Decision made

[R. Michael Charske]

New to targeting bluegills for my fishing enjoyment. I been pondering making it exciting for me. I've decided that I'll go 'classic'. Classic rod and real (split cane fly rod and hardy perfect reel), silk leader and gonna tie a bunch of 'classic' wet fly patterns. Of course this won't be exclusive method but preferred. Here's a sample of where I am headed with this.

Modern (wet version) Royal Coachman. Of special note is the pheasant tippets and the wing quills splayed inward.
My Classic version Royal Coachman. Note the wood duck tail fibers, silk floss body bound with metal tinsel and wings splayed outward. This should be fun !!! I'll post more patterns and results along the journey.

[R. Michael Charske]

Thanks Allen,

I learned at age 6 to tie 'Wooly Worms' and other wet flies. Fished the high mountain lakes of Southeastern AZ. Always a level sinking line with a straight 4 lb leader. A dry fly, that I would later fish in the streams and rivers of the Rockies, from Alberta and BC down to Southern NM and every State in between, didn't happen until I was at least 10 or 11. We never even heard of 'nymph' flies back then.

[jim cosgrove]

bought the bergman book years agothat and the orvis guide opened a whole new world to mei am completely self taught.tied before i ever picked up a fly rod,i hear people make it a lifelong thing to tie every one of the flies.i only tried a few as getting the proper materials for each would be chore on its own,

[R. Michael Charske]

I learned from a hermit in the Rocky Mountains. I learned without a vice. He used hackles from his own rooster, button hole thread, had a spool of brown (the only color he used) chenille that a lineman would call a "spool" and he never lost a hook, that I knew of. Yes, he actually caught the rooster and would pull a dozen or so saddle feathers from the bird. He said he got the bird from fighting stock in Mexico. The saddle hackles were amazing. One year I asked where the rooster was. He allowed it had died. I asked if he was gonna get another. He retrieved the rooster's skin from his cabin, doubt I'll need one for some time, he replied. When the flies stopped catching fish, and he used some flies that were nearly threadbare, he simply retied them on the same hooks. He gave me a few hooks and allowed that when I returned the following year, I had to pay them back. An old Fenwick rod, a Pflueger reel and a sinking fly line so full of cracks that it could never have flotaed even if it had been designed for that. And he knew where the fish were. I knew him well, and then one year he died. He only fished a brown wooly worm in size 8, 4xl. From spring thaw to winter freeze.

[Joe Angelucci]

Very nice fly. I've always been a fan of the classics. I usually use North Country Spiders. Stewart Black Spider is deadly on bluegill. Fly is a bit delicate and usually chewed by the 10th fish. I usually dap the fly since I use a fixed line pole. In my mind I'm early fly fishing 

[R. Michael Charske]

I was never that fond of 'spiders'... Grouse and partridge are FEW and Far between in these parts. Good flies though !!!

[carl hendrix]

hey  hwy!!  that is one fantastic looking fly!!  if the rest of your ties are like that;; your going to be a tuff act to follow!!  a great post you have going to buddy!   tooty;; has a pretty good collection of the old  ( wonder rods) !  I like to kid him;a bit on that ;name;; wonder rods;; i guess they got that name by saying-- wonder if it works!!  LOL!!

[Slip Sinker]

Hwy... i really like your thinking on this.... i use a similar motivation tool by using a Master Angler panfish cycle... personally it motivates me to get outdoors and kick up the activity level for myself... sort of like therapy. without this motivation i was sittin or laying on the couch all day watching sports or World Fishing Network.