Fly of the Month

Feb 2003
by Rich Johnson

Fly of the Month: Green Lantern

Notes: This is one of two patterns that I'll be featuring this winter that appeared on the Sockeye Salmon fishing scene this past summer. The story for this fly is one of the Flyfishers came into the first tying clinic and related that he wanted to learn to tie a pattern called the Green Lantern. Now I had not heard of this name (except as one of my favorite comic book hero's.), so I assumed he meant a green, Dean River Lantern. (see FOM 12/2000) However, once he saw the fly he told me that that wasn't it and tried to describe it to me from memory. Well. I made a stab at it, but never did get it right. The pattern had been purchased at McAfee's Fly Shop and had proved to be extremely effective while fishing during the day when nothing else was working. After checking with McAfee's I found out that it was one of their creations, adapted from other patterns. From the minds of Dennis and Vance, please give this pattern a try and see if it produces for you.

Previous Flies

Jan 2003: Casual Dress
Dec 2002: Sockeye_magic
Nov 2002: RJ Woolly
Oct 2002: Green Butted Skunk
Sep 2002 Rajah
Aug 2002 Needlefish
July 2002 Freakazoid
June 2002 Fat Freddie
May 2002 Spanko Sculpin
Apr 2002 Articulated Water Rat
Mar 2002 Double Bunny
Feb 2002 Gold Creek Special
Jan 2002 Half Back
Dec 2001 Martin River Smolt
Oct 2001 Purple Performer
Sept 2001 Muddler Minnow
Aug 2001 Globug
July 2001 McFly Egg
June 2001 Chenille Egg
May 2001 Reggie Miller
April 2001 Sportsman Special
March 2001 Tube Flies
Febuary 2001 2020
January 2001 Ninety Three
December 2000 Dean River Lantern
November 2000 Black Stone Nymph
October 2000 HL Variant
September 2000 Steelhead Caddis
August 2000 Stealth
July 2000 Sockeye Orange

June 2000 Fred the Red
May 2000 Prince Nymph
April 2000: Dahlberg Diver
March 2000: Super Prawn!
Febuary 2000: Midge Larva/Pupa
January 2000: Scud
December 1999: Sockeye Fry
November 1999: Not available
October 1999: Pin Head Muddler
September 1999: Signal Light
August 1999: Pink Pollywog
July 1999 : Leonard Shrimp
June 1999 : Delong Lake Special (parachute)
May 1999 : Beady-eye Nymph
April 1999 : General Practitioner
March 1999 : Sculpin (woolhead bunny)
February 1999 : Popsicle
January 1999 : Nuclic Bunny
December 1998: Alaska Mary Ann
November 1998: Niukluk Smolt
October 1998: Sea Flea
September 1998: Frank's Fly
August 1998: Sparkle Shrimp
July 1998: Flashfly
June 1998: Comet
May 1998: Everglow
April 1998: Battle Creek Special
March 1998: Pearl Marabou Smolt
February 1998: Crystal Egg Wooly Bugger
January 1998 : Tangle Lakes Teaser
December 1997: Bead-Head Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle


Feb 2003 by Rich Johnson Fly of the Month: Green Lantern Notes: This is one of two patterns that I'll be featuring this winter that appeared on the Sockeye Salmon fishing scene this past summer. The story for this fly is one of the Flyfishers came into the first tying clinic and related that he wanted to learn to tie a pattern called the Green Lantern. Now I had not heard of this name (except as one of my favorite comic book hero's.), so I assumed he meant a green, Dean River Lantern. (see FOM 12/2000) However, once he saw the fly he told me that that wasn't it and tried to describe it to me from memory. Well. I made a stab at it, but never did get it right. The pattern had been purchased at McAfee's Fly Shop and had proved to be extremely effective while fishing during the day when nothing else was working. After checking with McAfee's I found out that it was one of their creations, adapted from other patterns. From the minds of Dennis and Vance, please give this pattern a try and see if it produces for you.
	Hook: Eagle Claw, L1197NU, #6 (or similar) Thread: Danville Plus, Flo. Chartreuse Weight: Silver Bead Head 3/16" Rib: Tying thread, Chartreuse Tail: Flo. Chartreuse Flashabou Body: Rear 2/3 - Flo. Chartreuse Flashabou Front 1/3 - Flo. Green Cactus Chenille, large
	1) Pinch the barb and slide the bead onto the hook. Once in the vise, attach your thread leaving a 6-inch tag off the rear.
	2)Bring the thread back up the shank to a spot 1/3 back from the eye. Tie in a dozen strands of Flashabou on top of the shank. Have the strands extend past the bend for the tail and rest over the front of the fly.
	3)Once the strands are secure, fold the front strands over the back and bind down towards the rear. Bring the thread forward again to the 1/3 spot.
	4) Using the longer strands of Flashabou wrap forward and tie off at the 1/3 spot. Now counter-wrap the thread you left in Step 1 as a rib. Tie off and trim both materials.
	5) Tie in the large Cactus Chenille and wrap it forward, smoothing the fibers to the rear as you go. Make sure to cram an extra wrap behind the bead.
	6) Tie off and trim the excess material. I always prefer a double whip finish behind a bead-head. This original version of the Green Lantern is much easier to tie that the one I tried to reproduce at the tying clinic. I've now got a half dozen waiting for summer.

Feb 2003 by Rich Johnson

Feb 2003
by Rich Johnson