Fly-tying Cripples, Stillborns & Shucks

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.

Below is the article in its original version. Hope you enjoy this read!

12 Feb 2020

3$ Bridge.

I planned to fish my way to $3 from Raynolds’ Bridge. It was a perfect day for fishing midges; 26 degrees, calm and partly cloudy. I never made it far from the bridge. Trout were rising to emerging midges in the pockets and pools near the parking area. I had 2 hours of fine dry fly fishing using a #18-20 Scotty’s Midge. While the fish were mostly 12-14” I did take a 17” brown that made me feel glad I did not fish my Tenkara rod setup since it ran several yards downstream and jumped twice mid-river.

Several times I looked east to the Madison Range and behind the Olliffe Ranch, thankful the ranch and surrounding $3 Bridge area is in a conservation easement and forever protected against harmful streamside development and open to anglers and hunters.

On my way home I checked out dozens of wintering bighorn sheep along with elk and mule deer. I’m a lucky guy to live in this part of the Madison Valley!