The Red Horse Streamer

An old eastern North American streamer pattern, the Red Horse Streamer hails from Shushan, New York. Lew Oatman created the fly in the 1950’s to mimic the Red Horse sucker minnow. Lew also created the Shushan Postman pattern.

Copper Johns

A nymph fly for trout and steelhead. For steelhead 2 X strong and 2 X long is appropriate hook characteristics. I’ve fudge a bit here using gold brass bead for the head, and gold flat tinsel for the under wing case. The “bubble” wing case is Loon UV Clear Fly Finish (Thick).

Copper Johns size 12 Mustad 9671. Good enough for Rogue River steelhead. Fish as a dropper off a size 4 Carpetbagger Stonefly nymph.

Kennebago Streamer

A trout and landlocked salmon streamer fly pattern from the state of Maine.

I become intrigued with these old Northeast trout and salmon streamers. So simple, so sleek, and so beautiful. Creator of this early Maine streamer, Herbie L. “Herbie” Welch. I believe the fly is a smelt imitation. I’ve tied it on an old English hook, a size 2 Limerick T D E manufactured by Bernard Sealey & Co, Redditch, England. The Sealey family had a history in manufacturing beginning with sewing needles in the 1880s progressing to fish hooks by the 1900s.