Fly of the Month

May 2001
by Rich Johnson

Reggie Miller
Notes: Some patterns are created by fly tyers with nothing more in mind than to catch fish, others are created to catch fishermen. A few flies through history have been created to honor a person. The Reggie Miller is such a fly. It's design is such that it will catch fish, the structure and materials are proven. Why then create a new pattern and name it after someone? As mentioned before, to honor that person. To hopefully give their name a spot in angling history. Reggie Miller deserves his spot in Alaskan angling history. In "Fly Patterns for Alaska" the story goes like this " … The Reggie Miller was named for a streamside acquaintance who accepted and fished some of Flanders' flies when his own supply was exhausted. Later, he most graciously sent Dan Flanders a jungle cock cape." Remember that when this happened jungle cock was becoming very scarce. According to Harry Geron, who submitted (and most likely designed the fly), this happened at Brooks River in the early 1970's. And now … "for the rest of the story". When I was 16 I got a summer job as the dishwasher at Brooks River Lodge. By this time in my life I had discover fly fishing but was really a novice at all aspects of the sport. One day a guest at the lodge was talking with me about fly fishing and said "If you're want to become really good at fly fishing, you need to tie your own flies. I'll send you some stuff." The rest is history, a couple weeks later a package arrived at the lodge for me with (at the time) hordes of great materials - including a piece of jungle cock cape. I have never stopped tying, nor stopped creating more effective patterns to fish with.
Reggie Miller is (or was) a jeweler in or around New York City. He was a regular guest at Brooks River Lodge in the late 1960's to early 1970's. And, for at least Harry and I, epitomizes the spirit of fly fishing. If, by the miracle of modern technology, this can reach Reggie Miller let him know that he has earned a place in history, and in my heart. He is the reason I tie flies.

Previous Flies

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


May 2001 by Rich Johnson Reggie Miller Notes: Some patterns are created by fly tyers with nothing more in mind than to catch fish, others are created to catch fishermen. A few flies through history have been created to honor a person. The Reggie Miller is such a fly. It's design is such that it will catch fish, the structure and materials are proven. Why then create a new pattern and name it after someone? As mentioned before, to honor that person. To hopefully give their name a spot in angling history. Reggie Miller deserves his spot in Alaskan angling history. In "Fly Patterns for Alaska" the story goes like this " … The Reggie Miller was named for a streamside acquaintance who accepted and fished some of Flanders' flies when his own supply was exhausted. Later, he most graciously sent Dan Flanders a jungle cock cape." Remember that when this happened jungle cock was becoming very scarce. According to Harry Geron, who submitted (and most likely designed the fly), this happened at Brooks River in the early 1970's. And now … "for the rest of the story". When I was 16 I got a summer job as the dishwasher at Brooks River Lodge. By this time in my life I had discover fly fishing but was really a novice at all aspects of the sport. One day a guest at the lodge was talking with me about fly fishing and said "If you're want to become really good at fly fishing, you need to tie your own flies. I'll send you some stuff." The rest is history, a couple weeks later a package arrived at the lodge for me with (at the time) hordes of great materials - including a piece of jungle cock cape. I have never stopped tying, nor stopped creating more effective patterns to fish with. Reggie Miller is (or was) a jeweler in or around New York City. He was a regular guest at Brooks River Lodge in the late 1960's to early 1970's. And, for at least Harry and I, epitomizes the spirit of fly fishing. If, by the miracle of modern technology, this can reach Reggie Miller let him know that he has earned a place in history, and in my heart. He is the reason I tie flies.
	Hook: Eagle Claw 1197G, size 4-6 Thread: 6/0 black Weight: optional Body: Tinsel chenille, silver Wing: Cream polar bear under, black bucktail over Sides: Lady Amherst crests Cheeks: Jungle Cock Topping: Peacock herl, 5-6 strands
	1) I'm using a standard UTE salmon hook, size 4. The Eagle Claw 1197G is difficult to find and, although pretty, not the most effective hook to fish with. Start your thread and tie down the tinsel chenille as you wrap back. This fly has a short body, so stop your thread above the hook point. Bring your thread forward
	2) Wrap the chenille forward, creating a thick body. Tie off and trim.
	3) Tie in a small bunch of polar bear. I loosely stacked the tips to keep some taper.
	4) Tie in a small bundle of black bucktail, slightly longer than the polar bear.
	5) Tie in the Amherst crests to be shorter than the wing. The position should be just above the body, and not higher than the wing itself.
	6) Tie in jungle cock nails as creeks.
	7) Add the peacock herl as a topping. Create a tapered head, whip finish, and head cement.
	8) The Reggie Miller is a variation of the Sockeye John (Fly Patterns of Alaska, pg. 19 ; or The Book of Fly Patterns by Eric Leiser, pg. 233). Because the original recipe called for polar bear I feel I should put in a few words that material. Federal laws protect Polar Bears which are marine mammals. Although possession of polar bear hair is legal, it is illegal for any non-native to sell, barter, or trade any part of the bear or any product which uses polar bear. So it is best to find a white to cream colored substitute material such as buck tail, calf tail, goat, or even synthetic hair.

May 2001 by Rich Johnson

May 2001
by Rich Johnson