The Journey of the Wool Patch



If you look hard I'm hiding in the front pocket !


The Journey of the Patch (me) started when I was attached to a young boy of 8. We traveled the rivers and streams of Utah back in the early 70's. His dad, a fly fisherman and fly tier of great talent, had really shown this kid a thing or two...I lay here on a fly tying bench and I don't think we could get another fly inside of me...I get attached to his shirt, and sometimes I get stuffed inside his pocket and we journey up and down the streams and rivers all around the state. You see, his dad was a Hydraulic Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation working on the Central Utah Water Project (before the day of electronics). Rivers and Streams flows ( C.F.S. ) were done manually, so as his dad worked and so did I; I held them flies...all of them, never losing one as we journeyed.  We caught trees, we caught rocks, and even some Z Zzz's too!  But we did catch lots of fish too.  This kid was pretty darn good by my accounts.  His old Chuck Taylor's sometimes kinda got wet and other times he got to wear some rubber boots.  But most of the time, they just slowed him down.  Three or four casts to a hole and zoom!!...we were off to another hole.  Sometimes I have to kinda admit that I got dizzy at times...

If me and these shoes could talk, the waters we journeyed and the fish we let go... WOW!!  Okay, so I am just a bit camera shy, but this is a self taken picture of myself.

Hi...I'm the Wool Patch

Just as I said, I don't think you can get another fly inside me.  And I didn't like it when I was in the back pocket at times.  Weird noises and smells came about the fresh air!  This was disturbing, but it didn't last long.  I hear "Fish On " and we would move about and I hear splash and "NICE"!!   Throughout our days Journey and then later in the Journey, I would hear "David,....David, we have to go!"  And its like a 100 yard dash to the truck...he didn't want to be a burden to his Dad, so he was fast to do what he was told.  And then I get to hear an account of the Journey that we had just had.  Man, we had fun!!  His dad would ask questions and his responses were that of a well scholared man of fishing.  His knowledge was vast...It impressed me!! Then the Journey continues to this day . . .  JOURNEY ON ! !

McCoy's "Miracle" Midge

This fly pattern is mine as passed down by my dad and his dad.  Please respect that. At this time, I share it with you...the non-commercial fly tier. It is intended for personal use only and all I request is that you use it for personal non-monetary gain and call it by it's name..."McCoy's Miracle Midge". If tied as directed, this pattern will catch fish when other patterns won't!

1. Start with a Tiemco TMC 2487 hook. This is a size 20 and it is small. Sizes 18 down to a 28 if you can see it.

2. Tie in gold Ultra-fine UNI tinsel. ( Note Gold , Silver , Bronze , Green and Red Tinsel may be used as well ) Five different patterns on one color of silk .

3. This is the "Secret Ingredient". Pearsall's Marabou Silk in white. (You can use other colors to match the hatch). Other silk may work, but this is one of the secrets!

4. This is the step that makes this midge the "Miracle". Build up the black Uni 8/0 thread to form a body...When the silk gets wet, it becomes translucent and this body appears.

5. Wrap in the silk and the tinsel. Always wrap an odd number of the ribs with the tinsel.

6. Make the head tie off with some half hitches, head cement and ta-dah...you're done!

7. Tie some up and go catch some fish!!!