live2huntfish

These are the flies I've developed in the course of my guiding and fishing.  They are also the flies I sell, and each fly sold I tie personally.  For tiers and buyers both, I've included pictures, recipes, and some information about the development of each fly and how I fish it.  If you have questions please feel free to contact me.  Otherwise, enjoy and whether you tie 'em or buy 'em I hope you have as much or more success with these patterns as I have.

L2HF Hi-Vis Damsel:

This was one of the first patterns I developed and it's still one of my favorites.  I was never quite satisfied with hackle style patterns and because the bug sits so low in the water, every pattern I tried was very difficult to see.  I chose the organza wing because of it's sparkle and translucency when wet.  The split foam back keeps the fly at or near the surface, and the hi-vis post allows me to see this fly.  I tie the pattern in olive and blue, but tie it to match the bugs in the region you fish.  Available in blue or olive, size 14, $2.50/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 2488

Abdomen:  Dyed-Barred Braided Leader Butt

Wing:  Organza

Post:  Para-Post Yarn

Back:  2mm Fly Foam (split around post)

Thorax:  SuperFine Dubbing

L2HF Life&Death Callibaetis:

My favorite lake pattern.  Again, organza was the material I chose for the wings on this bug as the naturals wings are almost clear.  The grizzly hackle hlps with floatation, imitates movement, and adds some barring as the naturals have.  The quill body floats well and imitates the segmented abdomen.  Why Life&Death?  I read about callibaetis hatching with wings out flat instead of upright as most mayflies do.  The next time out to the lake I watched and confirmed, this bug hatches and dries it's wings in a flat position, then raise the wings in the classic "sailboat" posture and fly away.  I now fish this pattern as both the just emerged adult and the spinner!  Size 14 or 16, $2.50/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 100

Tail:  Dun Microfibbets

Wing:  Organza

Post:  ParaPost Yarn

Abdomen:  Dun Hackle Quill

Thorax:  SuperFine Dubbing

L2HF Midge Dry:

This dry rides like a live midge, with only it's "tippy toes"  touching the surface, thanks to the quality of the Whiting hackle.  The quill body provides a slender, segmented body and Organza is simply the best simulation of the transluscence and sparkle  of a real wing.  The final touch is a hi-vis back of MFC Gator Hair.  Available in olive, black, and tan, sizes 18 and 20, $2.50/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 100

Abdomen:  Quill

Wing:  Organza

Thorax:  Whiting dry fly hackle, "V" trimmed in bottom

Back:  MFC Gator Hair

Thorax:  SuperFine Dubbing

L2HF SlimFlash Damsel:

Probably my most productive lake fly (but maybe that's not fair because I fish it so much).  I sight fish this fly when tied with plastic eyes so it will sink slowly.  I stalk individual fish and cast in front of them as they cruise, often they hit while the fly sinks slowly.  If they don't seem to see it, 1 or 2 twithes or short strips usually does the trick.  I also use bead chain eyes to sink the fly deeper and blind fish it.  I use almost exclusively pale olive, but take some samples and match your locals.  Available in light olive, dark olive, or tan, sizes 10 through 16, $2.00/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 3761

Eyes:  Metal or Plastic Bead Chain

Tail:  Pale Olive Marabou, 1 piece of Opal Mirage Tinsel on each side

Body:  Pale Olive Marabou (butts of the material used for the tail)

Rib:  Opal Mirage Tinsel

Wing Pad:  Mixture of Antron and Opal Mirage Tinsel

L2HF Midge Emerger:

The clear overbody on the abdomen of this fly adds durability and a transluscency other patterns lack.  The wing, antennae, and hackle provide sparkle and motion.  The dubbing and bead head give the impression of the thorax a live midge ready to burst.  Available in red, olive, black, tan or cream, sizes 16 through 20, $2.50/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 2487

Head:  Glass bead

Antennae:  Organza

Underbody:  UTC 70 denier thread

Rib:  UTC silver wire, x-small

Overbody:  Micro tubing, clear

Wing:  Organza

Thorax:  Ice Dub, black peacock

Hackle:  Starling

L2HF Harey Drake:

A very durable design that floats well. The snowshoe hare wing presents a great sillouette and won't waterlog.   Available olive with parachute or thorax hackle, sizes 8 and 10, $2.50/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 101

Tail:  Black Microfibbets

Abdomen:  Superfine Dubbing

Rib:  Yellow Dyed Grizzly dry fly hackle, palmered and trimmed

Wing:  Black Snowshoe Rabbit

Thorax:  Superfine Dubbing

Hackle:  Hebert Speckled Badger

L2HF Trailing Bubble Harey Yellow Stone:

This is one of my favorite and most productive summer flies when I guide. Visible and high floating, the snowshoe hare wing is easy to see and won't sink.   Available in sizes 14and 18, $2.50/ea.

Hook:  Tiemco 101

Trailing Bubbles:  Opal Mirage

Egg Sac:  Red Foam

Abdomen:  Superfine Dubbing

Rib:  Yellow Dyed Grizzly dry fly hackle, palmered and trimmed

Underwing:  Opal Mirage

Wing:  White Snowshoe Rabbit

Indicator Spot:  Red Foam

Thorax:  Superfine Dubbing

Hackle:  Barred Cream