Having tied and fished dry flies for years, Bill Shuck, aka "tie2fish" to his online friends, began tying soft hackled wet flies in 2008 after an employee at his local fly shop showed him an English red grouse skin and some spools of Pearsall's Gossamer thread. Bill started out tying sparse North Country spider patterns, and later learned how to emulate the basic traits of the fly style called "flymph" by V.S. (Pete) Hidy. (Bill credits Pete's son Lance Hidy with being of immeasurable assistance during this learning process.)
Bill has, with occasional success, tied replicas of all the Jim Leisenring and Pete Hidy patterns for which he has recipes. Being an adventurous tier, he has also applied the signature flymph style trademarks to several patterns that he considers to be more or less his own. Enjoy some of Bill's patterns below.
Bill has, with occasional success, tied replicas of all the Jim Leisenring and Pete Hidy patterns for which he has recipes. Being an adventurous tier, he has also applied the signature flymph style trademarks to several patterns that he considers to be more or less his own. Enjoy some of Bill's patterns below.
Flymph Patterns of Bill Shuck
click on photos to view larger size
click on photos to view larger size

Brown Bear Caddis Flymph
Hook: Daiichi 1120, #14
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer #17 brown
Hackle: hen saddle, light brown
Rib: flat tinsel, gold, x-small
Body: 80/20 blend of brown phase black bear and hare's mask spun with #6a (light orange) gossamer using a Clark's dubbing block
Deleatideum Flymph (a New Zealand mayfly) Hook: Mustad 94842, #14 Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer #14 (claret) Hackle: one each hen saddle, grey and badger Tag/Rib: flat tinsel, gold/silver, small Tail: bronze mallard flank barbs, 3 ea. Body: 70/20 blend kit muskrat and hare's ear spun on Gossamer #10 (ash) using a Clark's dubbing block |