When any of the many species of small olive or brown-olive mayflies with gray wings are about on my home waters, this pattern works very well when tied in a matching size and fished either deeply or near the surface...

Skues' Iron Blue Nymph:

" To take large fish that are shy is the acme of sport. A day now and then on preserved waters crowded with fish eager for your flies is a pleasant novelty, but for real sport, give us free water where the trout are critical, hard to please, and highly valued when caught ." --Theodore Gord...

I hope that's an Arabica bean. Ethiopian or Guatemalan would be my favorite.

Phil

Skues' writings are absolutely beautiful. Eloquent, clever and, at times, mischievous. He has no equals in the fly angling literature. A joy to read! dd and others, Accompanying the Skues quote of the day is the Skues quiz of the day: Without consulting references, in what city was G.E.M. Skues born...

Greenwell John, this is a most excellent find. I didn't know naathing about this list and am very excited. Now I have to find me a Fog Black bullfinch for my grayling. PhilA, did you notice the coch-y-bondhu spelling? :o Could not sleep. Had to check this post. dd Most excellent indeed! Thanks John...

<r><QUOTE author="bearbutt" post_id="93667" time="1550341449" user_id="2254"><s>[quote=bearbutt post_id=93667 time=1550341449 user_id=2254]</s> Paul, it was good meeting you at the Badger show. Thanks for the YLI reference. When Phil was spinning for us, I think he was using yet another silk--rather...

zen, After admiring many of the hooks on this forum, I recently bought some up-eye hooks from swellcat's link above (Ebay seller "HardyDeluxe"). The hooks I received are "Maruto d18", which is a Japanese brand new to me. They are pretty good hooks and reasonably priced ($3/pkg25)...

I am fascinated by that Neversink Skater. If Bearbutt (Joe G) tied it my compliments it is gorgeous. Tom ;) Tom, My understanding is that the Bivisible Skater Joe is about to kiss in that photo was tied by Hewitt. However, Joe tied the box of four Skaters. I think he searched the world over for spa...

BTW, I am already plotting my secret pattern for next Badger Spring Opener. Uh-oh. I inadvertently threw down the gauntlet concerning "Name That Fly". We're probably in for trouble next year. Something very, very obscure. If the cards are signed by PhilA the values go up dramatically!! ;)...

The Badger Fly Fishers Spring Opener is always enjoyable, but yesterday's iteration was over-the-top fun. John S. (the Forum Ghillie), Joe G. (Mr. Bearbutt), and several others drove long distances to attend the festivities. Thank you for making the day so memorable Such gatherings bring a lot of fr...