-BL #14-20, Tmc 100 #22 And Smaller Thread: 8/0 UNI Rusty Brown

RS2 Pattern Description: When I guided on the South Platte River it seemed that at least one of my clients always had an RS2 on, and I would bet that half of the fish my clients caught were victims of this fly. Confidence in a pattern can make all the difference, and I have a

Charlie's Mysis Pattern Description: I developed this fly over two decades ago to match the almost clear Mysis shrimp in the Frying Pan River. The egg yarn becomes very milky when wet and mimics the natural like no other material I’ve found. I have tried many types of dubbing for the thorax but have always

Poison Tung Pattern Description: The Poison Tung Midge was conceived one winter after reading about the power the color blue has over unsuspecting trout. I tried a variety of different patterns, with varying amounts of blue and found that a simple rib was just enough. I think this fly is best represented by the sum

Pigsticker Pattern Description: What the pigsticker lacks in beauty it makes up for with its incredible effectiveness. While it seems simple to tie, a few details like keeping your thread flattened and smooth and proper placement of the lead wraps are important considerations. Everyone I know likes to make fun of this fly, yet the

Pheasant Tail Pattern Description: The Pheasant Tail is the quintessential mayfly nymph pattern. The dark brown color and slender profile create a highly realistic mayfly imitation. Although it can be tied in larger sizes, I prefer this fly in sizes 16 through 24 because smaller sized Pheasant Tails match blue wing olive and pale morning

Bever's Better Buckskin Pattern Description: One of my favorite free-living caddis larva patterns comes from the vise of Colorado’s Luke Bever. Luke is an extraordinarily capable fisherman, tyer and guide and while we’re too good of friends for me to ever utter it to him in person; he really is one of those guys that