Howdy,

Here are the June 2010 Riverwood “Fly of the Month Club” fly patterns:

Trout Fly

Partridge and Orange Soft Hackle

Recipe:

• Hook: Dry Sz 14-22
• Thread: Tan
• Body: Orange Floss & Natural Dubbing
• Hackle: Partridge or Pheasant

This fly pattern dates back to the late 1800’s and has been widely used in England for years. You’ll also hear it called the Orange & Partridge, Orange Spider and a few other names. The most common pattern is tied with a silk/floss body, minimal dubbing on the thorax and 1 to 1 1/2 turn of partridge feather hackle.

You’ll also see this pattern tied with a tail of partridge, wire ribbing, heavier hackling, different colored floss (olive, yellow, gold) and sometimes even with a fully dubbed and tapered body. All of the variations are effective in catching a fish’s attention. This pattern imitates an emerging insect. The hackles simulate the legs of a nymph, sweeping back in the current or when stripping, then flair out on a dead drift or between strips.

Steelhead Fly of the Month

Dragon’s Tooth (Mike Kinney)

My version of Mike Kinney's "Dragon's Tooth"

• Hook: Alec Jackson Spey #1.5
• Tip: Oval silver tinsel
• Rib: flat silver followed by oval silver tinsel
• Hackle: purple coque, one side stripped, butt first
• Body: purple yarn
• Underwing: four golden pheasant breast feathers, back to back and tented
• Collar: teal
• Overwing: two golden pheasant rump feathers, tented, veiling the underwing

This is one of my favorite steelhead patterns to tie AND fish.  I will often change up the colors of the floss body and use black, maroon, or even red, then make slight color variation changes to the Underwing and Wing to match.  This pattern looks as great in the water as it does in the vise!

Tight Lines!

Dave