A New Collection of Flies from Siskiyou Aviary!

Take a look at some of the new fly tying eye candy from the leaders in exotic fly tying feathers and razor's edge modern fly design. Innovation needs inspiration, and what better way to find a little bit than taking a moment to wander through the fields of creativity?

An "Angel Fish" by Robert Quigley employs a large feather wing, some subtle flash, and a long beard of natural white rhea fibers.


When fly tyers reach a certain experience level, they all want to tie a large, complex squid pattern. Thus, big squid patterns are a dime a dozen, but Robert Quigley has found a way to overcome the tendency to be boring by using long, durable rhea fibers and particularly beautiful schlappen hackle feathers in these two Scotty Squid patterns.


Kate Davidson of Siskiyou Aviary spends lots of time creating the thoughtful color palates for her lines of premium fly tying feathers. Take a look at the greens, blues, and purple of this Quigley Scotty Squid.


Paul Miller is famous for his line of "Fly on the Wall" steelhead flies, a celebrity effect that has driven sales in a line of hard-fishing flies for steelhead, South American brown trout, and tarpon anchored by his trademarked Super Spey feathers. A pattern he's perfected is the Steelhead Prawn. Here's a pair that look good enough to eat.


I've already mentioned Kate Davidson's sensitivity to color, and here's a perfect example in the form of a fly she whipped up for the aggressive Pacific Nortwest steelhead that run through her backyard! A dose of organized chaos, the layers of rhea feathers and flash create the big, beautiful bulk that makes aggressive steelhead snap.



Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos courtesy of Kate Davidson, Robert Quigley, Paul Miller, and siskiyouaviary.com

Fly Pattern: Shunji's Redwing Blackbird (or Ronin) Steelhead Fly

Tied by Shunji of San Francisco, CA, this Redwing Blackbird or "Ronin Fly" is an excellent example of a sparsely dressed modern steelhead fly. This lightweight, but attractive offering works well when swung through gnarly current seams and bubble lines.
Run it around the edges of exposed boulders and other types of structure. Its excellent contrast, slim profile, stiff wing and tail, and gentle flash will move steelhead from their lies even in cold fall and spring water.


Shunji's Redwing Blackbird (Ronin Fly) >>
Hook >> Tiemco TMC 7999, size 4
Thread >> Wapsi UTC 210 Denier Ultra Thread, black
Ribbing & Tag >> Wapsi Silver oval tinsel, size medium
Tail >> Schlappen Fibers from Spirit River, red
Body >> #2 Chenille from Spirit River, black
Wing (optional) >>Long bucktail fibers from Spirit River, red

Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos by Ian McNemar, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

The International Fly Tying Symposium comes to New Jersey

The Brits are coming to New Jersey! Nope, not the red-coats of revolutionary yore, but accomplished fly tyers from the British Isles and across Europe will descend on the Doubletree Hotel and Convention Center in Somerset, NJ for the eighteenth International Fly Tying Symposium November 22 and 23, 2008.


According to program director, Chuck Furimsky, this year's event will include more visitors from across the pond than ever before and an emphasis on new British and European flies that work in waters near and far.

The 2-day event is a favorite among serious fly tyers and boasts a full slate of classes, demonstrations, fly swaps, celebrity tyers, and a Saturday evening party. If you're looking for new materials, this is the place to be. There will be a room of vendors offering everything from fresh natural wood duck feathers to EP Fibers in all colors of the rainbow at excellent prices.

For more information on specific programs and events, where to stay and how to get there, visit the official event website.


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

Fly Pattern: MJ's Swingin' Freight Train

For years now, Randall Kaufmann's Freight Train has been swung through the green waters of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon with great success.

Anglers know the fly by its distinctive purple and orange floss and sparse dressing. Summer steelhead know it as an irrisistible, if dangerous, staple of their watery environment, especially through the months of July and August.


Even though Kaufmann's original pattern is very modern in its angular lines, sparse dressing, and choice of few materials, Matt "MJ" Jones offers a pattern with softer lines and a more traditional feel to construct a fly that looks a bit more gaudy than Maupin is used to seeing on the end of a leader.


MJ's Swingin' Freight Train >>
Hook >> Tiemco TMC 7999, size 4
Thread >> Wapsi UTC 140 Denier Ultra Thread, orange, pink, green, and black
Ribbing >> Wapsi Silver oval tinsel, size medium
Tail >> Purple Chinese saddle hackle from Spirit River
Body >> Black Ultra Chenille from Spirit River
Collar >> Purple Chinese saddle hackle from Spirit River
Wing (optional) >> White calf hair from Spirit River


Evan LeBon is a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

flies tied by Matt "MJ" Jones, a regular contributor to beyondthebug.com

photos by Josh L. Frazier