Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Green & Gray Drake


Green Drake

Hook- Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread – Black
Tail – Barred teal fibers
Ribbing – Black uni-stretch
Body – Olive dubbing
Wing – Dyed black squirrel tail
Hackle – Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back


Gray Drake

Hook- Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread – Black
Tail – Barred mallard fibers
Ribbing – Black uni-stretch
Body – White dubbing
Wing – Gray squirrel tail
Hackle – Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back

Author's Note

This pattern and the Green Drake were used on a regular basis for late summer and fall runs of steelhead on the Trinity and Klamath rivers during the 1940s and 1950s. The wing on the Gray Drake originally called for silver monkey and when that was no longer available I believe most anglers reverted to other patterns. My father and I simply substituted California gray squirrel tail for the wing and had equal success. Later eastern gray squirrel was also found to be acceptable. The wing on the Green Drake called for black monkey; however, dyed

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hleekson. 

Lady Godiva


Lady Godiva

Steelhead

Ralph Olson, mid-1940s 

Tag - Silver-embossed tinsel 

Tail - Red and yellow swan or goose, married 

Butt - Red chenille

Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel

Body - Yellow seal dubbing or yellow wool yarn 

Wing - Red bucktail over sparse white polar bear

Classic Steelhead Flies - John Shewey

Algan

Algan 

Hooks - MUS80500BL, MUS8050I BL, TMC7999, or DA12441, sizes 2-8

Thread - Black

Tail - Fluorescent fire orange hackle barbs 

Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel

Body - Black chenille

Wing - Black bucktail tied over the body

Hackle - Black and claret tied on as a collar mixed and tied back

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson