Tying the Conover
Nov 18, 2025
Our tying series continues with the Conover tied by Bob Adams. "This pattern, which is still part of their stock-in-trade, with first tied in 1934 exclusively for its designer, Scotty Conover. ‘We still have his original pattern in our files’ says Winnie. ‘it's a big fly and the original color for the body was made with a mixture of rabbit, seal’s fur and red wool. Today we use a blend of muskrat and red wool, with sometimes a touch of white lamb’s wool thrown in. The overall body color is kind of a heathery gray claret, not quite as dark as the one we use for the Isonychia’ This pattern is one of Winnie's favorites as a ‘ fish finder. I would fish it mostly in troubled waters’ she says ‘and sometimes during the early May caddis hatch I’d tie it with a light green dubbed body’. It is used as an all-purpose caddis and mayfly imitation. ‘it's quite effective in sizes 16 and 18’ she adds ‘though the most popular size may be a number 14’. It is a relatively easy pattern to tie”- From Eric Leiser’s book The Dettes A Catskill Legend: Their Story and Their Techniques Enjoy!
Recipe
Hook: Mustad 94840 #10-#18
Tail: Ginger Spade Hackle
Dubbing: Conover blend- 60/40 muskrat + red wool
Hackle: Golden Badger
