Hook – Size 2 or 4, Partridge single salmon or Alec Jackson Spey fly hook. Thread – Black. Tail – Squirrel tail, dyed black. Over-tail – Golden pheasant breast feather. Rear Body – Seal’s fur, dyed black. Ribbing – Silver oval tinsel, wound over seal fur. Body Hackle...

The correct/acceptable answer for challenge #12 is, the Mickey Finn. “The history of the Mickey Finn fly runs something like this: It was originally tied by Quebec fly tier Charles Langevin sometime in the 19th century. It was first known as The Langevin, but later...

Hook – Size 4 through 8, long-shank. Thread – Black. Tail – None. Body – Flat silver tinsel, counter-wrapped with silver wire. Wings – Yellow bucktail bottom, red bucktail middle, yellow bucktail topping. Head – Black tying thread, varnished.     The...

WOW! This challenge proved to be more of a real mind-bender than I had first thought. A lot of hints were given but, in the end, everyone got there, eventually. The correct/acceptable answer for challenge #11 is, Art’s Polar Bear Bucktail. According to Roderick...

Rear Hook -  Size 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Front Hook – Size 3/0 or size 4/0 Mustad 34007 stainless steel. Hook Connection – 20 lb. test clear nylon™ monofilament loop. Body – Silver or Gold mylar braided tubing slid over front hook. Wing – Extra-long Polar bear hair,...

The correct/acceptable answer for challenge #10 is, the Quinsam Hackle Qualicum Beach was home to Brigadier General Noel Money (ret’d.). Money was an avid fly-fisher, and the Stamp River was his favourite river to fish for steelhead, but many other waters found the...

Hook - Size 2/0 to 4, single salmon hook. Thread – Black. Tag – Yellow floss. Tail -- None Body -- Black wool. Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel. Body Hackle – Dyed yellow hackle feather. Collar Hackle – Dyed red and dyed claret hackle feathers.     The Challenge...

The correct/acceptable answer for challenge #9 is, the Puntledge River. On November 1st., 1973 local naturalist Jack Hames wrote of this fly in his Field Notes column for the Comox District Free Press newspaper. That column, titled, The Mystery Fly, spoke of how a...

Sometimes river access points can be tricky to find; especially so if one is new to the area or has been given cryptic directions by a well-intentioned local. We all go through it, that hunt and peck searching of riverbanks for signs of a fisherman’s trail. You know,...