Fly 23 - Pale Morning Dun Mayfly

Pale Morning Dun Mayfly

5x7, soft pastel

The Pale Morning Dun Mayfly is a commonly used fly during mid-summer months when mayflies are most vulnerable to trout.  The elk hair hackles enables the fly to maintain just the right amount of float allowing the fly to hang just below the surface of the water...which is where many trout take advantage of the short stage of a mayfly from emerger to adult.

Fly 22 - Rock Island Featherwing Streamer

Rock Island Featherwing Streamer

5x7, soft pastel

Monte Smith (www.nwflytyer.wordpress.com) created this version of a featherwing streamer...the Rock Island.  These types of flies originated from the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine.  They are attributed to Carrie G. Stevens (c. 1920s) of Upper Dam, Maine, a self taught commercial fly tyer.  Carrie elevated the eastern streamer from a utilitarian tool to an art form as you can see.  To learn more about this and other types of flies check out Monte's website...he knows much more about flies in general than I'll ever know! 

Fly 21 - Orange Flamethrower

Orange Flamethrower

5x9, soft pastel

I've been painting all the flies in this series in a 5x7 format.  However, this Orange Flamethrower just demanded a longer size to accommodate its gorgeous tail.  

The Flamethrower is another tube style salmon fly, this time with a double hook.  I couldn't find my original source for this particular fly...but I know the guys at The Canadian Tube Fly Company could set you up with the supplies to tie this beauty! 

Fly 20 - Yellow Sally Stonefly

Yellow Sally Stonefly

5x7, soft pastel

The metamorphosis from egg to nymph to fly is fascinating.  As shown below (courtesy of Encyclopedia Brittanica).  While the nymph stage is quite long (12 months)...the change from late stage nymph to a fly taking flight is only 24 hours.  As the emerging fly's wings dry out on the surface of the water, they're pretty suseptable to being snatched up by a hungry fish.  Lucky are those who live long enough to take flight!

Fly 19 - Yellow Sally Stone Fly Nymph

Yellow Sally Stonefly Nymph

5x7, soft pastel

The Yellow Sally Stonefly nymph is a proven success at attracting trout in fast freestone rivers and streams across the U.S., or any other place where stoneflies are found.  This fly should be fished in riffles, pockets and pools.

The most fascinating fact about the stonefly nymph is their intolerance for polluted waters. An abundance of these little guys in a body of water (the actual nymph not the fishing fly) indicates good or excellent water quality.  Which is a good thing for us all!

Fly 18 - Western Green Drake

Western Green Drake

5x7, soft pastel

There are times, particularly on western rivers when the water is a bit more rough and tumble and a fisherman needs a more substantial fly to stay up on the surface. This big hair wing drake is just the ticket if the river is brawny and the trout are big. 

Fly 17 - Western Green Drake Nymph

Green Drake Nymph

5x7, soft pastel

For the next few days I'm going to paint the nymph then adult version of two flies.  First the Western Green Drake fly (which is a Mayfly species) then the Yellow Sally Stonefly. 

Today's painting is the nymph version of the Western Green Drake fly.  I like this particular version of the Green Drake nymph because flashback material was incorporated into the design (which not only makes the fly more attractive to fish...but more beautiful to paint)! This fly can be fished with success pretty much anywhere and is a common fly used in the Pacific Northwest.