Woodpeckers

Phone rings, Florida USA . . . Likely just another telemarketer. "Hello, is this Aaron?" yes. Usually, you're good once you get to here. It's a legit call, and this Gentleman is looking for some flies. We have a pleasant conversation. He’s fished the Babine, we chat a bit about people we know in common, where he fishes, and how he came to find out about me. I have been pretty busy prepping to get out of town heading for AB for my Spey Camps but I want to help him. He asks if I am familiar with a fly called the "woodpecker" I am not. He's gonna send me some pics, and I'll have a look. Its a good order of flies if I accept the job. I need to see the bugs first tho.

Whenever someone is looking for flies that are a little different my ears perk up. I am a bit of a fly guy and as much as I claim not to be and I prove myself wrong quite often. I love flies, I love looking in fly boxes, and I love seeing new stuff that inspires ideas for other new stuff. If someone is seeking me out for a custom tying job and something that cannot be found in stores, the fly obviously has some magic of some sort for them and I wanna know about it. I've always been a fly history nerd, and I like doing orders which come with a little history, much like the Norwegian Mustaches from awhile back. It's gonna be a fun job, and I agree to do it.

It's a bit of an oddball, but I have seen it before tied by a friend Dave. I call him, and he gives me a few tips on tying them and a bit of the origin. The client wants them for the upper Dean River, and Dave informs me that that is also where he has tied them for. Must be a bit of a thing up there

the long and short of it I capitalized on my excitement and knocked out his order, and they are gonna be off in the mail shortly.

If anyone knows any more about this bug and is willing to share I'd love to hear some more about it.