Bruce Staples

Bruce Staples has fly-fished the Great Yellowstone area for over 30 years. He originates from Idaho Falls, Idaho and began fly tying in the 1970s. He has written for many popular magazines such as Fly Tyer, American Angler, and Fly Fisher. Bruce has also written three books, Snake River Country: Flies and Waters, Yellowstone Park (River Journal), Trout-Country Flies, and is now working on his fourth book, Flies for Greater Yellowstone Area.

Here are four patterns tied by Bruce. The first one is The Dry Muddler and is Bruce’s favorite pattern.

Dry Muddler

Hook: Daiichi 2220, or equivalent, size 2-12
Thread: Gray or yellow GSP 50
Tail: Small turkey secondary quill segments
Body: Gold floss ribbed five turns with gold variegated tinsel
Underwing: Tan calf tail
Wing: Turkey or other gallinaceous bird secondary quill segments
Collar: Natural tips of deer hair spun to form head
Head: Spun deer hair trimmed to shape

 

Purple Pompadour

Hook: Daiichi Alec Jackson 2055 spey hook
Thread: Gray GSP 75
Tail: Natural peacock tail support segment
Body: Gold Mylar tinsel
Underwing: Purple over Orange calf tail
Wing: Natural peacock tail support segments onto the top of which is married a segment of dyed orange peacock tail support over which is married a segment of dyed purple peacock tail support
Head/Collar: Dyed Orange deer flared around bottom half of circumference and purple deer hair flared around the top half, all trimmed to shape with natural tips pointing to rear forming the collar.

 

 

Funky Rangeley

Hook: Gaelic Supreme Mike Martinek Rangeley streamer 6X or 8X size 4-8
Thread: Black 6/0 with red or orange band of 6/0 in head
Body: Black Floss
Rib: Gold Mylar tinsel
Belly: Orange buck tail
Underwing: 5-6 peacock herls
Wing: John McLain Funky dyed Indian Crow saddle hackle
Cheek: Mallard drake flank dyed purple under Am-gold hen mantle feather under Jungle cock nail
Head: Black tying thread with center band of red or orange tying thread band

 

Golden Stone Nymph

Hook: Partridge H3ST Draper Flat Body Nymph Hook, size 4-8
Thread: Orange GSP 50
Tail: Pair of goose biots
Body: Overhand weave of brown embroidery floss on top, orange embroidery floss on bottom
Legs: Stripped hackles heated or bent to shape
Thorax: Amber Antron dubbing
Wing case: Sections of ring neck pheasant rooster church window feathers cut to shape
Head: Rubber band section cut to shape
Eyes: Dumbell eyes formed by heating 40-lb test monofilament leader
Antennae: Stripped hackle stems

 

Whiting Rangeley Streamer

Hook: Gaelic Supreme Mike Martinek Rangeley Streamer
Thread: Black 6/0 with red or orange band of 6/0 in head
Body: Gold Mylar Tinsel
Belly: Purple buck tiaill
Underwing: 5-6 peacock herls
Wing: Lavender or magenta Whiting American saddle hackle
Wing veiling: Whiting medium pardo saddle hackle
Cheek: Silver pheasant mantle feather dyed purple under Reeves pheasant mantle feather under jungle cock nail
Throat: Lavender or magenta schlappen fibers
Head: Black tying thread with center band of red or orange tying thread band