From Al:

I grew up in Michigan and have fished as long as I can remember. After graduating college, I moved to California and gravitated toward fly fishing almost exclusively. I have been tying “seriously” since 1983 and have been a tying instructor both independently and for several Colorado fly shops since 2000. In 2005 I also began guiding along Colorado’s front range. Currently I am a member of Whiting Farms Pro Staff and am employed by PEAK Fishing and I have several fly patterns commercially available. In addition to guiding, tying instruction and demos, my wife Diana and I own and operate our own company geared primarily toward flyfishing education services. More detailed information is available at www.alrittflies.com.

RECIPE:

• Hook: Tiemco 2488
• Thread: UTC 70 Denier
• Tail: Byed and Barred Braided Leader Butt (Available from Hareline Dubbin’ as “Adult Damsel Body”)
• Thorax: Super Fine Dubbing
• Wing: Organza
• Foam Back: Narrow strip of 2mm Closed Cell Foam, majority of length split so foam is 2 narrow legs joined at one end
• Spot/Post: ParaPost Yarn

From Charles:

I have been tying stuff onto hooks for a long time. It began with poppers and jig heads, which served the fishing I was taught to do by my father. By the age of twelve I was approaching burn out from fishing the warm water mud pit impoundments of central Arkansas. Dear ol` Dad saved me, though, when he took me on a float trip on the White River in northern Arkansas. It has taken all the years since to get enough fur and feather into my bloodstream to achieve the level of addiction I now have for fly fishing, and tying. I justify my habit by tying at conclaves and other events, from coast to coast. I am proud to be a Proteam member for Whiting Farms and on the Pro Staff for Daiichi. It is always good to use the best. I own and operate Tanfly, LLC from my home in Little Rock.
Have fun and tie one on for me!

Also: It catches everything and anything, salt and fresh. Used a lot for smallmouth bass and large trout.

Recipe:

• Hook: Wapsi Lightning Strike, SN 1, Size 06 - or Mustad R50, Size 04 or 06
• Thread: Match body color
• Cone / Head: Wapsi Tungsten. Medium
• Tail: Part of Pine Squirrel zonker which forms the body.
• Body: Pine squirrel zonker.

From Charles:

I have been tying stuff onto hooks for a long time. It began with poppers and jig heads, which served the fishing I was taught to do by my father. By the age of twelve I was approaching burn out from fishing the warm water mud pit impoundments of central Arkansas. Dear ol` Dad saved me, though, when he took me on a float trip on the White River in northern Arkansas. It has taken all the years since to get enough fur and feather into my bloodstream to achieve the level of addiction I now have for fly fishing, and tying. I justify my habit by tying at conclaves and other events, from coast to coast. I am proud to be a Proteam member for Whiting Farms and on the Pro Staff for Daiichi. It is always good to use the best. I own and operate Tanfly, LLC from my home in Little Rock.
Have fun and tie one on for me!

Also: It catches everything and anything, salt and fresh. Used a lot for smallmouth bass and large trout.

Recipe:

• Hook: Daiichi salmon fly hooks size 3/0 down to size 10
• Thread: Clear Mono
• Eyes: Barbell or bead chain (he uses Wapsi "Real Eyes")
• Tag: Holographic Tinsel wound down the hook bend and back up
• Body: Pine squirrel zonker palmered to just behind the eye.
• Collar: Whiting Spey feather, as many wraps as you can get.

Doug puts the weight on in this heave multi purpose fly.

Livingston tier and guide Doug McKnight hails originally from Pennsylvania, but now lives in Livingston, MT. He is currently a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants and also creates beautiful display flies in custom shadow boxes.

If you would like to learn more about Doug's custom work you can reach him at dougmfish406@gmail.com or by calling him at George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler at (406) 222-7130.

Recipe:

• Hook: Bass bug hook, or standard saltwater hook.
• Thread: Flat waxed nylon white
• Tail: 3 or four pairs of wide webby Rooster neck hackle, white, brown, yellow dyed grizzly, crystal flash
• Head/Body: Deer belly Hair white; Deer body hair, brown, Black
• Legs: 3 or 4 medium round rubber legs yellow
• Eyes: Medium doll eyes
• Weedguard: 20# hard mono

Additional notes: coat front of popper with a flexible adhesive like clear Silicone, it makes the popper make more noise and "pop" better.