Over 30 years ago, in the May 1990 issue of “Fly Rod and Reel”, I wrote a short article discussing the idea of imitating nymphal shucks trailing behind newly hatched, impaired mayflies, caddis and midges.

I went on to say the idea was not new, and had been discussed as early as 1931 in Col. E.W.Harding’s excellent book, “The Flyfisher and the Trout’s Point of View”.

Fly fishing friends and I were working on simple fly patterns incorporating trailing shucks. We found they were, and still are, incredibly effective on ultra-selective trout on western spring creeks and rivers.

I came upon the short piece this week and thought you’d enjoy reading a bit of history on our first fly patterns tied with shucks.