Parks' Fly Shop Custom Flies

Bicolor Ant, Jewell's

Ben's Bicolor ant has been a top producer in the Lamar drainage since 2007. It difers from most bicolor ants in that it is tied with red thread and a brown hackle, which have proven more effective than the standard black thread and black hackle. #16-20. See the sinking version in the Wet Flies section. Also available in all black, #16-20.

Biot Midge, Jewell's

Ben's Midges can be critical in late summer and early fall in the Lamar drainage. When you see the trout sipping something invisible towards the tails of pools, especially in the morning, try this fly. Also a good bet in late fall, winter, and early spring on the Yellowstone and spring creeks. Available in black (pictured) and cream, #20-22.

Caddis Cripple, PFS

Cripple caddis have proven highly effective over the past few seasons, especially as droppers behind hoppers. Available in Coachman Trude, tan, olive, White Miller, pink, and purple color combinations. (Purple and olive are new for 2012.)

Original recipe by Blue Ribbon Flies, though the color combinations are generally our own.

Chubby Chernobyl, PFS

Chubby Chernobyls have taken the West by storm. These highly visible but low-floating stonefly/hopper/attractors can really be the ticket when the fish are looking up. Our version features a bullet head for increased floatation, multicolored fish attracting silicone legs, and color combos not available elsewhere. Available in gold (pictured), cicada, tan, and green, in sizes #8-12 depending on color, plus some oddballs for Walter's clients...

Clacka Caddis, Wiese's

THE hot fly on the Yellowstone in 2009 and 2010. This pattern has more or less overtaken the Coachman Trude as our favorite dry on the Yellowstone. Similar colors as the Trude, but floats low but visible and buoyant due to the synthetic wing and tail. Available to your local shop through wholesaler Montana Fly Company. Available in #12-16 Coachman (pictured, and the most consistent color), #14-16 tan, #14 olive, #16 purple, #14 lime, #16 amber and #16 White Miller, plus #14 pink, new for 2012. Check our Youtube Channel to learn to tie this great bug.

DFH Hopper, Wiese's

This hopper combines the profile of Doug's Wrapped Foam Hopper with the synthetic wing and fuzzy dubbed body of the Chubby Chernobyl. A great changeup for either pattern and a good bet in August on the Yellowstone. Available in gold/amber, tan/yellow, and black/purple color combos.

EMT, Korn's

This series of foam loopwing drake emergers have been favorites in the Lamar drainage since Doug started tying them for us. Please note that our color combinations are quite different from similar flies available elsewhere. Available in Green Drake (pictured) #12-14, Gray Drake #12-14, and Brown Drake, #10.

Foam Beetle, PFS

Our version of the ever-popular foam beetle is somewhat rounder in profile than most foam beetles, which helps if float correctly and allows for a bigger indicator. We also carry them in brown and olive in addition to the basic black. #14-18. Custom colors/sizes/etc. available.

Foam-Meister, Wiese's

This big peacock-bodied stonefly/attractor has worked well for us the past several seasons as a changeup fly when the fish are looking up for Salmonflies and Golden Stones. It's big enough to be noticeable, but small enough that when the fish have been stung by too many fake stoneflies, they'll eat this one. #10.

GFA, Wiese's

These foam hopper/caddis/attractor/stonefly/ whatever the trout want it to be patterns have been among our best-producing hoppers since 2006. Low floating but easy to see due to the indicator and hair wing, the much larger expanse of bare hook hanging down at the rear of the fly helps it keep from flipping over on its back, the bane of most foam hoppers. Available in #10-12 pine grain (pictured, and if you find any more of the light brown and tan swirled foam, let me know), #10-12 cinnamon, #10-12 olive, #10 dark wood grain, #10 cinnamon with yellow legs, and #10 gold. Set to debut in 2012 are pink, peach, yellow, and black sparkle cricket, all in #12 and "Improved" configuration. Check our Youtube Channel to learn to tie this bug.

Haze Cripple, Wiese's

We're really getting into cripples lately, and this version, with a super-durable spandex body, is our favorite. Purple might not seem like a "match the hatch" color, but we just kill them during Baetis hatches on this version, which resembles the super-popular Purple Haze Parachute. Haze Cripples are our most consistently productive fall dries. Available in #14-18 purple, #16 PMD, #18 spring BWO (olive), and #18 fall BWO (gray). Check our Youtube Channel to learn to tie the gray version of this great bug.

Lamar Chernobyl, PFS

Our version of the popular Chernobyl Ant. Not as popular with customers as it was from 2004-2008, but still a hit with the trout, especially in its namesake drainage. Available in a variety of colors between sizes #8 and 12, with some new oddball colors set to debut in 2012, reflecting the ascendancy of pink and purple.

Letort Hopper, PFS

Still probably the go-to hopper on its namesake stream in Pennsylvania, out here in the West Letorts benefit from the fact that so few anglers carry them and so few shops sell them. As far as we know, we're the only shop around that stocks them. Our version features a durable synthetic underwing and is available in four colors, #12-14 green (pictured, and a GREAT bug on Soda Butte and Slough), #10-12 natural deerhair, #10-12 golden brown, and #10-12 cicada.

Palmered CDC White Miller, Wiese's

The White Miller or Nectopsyche caddis has become the most important hatch on the Firehole River, but most commercial caddis dries just don't look like the real bug, which is pale blond with olive undertones. This version, based on Hans Weilenmann's CDC & Elk, suggests emerging caddis as well as egglayers. The other flies we tie imitating this caddis are important, but if you only carry one pattern, this should be it. #14. Check our Youtube Channel for how to tie this great bug.

Parks' Salmonfly

There are many Salmonflies out there that look like this one, but this is the original "Improved" Sofa Pillow. It differs from most similar patterns primarily in that it has a bucktail wing and a much fatter, brighter orange body, both of which more closely resemble the natural insect than most traditional "fur and feather" stoneflies. Highly durable and highly effective whether fished dry or drowned, the Parks' Salmonfly has been catching trout on the Yellowstone since 1954. #4-8. Check our Youtube Channel to watch Richard Parks tie this fly, which his father invented. $3.00 when tied by Richard Parks, $2.25 for those we have tied for us by MFC.

Prom Queen Salmonfly, Wiese's

The Prom Queen is our primary foam Salmonfly. It features a body of the same yarn used to make the Parks' Salmonfly, which floats in or under the surface film as do the bodies of the naturals when they're egglaying or drowning. Low-floating but highly visible, this is our top Salmonfly on Yellowstone River float trips, though the Parks' Salmonfly is better on the Gardner. #4-6.

Purple Phaze Emerger, Wiese's

This one works great in September, especially during heavy Fall Gray Baetis hatches, since this one has a more Fall BWO-like gray hackle. Floats forever with the loop. Production flies are easy to see due to the addition of the indicator tuft. #16-18. This fly may be available in your local shop, since it's now being distributed wholesale by Montana Fly Company. Tying instructions on our Youtube Channel.

Single Decker Chernobyl Ant

Extra-thick foam results in this super-buoyant Chernobyl, which is a great choice in late summer in the Lamar drainage or anytime and anywhere you want to hang a giant nymph off a dry. #6.

Soda Fountain Parachute, Keltner's

Originated by former PFS guide and Lamar district ranger Dave Keltner, this biot-bodied parachute pattern is a great imitation of a wide range of mayflies found in the Lamar drainage, ranging from the big Gray and Green Drakes on down to tiny BWO. Particularly important on Soda Butte in July and August for the summer Green Drakes (#10-12) and August and early September in #14-16 for the smaller Heptagenia and Flavs. #10-20.

Spent Caddis, Korn's

This is THE ticket when imitating both crippled or spent egglaying caddis. We have no idea how many times this fly has brought the most delicate big fish rises you can imagine on the Yellowstone for us. You can even swing it as a wet fly. Best fished as a dropper behind a Clacka Caddis or another visible dry. Available in #14-18 tan, #14-16 olive, #16 peacock, and #16 opal.

Spent Spruce Moth, Korn's

Over the past few seasons Spruce Moth imitations have been the most important terrestrials to have on sections of stream in or near evergreens. Falls of these terrestrial moths, whose populations have skyrocketed due largely to global warming and are at a cyclical peak now anyway, can get so dense that the fish become selective. Most commercial patterns float high, like large caddisflies, but spruce moths typically get waterlogged and sink or at best float low in the surface film, especially in the fast water that predominates in most wooded areas in our part of the world. Doug's version imitates this behavior perfectly. Fish and clients both love it. This would have been our top-selling terrestrial last season if we hadn't run out. #14. Fish it behind a visible dry like a Clacka Caddis, Soda Fountain Parachute, or hopper.

Synth Double Wing, Wiese's

Walter developed this fly from Gary Lafontaine's original Double Wing. This version rides lower but is more buoyant, more durable, and easier to see due to the synthetic wings. Think of it as the big brother to the Trude, Coachman Clacka, and the baby, the Coachman Trude Cripple. $2.50. Tying instructions on our Youtube page. This is a great choice during the heavier flows of mid-late July, either trailing a Salmonfly during the big bug emergence or supporting a dropper nymph later in the month.

Tweeter, Korn's

This is Doug's take on the popular "hot butt caddis" genre. The tan version pictured here (available in #12-16) is a great imitation of egglaying summer Hydropsyche as well as an attractor, while the olive version (#12-16) matches the spring Bracycentrus or Mother's Day caddis. Also available in #16 Yellow Sally, which is notable for bringing up the largest rainbow we saw during the 2009 season, a fish estimated at 27 inches that unfortunately straightened the hook.

Widow Moth, Wiese's

A lower-profile "dry" spruce moth that uses a synthetic wing that floats well with a clipped hackle and a dubbed body you should leave undressed so it goes into the surface film. This fly covers the gap between Doug's wet Spent Spruce Moth and high-floating traditional patterns. #14. Tying instructions on our Youtube Channel.

Wrapped Foam Hopper, Korn's

Designed to include the segmented appearance of the GFA with the two-toned body and tons of legs of a Chernobyl Ant, this hopper debuted only in July 2010, to resounding success both on the river and at the cash register. We basically sold out of them, especially the tan over pink version pictured here, which was the original. Over the past couple seasons the trout have just gone crazy for pink- and peach-colored hoppers, so make sure you get a few of these for next year. Available in #8-10 tan over pink, #8-10 cinnamon over yellow, #10 cinnamon over peach, #10 gold over cinnamon, and #8 tan over brown, plus new colors for 2012.

X-Caddis, PFS

Our version of the standby X-Caddis is tied on a shorter-shank hook and with a fuzzier body than most commercially available X-Caddis, features we believe make it a better imitation of emerging caddis than the original. Available in #14-16 tan (pictured) and #14-16 olive. Check our Youtube Channel for how to tie our version of this classic caddis imitation.

Biot Soft Hackles

Sometimes a dead-drifted soft hackle just under the surface is the solution for picky risers, especially on pounded rivers like those in the Lamar and Madison drainages, where the fish learn to avoid high-floating dry flies. Available in #16 PMD (pictured) and #18 BWO.

Black and Grizzly Soft Hackle

This large (#12) soft hackle is a good changeup fly for the large nymphs and streamers with which most anglers target fall-run browns. Also a good choice in lakes when fished either stripped under the surface or twitched under an indicator behind a Woolly Bugger.

Coq de Leon and Purple

Purple soft hackles were long the only popular purple trout flies. The secret on purple dries and streamers is out, but purple soft hackles are still great bets, especially during Baetis time or in late evening, when purple is the last color to disappear both for you and I and the trout. #16.

Glasshead Ant, Jewell's

This revision of Ben's sinking bicolor ants, which had already accounted for some great fish on the Yellowstone, has made the original pattern much more effective, especially on flat water. Ants don't float well, so a pattern that sinks slowly and on an even keel, as this one does, can get spooky fish or those unwilling to rise to feed. Fish it behind a dry and hang on. #16.

Glasshead Caddis, McCue's

This simple little caddis pupa is both easier to tie and more effective than many more complicated patterns. It works great as a dropper during and just before caddis hatches, and also works when fished on the swing in riffles. The olive version (pictured), in #14-16, is a great Brachycentrus or Mother's Day caddis pattern, while the tan version, also #14-16, imitates the summer Hydropsyche. Learn how to tie it on our Youtube Channel.

Glasshead Pheasant Tail, Wiese's

This was the first fly Walter Wiese came up with after coming west. It is our most productive pattern on the Firehole, and we'll fish it during any hatch situation, mayfly or caddis, either dead-drift or on the swing. We don't use it enough during dry fly season in the Yellowstone and Lamar drainages, but it's a great choice as a dropper then, especially when the trout are looking for caddis emergers. Learn how to tie it on our Youtube Channel.

Gold & Hen Pheasant

This pattern (and the next) are tied with a super-buggy sparkly dubbing blend. This one, with its orange head and tan/gold body, worked great last summer trailing a streamer and as a searching fly. #14. Check the "Tying Soft Hackles with Larger Feathers" vid on our Youtube page.

Soft Hackle Golden Stone, Korn's

This fly came about after Doug experienced great success fishing his Holiday Golden Stone nymph as a dropper behind a streamer on the Yellowstone. This fly is the same size, but features much more tantalizing movement. Do as Doug does, and throw it behind a streamer. You'll be surprised how many big fish choose this over the larger fly. #10.

Hare's Ear Soft Hackle

This is one of the most classic soft hackles around. We don't mess with success, we just tie them in-house. #12-16.

Neu Series Wet Flies

Walter Wiese and Doug Korn developed this series of winged wets after listening to Matt Minch go on and on about how much we needed to fish big, traditional winged wet flies in addition to soft hackles. The Neu series combines tier-friendly modern synthetic materials with fish-friendly traditional wet fly patterns. This version, the Coachman ( #12-14), can be fished as a mini-streamer, swung, or just dangled under a dry Coachman Trude. Also available in #14 Light Cahill (a great spruce moth or Nectopsyche) and #12 Cowdung (a good match for the olive early summer stoneflies).

Olive and Badger Soft Hackle

This dirty olive wet fly with a bicolor hackle primarily imitates egglaying or crippled Baetis. It's tied on a light wire hook so you can dead drift it just under the film. A good choice on selective risers.

Olive and Brown Soft Hackle

This fly roughly imitates the innumerable aquatic insect nymphs, larvae, and pupae that include olive and speckled brown/black components with a prominent rib. As such it's a great searching pattern when it's unclear what the trout are feeding on. Also a good bet in lakes and as a dropper behind a streamer. #14.

Olive and Coq de Leon

This one, tied with a bright green head and olive body, was good in the spring in the same situations as the Gold & Hen Pheasant.

Partridge and ___________

Combinations of a partridge feather, a slim thread or floss body, and a bit of dubbing are about as classic as you can get for wet flies. Effective everwhere, fished any way you like. #14 orange, yellow, pink, and lime.

Peacock and Black Hen

Another classic combo, this one particularly important in lakes and as a caddis larva in rivers. A great bet as a dropper behind a dry in summer, not least because any fly tied with peacock is automatically magic. #12-16.

Red A**

This fly is an import from the Midwest, where it's wildly popular in tailwaters. People can be quite particular about which version they consider the "real" Red A**, so don't blame us if this one is a bit different. A great lake fly around here, and the brookies treat it like candy. #16.

Royal Coachman, PFS

Another classic, our version of old school Royal Coachman wet features a snazzy floss veil in addition to the standard center band. A good choice in beaver ponds and anywhere rainbows and cutthroats are found. #12.

Super Pupae

After a customer came in last summer raving about how this simple caddis pupa series (which originated in Scandinavia) was just killer on Slough Creek, we had to try some ourselves. Lo and behold, he was right. Strip it aggressively through the film when the fish are making splashy emerger-type rises, or fish it as a dropper behind a dry, with or without floatant. If this sounds like how you'd fish a Crackleback, you're right. #14 White Miller (pictured), #16 tan/Hydropsyche, and #14 yellow.

White Miller

The pupa version of the White Miller/ Nectopsyche caddis. This fly is vital on the Firehole in June and September. Fish it in tandem with another wet (usually the Glasshead PT) early in the morning, then fish it behind a Palmered CDC White Miller during the core of the White Miller hatch. Explosive action, often as it hits the water. #14. Learn how to tie it on our Youtube Channel.

BH Woolly Worm, Peacock

Small beadhead peacock Woolly Worms palmered with brown-dyed grizzly hackle have long been among Walter's favorite lake flies, especially early in the season. With the increasing importance of area lake fishing with the high early summer streamflows over the past few years, and the increasing interest in stillwater fly fishing in general, we decided to start stocking them. Twitch them slowly under an indicator when the fish are lethargic or strip them, either alone or behind a streamer or leech, when the fish are more active. Also a good changeup dropper on the Yellowstone in the summer. #14-16.

Bead, Hare, and Copper, Minch's

We cannot overstate how effective this simple New Zealand-style nymph is.  It has been our most-productive fall brown fly for five seasons, works for trout from coast to coast and as far away as NZ and Patagonia, and has also taken steelhead and even carp.  Lately we've been using it more and more out of the drift boats. Fish it deep, fish it under a dry, swing it, stick it behind a streamer. This fly is also distributed by Montana Fly Company; you should lobby your local shop to carry it.  #10-18. Learn how to tie the "BHC" on Youtube.

Rubberleg BHC, Wiese's

This version of the BHC features a sparkly thorax, black rather than copper bead, and rubber legs. It has proven particularly effective for rainbows in the spring, though it's no threat to the original's overall dominance. #12.

Collared Dip, Purple, Wiese's

Taking the purple revolution subsurface! A great changeup nymph pattern when there are tons of caddis around, like during the Mother's Day Caddis hatch. #14. More colors (including more natural) may be forthcoming.

Copper Matt, Minch's

Another BHC variation, this one with a peacock thorax and an extra turn of copper wire. Think of it as the BHC and the Copper John's kid. This version is better than the original in dirty water, due to the increased flash from the wire and the contrast between the peacock and the hare's ear dubbing. #12-14.

BH Disco Midge

A customer gave us a dozen Disco Midges in this bead and color combination and told us they were his favorite nymph. We won't go that far, but in limited testing with the originals we sure did put some solid fish in the boat, including the biggest whitefish (24") we've ever seen, which had the misfortune to be on at same time Richard was fighting a 21" rainbow on the same fly. #20 and a good bet on October float trips.

Flash SCHWAPF, Tan, PFS

Tied with a fine synthetic tail, shellback, and legs, this impressionistic nymph has a lot of fine movement and racked up an impressive score for Walter's clients on float trips last summer, especially in July and early August when it almost certainly suggested Hydropsyche pupae. This bug seemed especially irresistable to big rainbows, bringing the best fish of the day on several occasions when floating stretches where the best trout is usually a cutthroat. #14.

Floss Worm, PFS

Thanks to whoever first came up with the idea of using skinny, shiny, wiggly, translucent spandex and a glass bead as the foundations of a San Juan Worm variation. Our version is tied on a gold hook that shines through the wound spandex floss body suggesting depth and life. Available in red (pictured), brown, and pink, all #16. This series of worms is a great bet for winter fishing or anytime on spring creeks. Walter's father routinely puts up 50+ fish days with these on Midwestern spring creeks.

Four Feather, Wiese's

Constructed of four of the best feathers in fly tying: lemon wood duck (okay, mallard dyed wood duck in the production versions by MFC), ostrich herl, pheasant tail, and peacock, along with gold wire, gold bead, and a bit of midge flash. We primarily use this one in the same roles as a beadhead Prince, as a sort of changeup. Particularly good just after runoff. #12-18.

Gray Glass Caddis, Wiese's

This one's never the first fly we tie on out in the Lamar drainage, but on the tough days it is often the fly that pulls out three or four fish to save the day. Dredge it in the deepest pools with lots of weight. This is a fly we almost never fish as a dropper beneath a dry. #14.

Haze Serendipity

The ever-popular Serendipity, now tied with durable, stretchy spandex. Available in #16 chartreuse (pictured) and #20 red.

Holiday Stones, Korn's

Doug's Holiday Stones (#6 black, pictured, and #10 gold) offer a more realistic profile than Matt's Minch Stones. Doug likes these better. The rest of us prefer Matt's. We all carry both, and think you should too, especially at the tail end of runoff.

Hula Princess, Wiese's

When Walter set out to create a "Coachman Trude Nymph," he came up with a bulky, Serendipity-type pupa pattern. This one is popular for fishing deep during high flows in #12-14 and as a dropper in July and August in #16. Some Missouri River guides have reported good action on it up there. Your local shops may carry this one if they stock MFC flies.

Minch Stones

Tied in the round, this series of stoneflies (#4-8 black, #8-12 golden, pictured) combines modern flash materials with a traditional tying aesthetic and natural feathers with lots of fine motion and natural mottling. Along with the BHC, Minch Stones are the bugs you need if you're fishing the Gardner River at any point in the season or the Yellowstone at the tail end of high water just as the Salmonflies and Golden Stones are thinking about moving to shore. These flies have caught trout from coast to coast, including some of the giant ocean going variety, so they also make good attractors.

Montana Stone

Old flies don't die, and they don't stop catching fish, they just stop getting bought and sold in fly shops. They can actually become more effective after they do cease to be popular, because the fish see less of them. All of the above happened to the Montana Stone, so when Matt found a stash in his massive hoard of commercial fly tying gear, we figured we had to take them off his hands. Try these in high water or for fall-run browns. #4-10.

New Nymph, Minch's

Matt isn't good at coming up with new fly names. This one doubles as both a peaking caddis, in larger sizes, and a small mayfly nymph with a bright attractor at its head. We fish it primarily in late April and early May in sizes #12-14, then in September and October in #16-18. Larger sizes are effective fished on the swing as well as dead-drift.

Ostrich Scud, Minch's

Scuds constructed almost entirely of natural materials are rare these days. Maybe that's why this one works so well. It's a good choice on Trout Lake, Joffe Lake, and any other lake with high scud populations, as well as spring creeks and tailwaters. Many fish over five pounds have come to this fly. #12-16.

Pogo Nymph

Doug ties this floating nymph in two colors, olive (pictured, in #18) and brown (#16). Fish it either as a floating nymph during BWO/PMD hatches or, and this is a snazzy technique, as a dropper under a heavier nymph. It will drift just above the bigger fly, just like a natural nymph getting ready to head to the surface.

R.A.M. Caddis

The RAM Caddis used to be the default caddis nymph on area rivers, especially the Madison. Various Serendipities have largely pushed it to the wayside. That means the fish see less of them now... This color combo is particularly effective during the Mother's Day Caddis hatch in early May. #14. Tying instructions at our Youtube Channel.

San Juan Worm

You really ought to tie your own San Juan Worms, but if you want to buy them we'll sell them to you. Pick a size, any size. Pick a color, any color. $18/dozen or $2 each. Walter's White River Worms are $2.25. Learn about them at our Youtube Channel.

Schwarp, Korn's

We don't really know what the name means, either. Doug developed this fly from the similar SCHWAPF. It's an excellent caddis pupa-type nymph. We fish the tan (pictured, #14-16) primarily as a summer dropper, while the olive (#14-16) is best in the spring, when it imitates the Brachycentrus caddis. The bright green Green Lantern (#14) is similar to the Schwarp, but has a glass bead and fishes well on the swing.

Shimmer Nymph, Wiese's

Shimmer Nymphs are Walter's entry in the "bright little nymph" sweepstakes. They feature the body profile of a Pheasant Tail, the brightness of the Lightning Bug, and the abdomen segmentation of the Copper John. The rust/PMD version here (#14-18) is particularly good on the Firehole fished deep and as a dropper in the Lamar drainage, while the brown/BWO version (#16-20) is a great choice in the fall on the Yellowstone and on the lower Madison. Also available in #16 chartreuse and #18-20 black.

Shimmer Rockworm, Wiese's

Big rockworm caddis (Rhyacophila) are terrifying little beasties that roam around most of the bigger freestone rivers in the West. Seldom important on the surface, they can get the big fish aggravated underneath. This version is bright and sinks like a rock, so it's good in dirty water. #12-14.

Skinny Bugger, Minch's

Minch's Skinny Bugger is our go-to damsel nymph pattern. It has taken many good fish for us out of Trout Lake and other area lakes with high damsel populations. A good choice on Merrell Lake. Of particular note about this fly is its impressionistic character, which means it doubles as a leech. Available in olive (pictured) in #10-12, as well as #10 rust and #10-12 black, both of which are straight-up leeches.

Skinny Nymph, Wiese's

In the fall, especially on heavily-pressured water like the Lamar drainage, very slim-bodied mayfly nymphs can often interest fish that will refuse more-traditional patterns. Available in #16 PMD (pictured) and #18 BWO, but note that they appear smaller because the hook model used is very short.

Thread Midges

Thread midges come with many names and colors, but really one overall "look." Let us know what you need and we can whip some up for you. We normally stock black and copper Zebra Midges in #18 and tan/copper/black Miracle Nymphs (pictured) in #20, of which the Zebra Midge is particularly important.

Thread Midge Pupae, PFS

With the burgeoning interest in winter fishing, we felt it was high time to add a wider selection of midges. These feature a similar profile to most other midges and we're sure they are dead-straight copies of SOMEBODY'S flies, but they do work wonders when the fish are on small bugs. Available in the following abdomen/rib/ head colors: #22 black/silver/tan, #20 gray/ blue/gray (pictured), #22 olive/copper/brown, #18 light brown/gold/tan, and #20 red/silver/ rainbow.

Turkey Vac, Wiese's

This one began life as a modification of the Shop Vac, but no longer really closely resembles the older pattern. It's a great choice as a dropper during caddis time, and has gotten some play on various blogs and web forums as such. #16.

WD-40

This nifty little midge/BWO is one of the best flies you can have when you fish the Yellowstone in January, February, and early March. Yeah, we fish then, and do well. It's also prime on the spring creeks and tailwaters all spring. We've caught some very big rainbows (as in the size of many newborn babies) on the Missouri below Hauser Dam on this fly. #18.

Bully Bugger, Minch's

Designed to imitate the small sculpin-like fish native to the South Island of New Zealand, this small, heavily mottled and speckled bugger has found a place here, as well.  A great "second chance" fly behind a much larger streamer.  Available in tan (pictured) and chocolate, #10-12. Try the chocolate on area lakes. A little bird told me you can catch some big fish on it, because it looks just like a leech.

Fat-tail Bugger, PFS

Sometimes a Woolly Bugger is just a Woolly Bugger, but sometimes it's a PFS Fat-tail. The name is as it suggests. We tie them with twice the marabou of many commercial patterns, so they hold their shape better and displace more water, which makes them great choices in high, dirty water or when big fish hunting. #2-10 in olive and black (pictured), #4-10 in black, olive, and white/pearl, and #4-6 in olive & yellow and olive & pearl.

Flashabugger

This flashy Woolly Bugger differs from most flashy buggers in that it is tied very sparse, which makes it a good leech imitation. As such, we fish it mostly on lakes. If you fish the private lakes with us, especially in the fall, there's a good chance you'll catch some fish on this fly. #6-12.

Joffe Jewel, Minch's

You need this one if you're going brook trout fishing, either in the Yellowstone region or anywhere else. Tied very sparse so it fishes much smaller than it looks. We usually get at least half our yearly dinner brookies out of various lakes on this fly, and some "take pictures and laugh like a monkey because it's 14-20 inches long" brookies as well. #10-12.

Love Bunny, Wiese's

You won't catch many fish on this beast, but they'll be big. Fish it on a fast sink tip on the Yellowstone or other big rivers, preferably with a 7-weight, and don't even think about using less than 10lb tippet. Fish a Minch's Bead, Hare, and Copper as a dropper to keep the pot boiling, then hope you connect when Mongo takes a swipe at this one. Available in black and tan, both available at your local shop if they stock MFC flies. #2 and #4 hooks, articulated for about 4-5 inches in length. Please note that this fly is not legal in YNP due to the dual hooks. $3.50

Perch Candy, Minch's

This is the only purpose-made warmwater fly Parks' Fly Shop stocks, and it does do wonders on the local perch lakes (Cutler and Dailey), as well as warmwater fisheries out in the lowlands of Montana. Everything from crappie to small pike love this fly in its normal sizes (#8-10), but tied larger it wil get bigger pike and bass. There's also the dirty secret that rainbows love chartreuse streamers at certain times: Matt took a 27-inch rainbow from Dailey Lake on the Perch Candy a few years back. Learn how to tie it.

PT-Bugger, Wiese's

The "PT" stands for "Pheasant Two," because this is the second bugger pattern Walter tied with pheasant church window feathers. This one features the church window as a collar, which pushes a lot of water. These, along with the overall coloration of the fly and the barbell eyes which make it ride hook-up, make the PT-Bugger a great sculpin pattern. Big browns and cutts love it, as do smallmoth bass in the Ozarks. Available at finer Montana Fly Company retailers near you. #4-8, and we also carry a similar olive bugger in the same sizes. $2.50

PFS Sculpin

Sculpins can get too complicated. They should have a fat head, a prominent dorsal, a flashy belly, and maybe some red to suggest gills and blood, and they should move well. This series of synthetic-headed sculpins fits the bill. They're much easier to cast than your average Woolhead Sculpin because the heads are spun from synthetic fibers that repel water, so you're not casting an ounce of water along with the fly every time you pick it up. Available in brown/tan (pictured), mottled olive, and cree, all #2. Hint: try the olive on Slough Creek some July morning. $2.75

Scleech, Wiese's

This selection of articulated Sculpin-types has been working well for us over the past few seasons. T The stinger hook gets those annoying tail-nippers, while the front hook will stick bigger fish, which typically attack the head of their prey. The rabbit wing and free-swinging bead body provide tons of movement. Available in #4 olive, black, and orange/yellow. Now available retail because MFC has picked up the pattern -these suckers are too time-consuming for us to do in-house. $3.00

Swimming Minnow, Wiese's

This Clouser Minnow variation features an additional marabou belly too give it more movement, especially when fished slow, and a deeper profile, which trout prefer. The red throat suggests gills or blood. This is an excellent lake trout fly, fishes well under an indicator nearly dead-drift (like a jig), and can bring the big boys when fished aggressively. #2-4 Bighorn (pictured), #2-4 gray/white, and #4-6 Blacknosed Dace. Available from shops that stock MFC flies. $2.75