Fly 25 - Muddler Minnow

Muddler Minnow

5x7, soft pastel

The Muddler Minnow...hmm, what to say about this guy.  Well, he's brown...a bit on the drab side...but a great streamer fly (fished wet) primarily used for trout.  This guy mimics a minnow and it is said that brown trout are especially vulnerable to this fly having been known to charge out of an undercut bank to hit the fly like a freight train.  

It's a good idea to use a floating line with the fly streaming three to four inches under the surface.  If you like to float down a river in a raft, this fly can't be beat!

Fly 4 - Evening Breeze

Evening Breeze

5x7, soft pastel

Here in Idaho, we are experiencing a week of very cold weather.  So, the title of this next fly (a featherwing streamer) captured my imagination.  I’m looking forward to the cool summer evenings! 

Tying this fly consists of using copper wire, silver tinsel, pheasant and peacock feathers…oh yes, and a little white bucktail. I find it amazing the furs and feathers used it the construction of a fly.  

Below is an image of the anatomy of a salmon fly…for your enjoyment and my future reference.  While this is a salmon fly and not a featherwing streamer, you get the idea of what goes into the making of a fly.  The image is of a fly called a Silver Doctor tied by Jack Madden.