Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”

by Rusty Dunn

Summer approaches, and the sweet of the year is fading fast.  The abundant hatches of spring, when fishing is easy and everyone is an expert, will soon fade.  Before you know it, the dog days of summer will be at hand.  If you’re like most fly anglers, you’ve suf­fered your share of indignities so far this season.  Insults from those picky fish of March, who refused your finest BWO imitations.  Were they too big or the wrong shade of olive?  Maybe the trout were feeding on midges?  Who knows!  Or those snobby trout of April, who slashed at every­thing except your beautifully tied caddis imitations.  Or those single-minded fish of late May and early June, who keyed on some indecipherable feature of emerg­ing sulfurs and thumbed their noses at your entire fly box.  Summer, however, is a time for some angler payback.  Hatches have waned both for you and for the trout.  The trout can no longer afford to be choosy.  It’s time to tease and torture the little bastards.  Time to drive ’em crazy.  Time to show ’em who’s boss.  Yes, it’s time for Edward Hewitt’s Neversink Skater, one of the most unlikely flies you will ever see. Read More