While reading an article about fishing the Beaverkill by Mike Valla in the July/August issue of Eastern Fly Fishing he mentioned that two successful patterns he used were the Atherton No. 2 and No. 5 dry flies. Since these are tied in the classic Catskill style, and I enjoy tying Catskill style flies, I got out my copy of John Atherton’s book The Fly and the Fish to get the materials needed to tie these pattern. The materials listed here are for the Atherton No. 2.

Hook – Dry Fly #12-16

Thread = Tan 8/0

Wing – Wood duck tied upright and split

Tail – Brassy or Rusty Dun or Light Ginger and Dun mixed

Body – Tan fox fur mixed with a little hares ear

Rib – Oval Gold Tinsel

Hackle Lt. Cree and Med. Dun mixed tied Catskill style.

John Lazar

Fly tied by John Lazar