To see the collection of previous articles go to the Fly of the Month Archives



Fly of the Month 2018



December 2018

“Anchor Caddis”

Tied by Lou Digena

Caddis Anchor


Hook: Mustad 3399 Size 6 - 10
Head: Tungsten Bead to Match Hook
Weight: .032 Non-lead Wire or Ribbed Tungsten Scud/Shrimp BodiesThread: Olive 6/0
Tail: Natural CDC
Ribbing: Green Wire
Abdomen: Olive Squirrel Dubbing
Hot Spot: Hairline Hot Orange UV Ice Dub
Thorax: Hairline Black UV Ice Dub
Legs: Hungary Partridge or any Hen Hackle*.

* I tie this pattern with or without legs, your choice.

The Anchor Caddis is a variation based on Hans Stephenson "The Bomb." It makes a great anchor fly for winter nymph fishing when you need to get on the bottom.

Lou DiGena
Regal Endorsed Tier and Solarez Pro Staff






October 2018

“K.I.S.S October Caddis”

Tied by Lou Digena

October Caddis


Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 8 - 12
Thread: UTC Burt Orange 013
Body: Hairline Dubbing Orange HD15
Under Wing: Rust CDC (3-4 feathers)
Wing: Elk or Deer Hair
Head: Hairline Dubbing Orange HD15


This pattern is a simple and fast pattern to tie for the fall’s most significant dry fly action. I think the CDC under-wing not only helps with floatation but also adds the element of life (fluttering beat of the adult caddis wings). Tie them as large as a size 8 (depending on your water I mainly fish a size 10) but not smaller than a size 12. October caddis is a big bug and trout eat them readily, in their goal to bulk up for the winter.

They work well for me, and I know it will work for you.

Also, here is a step-by-step:



October Caddis Step 1

Step 1

October Caddis Step 2

Step 2

October Caddis Step 3

Step 3

October Caddis Step 4

Step 4

Lou DiGena
Regal Endorsed Tier and Solarez Pro Staff






September 2018

“Lou's Stonefly Creeper”

Tied by Lou Digena

Lou's Stone Fly Creeper


Hook: Mustad Signature R73-9671 or similar hook
Size: 6 – 10
Weight: 3/16″ or 4.5MM Nickle Tungsten Bead
Thread: Brown 6/0
Tail: Brown Flexi Floss
Body: SLF Dave Whitlock Dubbing, Golden Stone Nymph
Rib: Copper Brassie Wire
Shellback:Solarez Bone Dry, colored Brown and followed with a second coat of Solarez Thin
Legs:Hen Grizzly soft hackle


This stonefly pattern is my modern version of Jenning's Stonefly Creeper.

It is a deadly and straightforward pattern for trout and salmon. Stoneflies are in the river year-round with several year classes, and this is my go-to pattern anchor when Euro-nymphing or exploring new water.

Lou DiGena
Regal Endorsed Tier and Solarez Pro Staff






June 2018

“Shop Vac”

Tied by Lou Digena

The Shop Vac


Hook: Scud or Wet Fly Hook (here a Mustad S80-3906 Size 12)
Sizes: 16-20
Bead: Gold, 3/32-inch
Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-Denier
Rib: Copper Wire, Small
Body: 6 to 8 Pheasant-Tail Fibers
Wing Bud: White Z-lon



The Shop Vac fly developed by Craig Matthews of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Montana has to be one of the most consistent trout catching patterns I use. It’s simple and fast to tie, and as its name implies, it hoovers up fish.

Like many of Matthews fly designs, it’s not a mayfly, caddis, or midge pupa, yet catches under many of these hatches. It’s excellent searching pattern any nymph or pupa stage.






May 2018

“The James Wood Bucktail”

Tied by Bart Lombardo

JamesWoodBucktai
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Hook: Mustad 3366 Size 12 - 6
Head: Large Blue Chenille (Or Double Thickness Of Medium)
Body: Medium Yellow Chenille – Gold
Wing: Sparse White Bucktail Dispersed Evenly Around the Hook



The James Wood Bucktail was developed by Harry Murray a fly shop owner from Edinburg Virginia. The fly is an adaptation of Pete Perinchief’s bonefish fly called “The Horror”. Harry designed the fly for smallmouth bass as an imitation of a immature sunfish. This is a deadly pattern for all warm water species especially largemouth bass, pickerel and panfish.






April 2018

“Golden Retriever”

Tied by Sal Lauro

Golden Retriever


Hook: Size 10 3X Long streamer
Head: 5/32" Gold Bead (optional Red Bead)
Tail: Wooly Buggar Marabou – Gold
Thread: Red flat waxed nylon
Body: Estaz regular – Gold
Weight: .025 Lead wire



Debarb the hook and insert the bead on the hook.
Wrap lead from the point of the hook to the bead.
Slide lead into the bead
Start the thread behind the lead and wrap back to the barb.
Wrap forward to build a dam and then wrap over the lead.
Tie in the tail above the barb – tail should be approximately 1¼ to 1½ in length of the hook shank.
Wrap over the tail up to the lead and then remove the excess material.
Cover the remaining marabou and bring the thread back to the base of the tail.
Prepare the estaz by removing 1/4" of the fibers to expose bare thread.
Tie in the estaz and wind forward to the bead.
Create a narrow hot spot behind the bead with a few turns of the red thread. Whip Finish.






March 2018

“Black Hale Bopp Leech”

Tied by Bill Ninke

BlackHaleBoppLeech


Hook: Tienco 2312 Size 10
Bead: 1/8" Silver Brass
Thread: MFC 8/0, Red
Tail: Black Maribou Strands
Body: Hareline Haretron, Black (well picked out)
Collar: Well defined with tying thread

Tied in the style of the commercial offering of this pattern from Solitude Flies. My most recent usage was on the Missouri River on a day in early October 2016, where it caught more than a dozen rainbows from 21 to 24 inches in length.






February 2018

“Bead Head Wooly Bugger”

Tied by George Hryvniak

Woolly Bugger


Originator: Russell Blessing in 1967
Hook: Mustad 9672 or equivalent size 8 to 12
Bead: 4.0 mm or 4.8 mm depending on size
Thread: Black 6/0
Tail: Black marabou
Body: Medium or small black chenille depending on size
Hackle: Grizzly saddle palmered over body






January 2018

“Picket Pin”

Tied by Barry Russo

Picket Pin


Originator: Jack Boehme, 1910’s
Hook: Mustad 9672, or equivalent, Size 4-6
Thread: Black 6/0
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet fibers (3-5)
Rib: Fine Gold Wire
Hackle: Brown Saddle palmered over body
Body: Flat Gold Tinsel
Collar: White Tip Gray Squirrel over Wing
Head: Peacock Herl