Local Flies

Our area has seen its fair share of fly innovations over the years. The most notable is the ubiquitous Adams. It was first tied and fished in Michigan by Len Halladay in 1922. He named it for his friend, Judge Charlie Adams, after Adams had implored him to imitate a hatch on the Boardman river.

A popular source for local flies is Ross Mueller's book Upper Midwest Flies That Catch Trout and How to Fish Them. A few of our truly "local" flies are ...

Pink Squirrel    This fly was developed by Westby, Wisconsin fly fisherman, John Bethke and is most likely in every devoted Wisconsin flyfisher's fly box.

Hook: Scud-shaped size 14-18 (TMC 2487)
Thread: White 8/0
Tail: Two strands of rainbow Krystal Flash
Body: Red Fox Squirrel
Rib: Red copper wire
Egg: Pink Ultra Chenille
Head: Brass Bead

Check out a real Pink Squirrel aficionado

Pass Lake    Another Wisconsin original (I think); certainly a locally popular attractor fly. It can be fished wet or dry, or tied and fished as a streamer.

Hook: Dry Fly size 14-20 (TMC 900 BL)
Thread: Black 6/0
Tail: Brown hackle fibers or Golden Pheasant crest
Body: Black Chenille or Peacock herl on smaller sizes
Hackle: Brown, sparse
Wing: Calf tail or body hair

Hornberg    Wisconsin conservation officer, Frank Hornberg, developed the fly sometime prior to the Second World War. This fly has avid followers everywhere, not just in Wisconsin.

Hook: Streamer, 2X or 3X long, size 4-10 (Mustad 9672)
Thread: Black 6/0
Tail: None
Body: Silver tinsel (flat)
Wing, inner: Yellow saddle hackle (original) or yellow bucktail or yellow calf tail
Wing, outer: Barred gray mallard flank feathers
Cheeks: Jungle cock or equivalent
Hackle: Grizzly (original), or grizzly and brown
Head: Black