” DECEIVED BY A DECEIVER”
This eighteen inch Rainbow Trout is the result of a collaboration of friends. The beautiful driftwood is from the Caney Fork River given to me by my friend Joey Monteleone ( it was decorating his porch) ! On a visit, I was staring at it and commented, ” I see fish in there”. He said , ” take it home and set them free” , so, I did. The beautiful deceiver Fly is created my the ” MASTER OF DEERHAIR FLYS, Pat Cohen. Pat was referred to me my Aileen Lane, ambassador of the Fly Fishing Museum, writer, and Fly Tier. I’ve heard she can also catch a Trout now and then.

” BROOKIES, THE WAY I LIKE UM ” !

From the very first one I caught ( about 4 inches), I was captured by its beauty. Hooked then, hooked now, they’ll always be my favorites. Though I only catch them in my studio anymore, the urge to create just one more prevails.

” YUM YUM, MY FAVORITE MEAL”

I love it when a story comes together. A while back I posted a photo of a big Brown chasing a Rainbow . A fella responded saying he’d started night fishing for BIG BROWNS with a mouse with great success. I thought about it and decided , that would make a nice creation. After calling my friend Aileen Lane, she said , ” Pat Cohen is the Master of Deerhair creations and, he’s your Facebook friend. I called and he’s provided me this this fabulous Deerhair mouse.

LOOK AT THAT HOPPER!

I haven’t done a pair in quite some time , this, my latest creation is a pair of six inch Brookies taking an interest in a snagged hopper Fly. Presentation is a beautiful piece of driftwood my friend Joey Monteleone found for me.

” DRIPPING WET”
I sure miss wading those slippery little creeks, but my memories of it are expressed each time I begin work on a new creation. These are my most recent.

” JEWELS OF THE BROOK”
The very first creation of mine that sold was a little 8 inch Brook Trout , l’ve been hopelessly HOOKED ever since. This one ( also) 8 inches I particularly like, not sure what is captivating me , but I just like it. Some are just really hard to part with, this one WILL BE. Jim Wiley.

You wouldn’t think Tennessee,Louisiana, and Oregon had much in common, however, this BROOKIE thinks so. It’s carved from Tupelo swamp wood, it’s base is Box Elder driftwood from Tennessee, and it’s presented on a Manzanita branch from Oregon. Oh, and it’s creator is an old fella from Tennessee.

. SAME TROUT, DIFFERENT STYLE

LOVE BROOKIES ! Here’s several ways I like to present them.
Pulling a Stonefly Nymph off a rock, jumping for a Mayfly, glimpsing a snagged fly, and a wall presentation. My goal is always trying to create the illusion of motion.

” GET THAT BUG”!
One of my favorite presentations. I learned this at an Ed Walaki clinic on the bank of the Ausable river in Grayling, Mich.about 12 years ago. Ed has since passed away, WHAT A GREAT GUY and teacher. I was the only one from the South and nearly froze to death even though it was May. I guess my shivering provided the entertainment for the rest of the ” Yankees ” for 5 days! They didn’t object to the country sausage and brown eggs I brought up from Tennessee though .

. ” HARD TO CATCH, EASY TO LOVE”

While I was still steady enough to wade, Browns were always the hardest to catch for me. It’s easier now, because the only place I ” catch um” is in my studio. Presented here are three styles.