Don, I think you missed my point somewhat. Certainly there are thousands of patterns that make "first" use of a material that became available at any given time. Shaped minnow bodies have been around for a very long time; the availability of braided tubing merely offered another option for creating them. I believe I did include fur strips as number 9. Synthetic stacking/sculpting is just a material change from spun deerhair. Yes, one could partially consider the foam-sheet fly "revolution" as an innovation. Some uses were obvious and no real advance (other than to make floating flies that floated without treatment); however, the ability to shape foam in ways not seen previously has produced some very unique patterns, not conforming in any way to the usual prescriptions.
I was one of the first to write about foam flies with my Black Foam Beetle, but I don't consider it innovative. It was an obvious extension of earlier beetle patterns. As another interesting historical note; in Fishing with the Fly by Orvis and Cheney, 1883, there is an extended body fly in one the Bass Fly plates no less; it was called The Caddis. Cheers, Paul DonO wrote: > > Paul, > What's your books say about the history of braided tubing flies- zonkers, > minnows, etc. > Then the foam sheet fly 'revolution'- Chernoybl ant & hopper. > Then Synthetic stacking/sculpting material, i.e. McFlyfoam. - eggs, frogs, > crabs, mice > > DOnO > -- Paul Marriner Outdoor Writing & Photography. Member OWAA & OWC. Author of Stillwater Fly Fishing - Tools & Tactics (CD), Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon.
