Fly Pattern: Wylie Haggerty's Grab Bag Atlantic Salmon Fly

"Man it's gnarly. But, Wylie, why do you call it the Grab Bag?" That's precisely what I asked after a good friend and fishing buddy, Wylie Haggerty, gave me a look at a new fly he'd been working on from his fly tying desk in northern New Jersey.


His response: "I call that pattern the grab bag because I take a few techniques used in some of my favorite flies, and mix them up."

This fly uses the diamond wrap threading technique (more on this in another post), special dubbing (polar bear) picked out for the hackle, teal collar, the classic jungle cock eyes used in Atlantic salmon flies, and the late-October Salmon River hot color combo of black and orange.

Wylie's Grab Bag is a fantastic illustration of how modern fly tyers are similar to jazz musicians when they develop new fly patterns. Borrowing a bit from something here, mixing elements, and using the language of the past to push the craft forward -- that's it.


Wylie's Grab Bag >>

Hook >> Partridge salmon iron, size 6/0 - 2/0
Thread >> Floss wrapped with diamond technique, burnt orange color
Dubbing >> Polar bear dubbing, black color, heavily teased
Collar 1 >> Teal flank feather, blood red color
Collar 2 >> Schlappen feather, black color
Eye >> Jungle cock nail feathers, matched to hook size


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos and fly courtesy of Wylie Haggerty