by Fred Klein   The Blue Jay fly is a beautiful fly pattern with origins unknown but likely in the British Isles, as with many old patterns. The first documented account was included in Charles Orvis’ book ‘Fishing With The Fly’ in 1883. The wet fly shown on an oil color plate shows an American Blue Jay wing feather. American Blue Jays have been protected since 1918, all other references found later than this use European Blue Jay feathers, which are still readily available today.   Blue Jay as shown in Ray Bergman's Trout 1938   Jay Silver as shown...

by Kenzie Kozera A creation of Ally Gowan, this flashier cousin of his uber-famous "Ally’s Shrimp" was described by Gowan as having a flowing effect and was suitably named the “Cascade”. This pattern has produced many Atlantic Salmon and sea-run trout across the globe and has earned a place in the fly box of many anglers (myself included). The Cascade appears to work in all conditions, whether it be a cloudy or a bright sunny day. The size and profile can also be adjusted to suit both high and low water conditions, with hooks as small as #12-14 in summer months...

By Kenzie Kozera When a fly has been in use for more than a century, you can bet it works! Originating in the United Kingdom, the Blue Charm is now a global staple among anglers of multiple species. You would be hard pressed to find any angler in Atlantic Canada who does not have some variant of a Blue Charm amongst their boxes of wet flies. Originally tied as a feather wing with mallard or turkey, Blue Charms are more frequently tied with a squirrel tail wing now. However, you may notice that charms with a white wing (calf body, calf...

By Lucas Utrera This fly has the particularity of uniting the past with the present of fly tying. On the one hand, it has the traditional duck quill wings of the classic dry flies of the early 20th century and on the other hand, it has an inverted parachute without a visible post. The result is a Sulfur Dun with a very slim silhouette with exquisite buoyancy. Lucas Utrera is a fly tyer born in Córdoba, Argentina, currently residing in Miami, USA. He started fly fishing in the mid-90s together with his father at the early age of 12, and after watching a couple...

by Kenzie Kozera Whether targeting Atlantic Salmon in Eastern Canada, Steelhead on the West Coast, or monstrous sea-run brown trout in Argentina, the Green Machine has hooked countless trophy fish. Originating on the Miramichi River of New Brunswick, the Green Machine has earned a place in fly boxes world-wide. With its tightly trimmed deer hair body which has been sparsely hackled, this fly is arguably one of the most effective wet flies for summer run Atlantic Salmon and trout across Canada. Unlike its deer hair cousin, the Bomber, the Green Machine is fished as a wet fly typically swung or...