Man the old time flies and stories are awesome. When you see a fly of this quality it makes you wish that we would have fished in those days. It’s one thing to fish with a proven fly. But how great it would have been to be a part of the proving process. Incredible fly Matt. Thank you Sir.
What a fun thing to watch! One of those great old Catskill flies with some backstory. I remember that someone named Johnny Woodruff played a minor role in Sparse Grey Hackle's "Who is Sparse Grey Hackle?" in his book Fishless Days, Angling Nights. One of the great classic stories, about the importance of thinking like a fish. :). Its fun to tie these things together. I am not sure I thought about it being the same Woodruff as the fly, but it must be.
What a fantastic-looking fly pattern. I just love the Catskills patterns to fish, maybe not the easiest patterns to tie with those wings, as you demonstrated, lol but a great pattern nonetheless. Thanks, Matt for sharing.
You bet Layton! Here's a secret... sometimes I tie a shabby fly, but if I can arrange it just right, and get the lighting right, I can take a picture of it and make it look a lot better. :-)
Awesome fly Matt, as always I not only enjoyed tying of fly but the back story as well, I’m not sure if you’re Scottish or Irish but I enjoy the back round music as well, I told you I’m from WV but the the community grow up in and live is call Ireland 🇮🇪 and have and Irish Spring Festival every Spring so this a little back story of mine lol i hope you enjoy it too God Bless My Friend !!!!!!!!!
Great comment; thank you! From I'll I've ever heard, I believe my ancestors were Scottish. But speaking of Ireland, WV... you're not too far from the Savage River. Maybe a couple of hours, but if you've never been there it's definitely worth a day trip!
Cool Fly, great looking, thanks Matt for sharing. I think traditional Dry Fly fishers are programmed to think that dead drifting is the only method. If you watch the Tenkara guys, they are imparting significant movement on all flies, dry or not, and the Riffling hitch was used traditionally for steelhead for skating the fly. Even in videos of traditional fly fishing, the number of time a strike occurs when they mend the line, lift to cast, or intentionally swing a fly at the end of the drift, is significant in number. It just makes the fish decide to commit or abandon the potential food.
Great comment Lee; thank you! And now that I think about it, you're 100% right. I've caught, or missed plenty of strikes when I was moving my line to get ready for the next cast and it caused my fly to skate a little on the surface. And a lot of times I'll twitch my caddis at the end of a long drift. But yeah, we do tend to obsess over getting a perfect dead drift most of the time.
Great classic fly, Matt. Always enjoy the histories of the flies you tie on this channel. These flies will probably fool fish as well as they did then. Thanks.
Good morning Matt good morning everyone loved this fly the story makes it even better thank you you need to make a 5 your own so it can be named after you:-) :-) :-)
Good morning Matt. That book of Valla’s is one of my favourites. For me the history behind these old flies is always enjoyable to learn about. Really enjoyed todays video, just something about those old Catskills flies that gets my attention. Take care and have a great week.
Well thank you John! And yes, his "Tying the Founding Flies" is great, but if you want to just read a lot of cool history, the predecessor to this book, his simple "The Founding Flies" is even more amazing. Have a great week my friend!
Good morning friend im glad to hear 👂 the back story on this fly its probably my favorite go to fly here in the creeks in va as always thank you for your time sir
Good Evening Sir Matt, I just finished watching this mornings video after supper, great fly and the history of it. I did like the wing retake at the end. I will definitely give this one a try. Have a great evening Sir 😀
Great history report Matt! Really appreciate those. I’ll tie some up for the State stocked trout, and perch that are really active now, (bass are biting also🙂). I enjoy using natural materials,and take a break from foam, and especially historic flies! Have a great week my friend. 👍🎣👌
Thank you Charlie and great comment my friend! And I hear you... I tie with as much foam and rubber legs as the next guy, but there is something really cool about these old flies with 100% natural materials. :-)
Good looking pattern Mr O'Neal. I will have to tie some for my box. I just tied up some St Joe Specials for a client and used partridge hackle for the winging material instead of hackle tips. Way easier and cheaper with the same effect. Thanks for all the history on the patterns. Have a great day my friend.
Thanks Todd, and great tip. And what's this St. Joe Special?? How have I never heard of it? I'm looking it up now (it's on RiverKeeper)... and I love this thing! It's the same style as an Adams or this thing, but has my favorite tailing material- golden pheasant tippets.
Love the old school stuff, probably because I'm getting old myself. Keep the good stuff coming Matt. BTW I saw my first wild Tarpon at Blue Springs State Park in Florida last week. Unfortunately I couldn't fish for them.
Thanks matt. I'm a fan of the Adam's fly n the woodruff has that fish catching look 2 it so that'll b a color I'll add w my box. Thanks again! God Bless n fish on!
That's pretty cool to hear Ryan! I don't think I've ever heard anybody mention or talk about this fly around these parts. I'm sure some old timers have some in their boxes though. :-)
I think everyone crowds the hook eye according to traditional Catskill dry fly standards. I tend not to even try, if my eye is clear, I'm pretty good with it. :) Another nice video, and again I love your appreciation for the history of the sport.
Thank you Sean! And BTW, I haven't commented on any of your videos yet (it's all I can do to keep up with my own!), but I did want to tell you that you've got some beautiful ties. And your thumbnails are great!
It is for tying onto a hook that has no eye. Many hooks used to have no front eye to tie your leader to, so instead you basically did a knot that would just grip the end of the wire of the hook.
Great question Bob because he did specifically comment on that. And he said, nobody ever said what was hatching that night. And that no one really claims this fly to be anything but a generic mayfly.
Really like the story about this fly. How do you think those guys felt after not catching any fish that evening? You would have to laugh. Thanks Matt. 👍
Great fly, and tie, but his comment about no one using a Turle knot anymore...I know a handful of folks who use it. Its fantastic for a low profile knot on western spring creeks. Also no kinks in the tippet from friction heat when setting the knot. I consider it an essential knot.
Thank you! What a classic. And what producer. I caught my first trout on a Woodruff, and if anyone had asked me, I would have said it was created by Johnny Woodruff; my apologies to Mr. Mills! For anyone else who is interested, I found this short link (there was an 11 min+ video on this knot!) to tie a Turle Knot. ua-cam.com/video/wUtgENBZlC0/v-deo.html It works well with braided lines, not so much for mono.
Thanks Tom! And I appreciate the link. I just watched this one and the one by Rio. I always thought the original Turle knot was for hooks without eyes. Hmmm... I'm going to have to do some more research. :-)
The stories make the flies don’t they ! Thanks for sharing another great tie
Yeah I do love to dig up the history when I can find it. I appreciate the note my friend!
A handsome fly, sort of an Olive Adams. Thanks, Matt!
Yeah, it really is! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
Man the old time flies and stories are awesome. When you see a fly of this quality it makes you wish that we would have fished in those days. It’s one thing to fish with a proven fly. But how great it would have been to be a part of the proving process. Incredible fly Matt. Thank you Sir.
Great comment Jeffrey! And I agree with you 100%. Thank you my friend. :-)
🤣🤣🤣Good morning Matt☕️
Love the ending it goes like that sometimes. But nice bug 👍
Hahaha, yes it does Jim! Hope you're having a great week my friend. :-)
What a fun thing to watch! One of those great old Catskill flies with some backstory. I remember that someone named Johnny Woodruff played a minor role in Sparse Grey Hackle's "Who is Sparse Grey Hackle?" in his book Fishless Days, Angling Nights. One of the great classic stories, about the importance of thinking like a fish. :). Its fun to tie these things together. I am not sure I thought about it being the same Woodruff as the fly, but it must be.
What a fantastic-looking fly pattern. I just love the Catskills patterns to fish, maybe not the easiest patterns to tie with those wings, as you demonstrated, lol but a great pattern nonetheless. Thanks, Matt for sharing.
You bet Layton! Here's a secret... sometimes I tie a shabby fly, but if I can arrange it just right, and get the lighting right, I can take a picture of it and make it look a lot better. :-)
Another nice one Matt, adding this to my list. Have a blessed day my friend.
Thanks! I appreciate the note. :-) You have a great day too!
Neat looking fly
Thanks Jeff! I appreciate the note. :-)
@@SavageFlies you are very welcome and it is my pleasure
Awesome fly Matt, as always I not only enjoyed tying of fly but the back story as well, I’m not sure if you’re Scottish or Irish but I enjoy the back round music as well, I told you I’m from WV but the the community grow up in and live is call Ireland 🇮🇪 and have and Irish Spring Festival every Spring so this a little back story of mine lol i hope you enjoy it too God Bless My Friend !!!!!!!!!
Great comment; thank you! From I'll I've ever heard, I believe my ancestors were Scottish. But speaking of Ireland, WV... you're not too far from the Savage River. Maybe a couple of hours, but if you've never been there it's definitely worth a day trip!
@@SavageFlies I’ve not been there but I’ll put on my bucket list thanks
Cool Fly, great looking, thanks Matt for sharing. I think traditional Dry Fly fishers are programmed to think that dead drifting is the only method. If you watch the Tenkara guys, they are imparting significant movement on all flies, dry or not, and the Riffling hitch was used traditionally for steelhead for skating the fly. Even in videos of traditional fly fishing, the number of time a strike occurs when they mend the line, lift to cast, or intentionally swing a fly at the end of the drift, is significant in number. It just makes the fish decide to commit or abandon the potential food.
Great comment Lee; thank you! And now that I think about it, you're 100% right. I've caught, or missed plenty of strikes when I was moving my line to get ready for the next cast and it caused my fly to skate a little on the surface. And a lot of times I'll twitch my caddis at the end of a long drift. But yeah, we do tend to obsess over getting a perfect dead drift most of the time.
Very nice. Love the outtakes!
Hahaha, thanks Ed. I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)
Great fly!! Thank you Matt!!
Thanks Barbara! I appreciate the note. :-)
Very nice fly with a great history!! Thanks for sharing Matt!!
Thanks James! I appreciate the note. :-)
Great classic fly, Matt. Always enjoy the histories of the flies you tie on this channel. These flies will probably fool fish as well as they did then. Thanks.
Thanks Ed, and I know you're right! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
Good morning Matt good morning everyone loved this fly the story makes it even better thank you you need to make a 5 your own so it can be named after you:-) :-) :-)
Hahaha! Thanks Marty. I've come up with plenty of my own flies but would feel cheesy naming them after myself. :-)
Love the old Patterns Matt great job thanks for sharing.
Mike
Thanks Michael! I appreciate the note. :-)
Neat fly Matt! As always, the history lesson really adds to the impact of the video. Thanks!
Thanks Garrett! I appreciate the note. :-)
Good morning Matt. That book of Valla’s is one of my favourites. For me the history behind these old flies is always enjoyable to learn about. Really enjoyed todays video, just something about those old Catskills flies that gets my attention. Take care and have a great week.
Well thank you John! And yes, his "Tying the Founding Flies" is great, but if you want to just read a lot of cool history, the predecessor to this book, his simple "The Founding Flies" is even more amazing. Have a great week my friend!
@@SavageFlies Funny you should mention that. It’s place is right beside that one in the bookcase.
Good morning friend im glad to hear 👂 the back story on this fly its probably my favorite go to fly here in the creeks in va as always thank you for your time sir
You got it Charlie! I always appreciate you watching my friend. And I can't wait to hit some of the VA creeks this summer. :-)
Come on down
Good Evening Sir Matt, I just finished watching this mornings video after supper, great fly and the history of it. I did like the wing retake at the end. I will definitely give this one a try. Have a great evening Sir 😀
Well thank you Edward! Hope you're having a great week my friend. :-)
Lovely little little fly that cheers and thanks for the history behind the fly much appreciated all the best fae Scotland.
Thank you my friend! I appreciate the note. :-)
This is an awesome looking dry fly. Thanks Sir Matt
Thanks Marshall! I appreciate the note. :-)
Enjoyed the history and tying of the woodruff matt tks
Thanks Burt! I appreciate the note. :-)
Gidday Matt. Nice fly and great history. Thanks.
Thanks Ken! I appreciate the note. :-)
Love the old patterns. Come to think about it, I’m an older pattern myself lol. Thanks Matt for the tie and history. Warmest regards.
Hahaha! You and me both Mark. Thanks for the laugh my friend. :-)
@@SavageFlies With age comes wisdom. At least for some of us. 😉
Thanks for sharing. Interesting story. Love the history lesson. Nice little pattern.
Thanks David! I appreciate the note. :-)
Great history report Matt! Really appreciate those. I’ll tie some up for the State stocked trout, and perch that are really active now, (bass are biting also🙂). I enjoy using natural materials,and take a break from foam, and especially historic flies! Have a great week my friend. 👍🎣👌
Thank you Charlie and great comment my friend! And I hear you... I tie with as much foam and rubber legs as the next guy, but there is something really cool about these old flies with 100% natural materials. :-)
Good looking pattern Mr O'Neal. I will have to tie some for my box.
I just tied up some St Joe Specials for a client and used partridge hackle for the winging material instead of hackle tips. Way easier and cheaper with the same effect.
Thanks for all the history on the patterns. Have a great day my friend.
Thanks Todd, and great tip. And what's this St. Joe Special?? How have I never heard of it? I'm looking it up now (it's on RiverKeeper)... and I love this thing! It's the same style as an Adams or this thing, but has my favorite tailing material- golden pheasant tippets.
Thanks for another great fly Matt.
Thanks! I appreciate the note. :-)
Lovely pattern matt and love the story and history on it.thanks
Thanks Mike! I appreciate the note. :-)
I always enjoy the history you share with us. I wasn't aware of this pattern but think it looks buggy and will be a worthwhile tie. thanks.
Well thank you Mel! I appreciate the note. :-)
Great job Matt!!. I really the old patterns. Have a great day!!
Thanks Steve! I appreciate the note. :-)
Keep up the amazing videos Matt I'm getting so much from them thanks again my fly slinging bro
You bet Dion! I appreciate the note my bro. :-)
Amazing looking fly as usual Matt ! Mega Thx !
Thanks! I appreciate the note. :-)
Love the old school stuff, probably because I'm getting old myself. Keep the good stuff coming Matt. BTW I saw my first wild Tarpon at Blue Springs State Park in Florida last week. Unfortunately I couldn't fish for them.
Well you'll be ready with that monster rod you picked up!!
Great video Matt.
It's definitely a cool looking fly, Matt
Thanks for the video and history lesson
I definitely learned a lot from your history lesson
Well thank you Dave! I appreciate the note. :-)
Really nice fly! This is one of my favorite flies for the White River, in Michigan.
Cool to hear Carl! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)
Thanks matt. I'm a fan of the Adam's fly n the woodruff has that fish catching look 2 it so that'll b a color I'll add w my box. Thanks again! God Bless n fish on!
Thanks Richard and you're exactly right! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
Love this fly! Thx Matt 🙂
Thanks Clyde! I appreciate the note. :-)
That's one of my go to flies I always have around to use.
That's pretty cool to hear Ryan! I don't think I've ever heard anybody mention or talk about this fly around these parts. I'm sure some old timers have some in their boxes though. :-)
I think everyone crowds the hook eye according to traditional Catskill dry fly standards. I tend not to even try, if my eye is clear, I'm pretty good with it. :) Another nice video, and again I love your appreciation for the history of the sport.
Thank you Sean! And BTW, I haven't commented on any of your videos yet (it's all I can do to keep up with my own!), but I did want to tell you that you've got some beautiful ties. And your thumbnails are great!
I fished under that bridge !
I have too! On my one and only trip to the Catskills last summer. :-)
thanks matt
Good background story Matt. I love that stuff. Okay, you opened the door...what is a Turle Knot?
It is for tying onto a hook that has no eye. Many hooks used to have no front eye to tie your leader to, so instead you basically did a knot that would just grip the end of the wire of the hook.
@@jscancella I actually found d a video that RIO has that explains how to tye it. Thanks for the input.
Yep, John is exactly right. Thanks for the assist my friend!
Nice tie Matt!
Thanks Jim! I appreciate the note. :-)
Gonna have to give that one a try!
Go for it Derek! I appreciate the note. :-)
Great looking fly I going to do one
Appreciate it Wayne!
Great history. Did Mike Valla say what insect the fly was intended to match or what was hatching when Mr. Woodruff had such success?
Great question Bob because he did specifically comment on that. And he said, nobody ever said what was hatching that night. And that no one really claims this fly to be anything but a generic mayfly.
Not a particularly handsome fly, but fishy looking as heck! Great tie, Matt! Thanks for all you do for the sport!!
You're most welcome Michael! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
Really like the story about this fly. How do you think those guys felt after not catching any fish that evening? You would have to laugh. Thanks Matt. 👍
I know, right? I'm sure I would have been in the group that didn't catch anything. :-)
Great fly! Definitely a fish catcher!
Thanks Ben! I appreciate the note. :-)
Great fly, and tie, but his comment about no one using a Turle knot anymore...I know a handful of folks who use it. Its fantastic for a low profile knot on western spring creeks. Also no kinks in the tippet from friction heat when setting the knot. I consider it an essential knot.
ua-cam.com/video/lKQ_NhnxihM/v-deo.html
Thanks for the comment Stephen; I may have to give it another look!
Thank you! What a classic. And what producer. I caught my first trout on a Woodruff, and if anyone had asked me, I would have said it was created by Johnny Woodruff; my apologies to Mr. Mills!
For anyone else who is interested, I found this short link (there was an 11 min+ video on this knot!) to tie a Turle Knot. ua-cam.com/video/wUtgENBZlC0/v-deo.html
It works well with braided lines, not so much for mono.
Thanks Tom! And I appreciate the link. I just watched this one and the one by Rio. I always thought the original Turle knot was for hooks without eyes. Hmmm... I'm going to have to do some more research. :-)