Lance Gray & Company

Lance Gray & Company
PO Box 962
1079 Northgate Drive
Willows, CA 95988
ph: 530-517-2204
lancegrayandcompany@yahoo.com

Fly Bench

Eng Thing

Eng Theng was designed by Wayne Eng. The fly is a combination of two great flies – the Pheasant Tail Nymph and the Prince Nymph. With that combination of parents, it's no wonder this fly fishes well. I tie it from size 10-18. The fly represents caddis, mayflies and stones. It has peacock herl and a flashback. A simply elegant fly.

Hook - TMC 3769 8-16

Thread - Black

Bead - Copper size to match

Tail - Pheasat Tail

Body - Pheasant Tail

Rib - Gold wire size to match

Thorax - Peacock herl

Wingcase - Pheasant Tail with Flashabou flashback

Wings - Amber Goose Biots

Head - Peacock Herl

Vinci's Gas Caddis

Hook - Scud Style Hook – TMC2457 or equivalent (#14, #16 or #18)

Abdomen - 2 spherical Rainbow Beads – 3.5mm (for #14 hook), 2.5mm (for #16 hook),and 2mm (for #18 hook)

Abdomen Back: marabou dyed to match bug.Recommended – olive, chartreuse, green, or tan.

Thorax/colar - 1 strand of Peacock herl twisted with 1 strand of Ostrich herl.This combines the triggering effect of the iridescent Peacock with the natural movement of the soft Ostrich.

Head - Black tungsten or brass bead.A gold plated bead can be substituted but you should keep in mind that since the fly is already extremely bright, extra sparkle might be overkill.

Thread -(size #8): Color to match the marabou.I recommend that you use the brightest (preferably fluorescent) thread you can find so that the color shows through the transparent rainbow beads.

Legs - Partrige quil (natural or dyed brown)

Lance's X-May Riding Hood

The X-May Riding Hood has taken fish on the Feather River, Hat Creek and Baum Lake. Great pattern!

Hook-TMC 3769 Size 16

Thread-Danville Red 6/0

Rib - Red BR Wire

Bead-Copper Bead 3/32

Tail-Dyed Brown Pheasant Tail

Body-Danville Red 6/0 Thread rib with rust wire size BR

Thorax-Superfine Dry Fly Dubbing Brown

Wingcase-Brown Pheasant Tail with one strand of Flashabou Mirage Pearl tyed flashback style

Legs-Red Krystal Flash two strands on each side

Single Bead

Rigging the single bead is quite easy. The most important thing is to keep the bead close to the hook. Some people peg the bead away from the hook; this leads to fish being hooked outside the mouth and could cause serious harm to the fish (hook in eyes or gills). Keep the bead next to the hook.
First, tie your hook onto the tippet material. I like the Gamakatsu Egg Hook C14S Size 6. I then slide the bead down the tippet material. Take the tippet material and run it back through the bead twice, basically creating two loops through the bead. This will lock the bead in place. Tie the tippet material to your leader or to another fly. Works perfect.

Gray's Atherton

The Atherton is a great suggestive pattern for steelhead. This pattern is an old one that's been "tweaked" with new materials. It's best fished on overcast days or under low-light conditions. It's a great fly.

Hook- Any Steelhead Hook Size 4-6

Thread - Black

Tag - Samll Oval Silver Tinsel

Tail - Golden Pheasant Tippett

Body - Tag Chartruese floss 1/4, Hareline's Ice Dub Peacock 3/4 of the body.

Rib - Small Oval Silver Tinsel

Hackle - Furnace

Wing - Holographic Pearl Tinsel and Natural Brown Squirrel Tail.

Chief Fat Dog

You have to love the name of this fly! It's a great middle-of-the-day pattern, originated in Bristol Bay, Alaska. We swing this fly early in the year before the egg-drop happens on the Feather for those aggressive fish that can't control their desire to eat.

Hook - Any Steelhead Hook Size 2-6

Thread - Black

Body - Small Holographic Silver Tinsel

Wing - Purple Squirrel Tail with a couple of strands of Holographic silver tinsel.

Throat - Orange Squirrel Tail

Lance's X-May PMD

The X-May PMD has taken fish on the Lower Sac, Deer Creek and used as a trailer behind a damsel fly pattern at McCumber. Great pattern!

Hook-Daiichi 1530 Size 16

Thread-Danville Yellow 6/0

Bead-Copper Bead 3/32

Tail-Dyed Olive Pheasant Tail

Body-Danville Yellow 6/0 Thread rib with rust wire size BR

Thorax-Superfine Dry Fly Dubbing Ginger Variant

Wingcase-Brown goose biot with one strand of Flashabou Mirage Pearl tyed flashback style

Legs-Rootbeer Krystal Flash two strands on each side

Lance's Ice Tea Caddis

This is a great fly that Lance has just came up with. A hot producer right of the vise. Easy to tie.

Hook - Daiichi 1120 Size 14

Thread -Danville T. Brown 6/0

Bead-Copper Bead 7/64

Body-Copper and rust ultra wire size BR

Thorax-Ice Dub Golden Brown, J.Fair Golden Brown Grizzly with Ice Dub Peacock right behind bead

Lance's X-May Olive

This fly can be tied in a number of colors. olive, brown and black or the main colors. Easy to tie and a great fly to fish everywhere.

Hook-Daiichi 1530 Size 16

Thread-Danville Dark Olive 6/0

Bead-Copper Bead 3/32

Tail-Dyed Olive Pheasant Tail

Body-Danville Dark Olive 6/0 Thread rib with olive wire sixe BR

Thorax-Superfine Dry Fly Dubbing Brown Olive

Wingcase-Brown goose biot with one strand of Flashabou Mirage Pearl tyed flashback style

Legs-Olive Brown Krystal Flash two strands on each side

Milt’s Pond Smelt

We fish this fly everywhere. ButtValley, theFeather River, Bass ponds and everywhere there are baitfish. Fished on a floating line or sinking this pattern needs to be in everyone’s fly box.

Hook – TMC Hook 300

Thread – Mono Thread Small Diameter

Body – 2MM Foam Sheets color to match (White) that are glued together with contact cement or adhesive spray with the hook sandwiched in between. Cut to shape. Pearlescent Mylar tubing placed over body reverse style. Reverse style – tie Mylar in right behind hook eye with thread and push the Mylar Tubing back over itself over the body. Tie off in rear. Color the minnow pattern with permanent ink pens. Color to suit, Pond Smelt is gray on top with an orange throat. Eyes are painted on, black & yellow. A coating of Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails between color and eyes and after the eyes dry. Be aware that when using permanent pen must dry for at least 24 hours, before sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails is applied.

Tail – Gray Marabou tied short. Tie off marabou and fly at rear of hook.

Trina’s Pheasant Tail

We started fishing this fly a couple of years ago. It is one of our go to flies for the Feather River, Hat Creek and the Pit. A great fly dead drifted.

Hook – Daiichi Hook 1130 Size 14-16

Bead – 3/32 Brass Tungsten

Thread –Danville Brown Thread 6/0

Tail – Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers

Body – Ultra Wire Green and Red Size BR

Wingacse – Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers with one strand of Flashabou Holographic Pearlescent, topped with a dab of Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails.

Thorax – Hairline Ice Dub Peacock

Legs – Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers

Gray's Para-Nymph...

Gray’s Para-Nymph is a great fly for both Lake Almanor, and Butt Valley Reservoir. We fish this pattern on a floating line. The pattern is simple, elegant, durable, and fishy. This pattern is awesome.

Material List

Hook - Daiichi 1270 Hook Size 6

Thread - Yellow Danville 6/0 Thread

Body - J.Fair Yellow Seal Dub

Rib - Gold Medium Wire

Back - J.Fair Golden Yellow Filoplume

Wingcase - Yellow 2mm foam

Thorax - J.Fair Yellow Seal Dub

Wing - Yellow 2mm foam tied loop style

Hackle - J.Fair Golden Yellow Grizzly hackle

Lincoln's TS 2 Hex-Bugger...

My brother Lincoln designed this fly. It has everything! Color, movement, and sparkle. One of our go to flies for both Almanor and Butt Valley. We fish this fly on an intermediate line.

Material List

Hook - Daiichi 1720

Bead - 1/8" Gold Bead

Thread - Yellow Danville 6/0 Thread

Tail - J.Fair Golden Yellow Grizzly Marabou with one piece of Holographic Pearlescent Flashabou on each side.

Body - J.Fair Glimmer Medium Olive Short Shuck

Thorax - J.Fair Glimmer Medium Olive Long Shuck

Hackle - J.Fair Golden Yellow Grizzly Hackle

Pheasant Tail Flashback...

The Pheasant Tail Flashback is an all purpose nymph that we use all the time. We fish this fly in both stillwater and streams. A great fly.

Material List

Hook – Daiichi 1130 Hook Size 14-18