Tippet Shrimp

Danny in Amherst, Nova Scotia sent us Bill Hunter's "Tippet Shrimp", a great looking prawn pattern. He added "The fly fishes best in runs with the traditional down and across method where there is active current. The current really makes the fly snake along. Alternately in calmer runs and pools, cas the fly slightly upstream followed by a downstream mend. Then retrieve with slow steady strips."

Hook: TMC 700
Thread: Red
Tag: Oval Gold Tinsel
Tail: Mixed Orange and Red Bucktail with Copper KF
Rear Body: Medium Orange Chenille
Center: Two Golden Pheasant Tippet Feathers w/center cut out, laid on top and bottom
Front Rib: Oval Gold Tinsel
Front Body: Mixed Orange and Red Seal or substitute
Hackle: GP Body Feather, tied in by tip
Head: Red

Orange Heron Variant

Here's Mike's fantastic take on the Syd Glasso classic.

Hook: Alec Jackson 2055
Rib: Gold Oval Tinsel
Body: Rear 2/3 Floss, Front 1/3 Ice Dub
Hackle: Blue Eared Pheasant
Collar: Mallard Flank
Wing: Arctic Fox Tail
Head: Orange

Sauk River Dee

Here are some more of Brian's terrific Dee patterns

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Brian from Issaquah apparently couldn't decide what pattern to submit, so he sent 16 different patterns, all of which are impressive, to say the least. Simply stunning. I picked 4 to post. And now for my toughest job, deciding who get which. I think I'll have my wife draw them out of a hat. Clockwise from upper left: Red Rocks Spey, Green Dragon Spey, Sol Duc, Unnamed Black Dee.

Park Royal

The "Park Royal" from Alan in Prince Edward Island arrived today. Alan stated "The Park Royal fly was designed by Stu Simpsom of Island Rod and Flies and is named after his Church. The fly came about one night when a friend of Stu noticed that the Minister was wearing a colourful stole that Stu's friend thought would make a nice fly; he provided Stu with the colour combination and the Park Royal was the result. Stu fished the fly for the first time in Labrador and on the first cast rose a fish and on the second cast he hooked a nice salmon. It has also done well in the fall on the Margaree River."

Hook: Salmon
Tag: Flat Gold Tinsel
Tail: GP Crest
Butt: Black Ostrich Herl
Body: Purple Floss
Rib: Fine Flat Gold Tinsel
Wing: Black Squirrel
Veil: Hot Pink Hackle
Throat: Yellow Hackle

Lester The Lobster

"Lester" came from Dwayne all the way from Prince Edward Island. Apparently this pattern is also know as the "Squamish Poacher."

Hook: Medway Salmon #2
Thread: Orange
Flash: Gold Krystal Flash
Feelers: Orange Polar Bear
Eyes: Black Plastic Eyes
Ribs: Gold Oval & 6lb Mono
Body: Orange Chennille
Hackle: Orange Saddle
Shell: Orange Survey Ribbon

Rusty Akroyd

Mitch sends us his striking rendition of the classic Akroyd, all the way from St. John, Newfoundland.
Hook: Salmon
Tip: Small Oval Silver
Tag: Yellow Floss
Tail: GP Crest
Topping: GP Tippet
Rib: Small Oval Silver
Rear Body: 1/4 Gold/Brown Floss, Yellow Ice Dub
Rear Body Hackle: Yellow Soft Hackle
Front Body: Rusty Brown Ice Dub
Front Body Hackle: Fiery Brown Hackle
Throat: Long Ostrich or Rhea tied around shank
Collar: Teal
Wing: Amherst Pheasant Tail

BRG

"BRG" arrived today from Vinnie in Gig Harbor, WA. Vinnie was the last minute entrant into the swap, and I'm glad we found room for him. This is a sharp looking pattern.

Hook: 3/0 Salmon Eyeless
Tag: 2 Turns of Red Uni Yarn
Body: Black Seal or Substitute
Ribs: Gold Embossed Tinsel, Red Uni Yarn
Body Hackle: Blue EaredPheasant
Throat: Teal
Wing: Bronze Mallard

Winter Surprise

"Winter Surprise" arrived today from Mike in Albany Oregon. The colors of this elegant summer pattern really look great together.
Hook: Heavy Wire 1/0
Thread: Red
Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
Hackle: Light Purple Schlappen
Collar: Widgeon
Wing: Claret Hackle Tips

AlexO

Bill in Corning, NY attached this note with his pattern,
"Not many people have seen this flat-wing fly. It was devised by one of my fishing buddies - artist and fly tier extraordinaire Dave Hall, who lives on the North Umpqua. Originally developed to fish during the October caddis hatch, the fly has proven to be very productive in all seasons. I've also caught Atlantic Salmon on it on the Gaspe and in New Brunswick in both spring and fall. The fly is named 'AlexO' after Dave's daughter, Alicia. O because this version's body is orange."

Hook: Tiemco 202SP, Gold
Body: Orange seal and poly mix
Hackle: Blue-Eared Pheasant
Flat Wing: Golden Pheasant
Flat Topping: Ring-Neck Pheasant "Church Window"

Dakota Moon

Steve from Corvallis Oregon sends us the "Dakota Moon", a fly with a great name, and a great color scheme. The colors really leap out at you.

Hook: Salmon
Tail: GP Tippet dyed Cerise
Rear Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
Rib: Small Gold Wire
Front Body: Chartruese Seal Substitute
Hackle: Electric Blue Schlappen
Collar: Natural Guinea
Wing: Pheasant Rump

Ally's Shrimp

From Ted in College Park, Washington comes "Ally's Shrimp", a terrific version of Alastair Gowans' classic prawn pattern.

Hook- Daiichi 2161 #1
Thread-6/0 red Uni
Tail- long Orange Bucktail over 1 strand UV Orange and 1 rainbow Krystal Flash folded twice to give 8 strands.
Rib-Silver oval
Body- In two equal parts Chinese Red Uni-Stretch and Black Floss
Beard and underwing-Grey Squirrel
Over wing- GP Tippet
Hackle- Orange Cock, Doubled or Orange Guinea 3 wraps followed by 3 wraps of Orange Duck Flank
Head-Red