Charlie Vestal

The Red Rover is a full dressed pattern from Kelson's 1895 classic "The Salmon Fly". Tag: Silver oval tinsel and yellow floss. {small or x-small size tinsel; silk floss if possible) Tail: Golden Pheasant topping. Butt: Black ostrich herl. {buy a feather duster from Wal-Mart. They have natural black ostrich in the ones they sell} Body: Magenta Berlin wool. Rib: Silver oval tinsel. {a size larger than the tag} Hackle: Yellow. {saddle hackle with a nice Christmas tree shape} Throat: Red. {something webby like schlappen} Wings: Underwing - Golden Pheasant tippet; Main wing - Peacock Secondary wing quill, dark mottled turkey, red swan or red goose or red turkey (best choice), Golden Pheasant tail. Topping: Golden Pheasant topping. Sides: Jungle Cock. Additionally you'll need a blind-eye hook (I'd suggest about a 3/0) and some silk worm gut. Check out www.classicflytying.com for lots of examples of Red Rovers. Send me your mailing address and I'll put together an instruction package and throw in some workable materials for you. Once you've mastered this pattern, you should be able to dress the following: Baker, Colonel, Helmsdale Doctor, Benchill, Sir Richard, and Gordon. Charlie Vestal

I suggest that you pick a pattern that you want to start learning how to dress salmon flies and restrict your search for materials to those needed for one pattern. Don't start with a pattern that calls for some of the things in your wish list - e.g. Lady Amherst Pheasant, Scarlet Macaw Coverts, etc. Also, don't pick a Jock Scott as your starting fly. There are several relatively simple patterns calling for a minimum of materials that folks can probably help you out with. An example would be a Red Rover or a Thunder & Lightning, or one of the Irish patterns from Malone's book. Charlie Vestal

Generally, two clearly visible sets of wings mean stoneflies. Charlie

I voted tie my own. I fish with hand-made furled leaders. Generally I use 5X or 6X mono to make the leader. Charlie

Try J. Stockhard the Forum's major sponsor. Charlie

It's a Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone, MT, pattern. Check out www.blueribbonflies.com and look for the new 2008 fly patterns. Charlie Vestal