Steve, at the risk of alienating a few, I would say that none of the
names you mentioned really influenced changes in fly patterns. Here
we're talking mostly about trout. Let me explain:
Paul,
In all fairness, I must defend some of my fly pattern heros. Yes, Lee Wulff belongs with the use of his Divided Hair wing patterns. Not only did Lee have his eight Wulffs as attractor drys but Gary LeFontaine added the Were Wulff to the collection with respect. Ironically, Lee indicated that the only reason he split the Hair wings was that the American public insisted on buying split wings due to the British standards.
Gary LaFontaine has some pretty revolutionary ideas to fly patterns. But his Deep Sparkle Pupa with the Antron Sheath has proven itself as a tested Caddis Pupa pattern that works well in many locations.
And Polly Rosborough was such a prolific tier of Nymphs and Stoneflies. Interesting to note that Polly utilized the dubbing noodle to twist a tightly wrapped segmented larvae pattern. A precursor to DonO's RopeDub?
With regard to some that you mentioned. The trude by Carter Harrison is indeed one worthy of inclusion. Also , ironically, his trude pattern was really a joke played upon his host, imagine Carter's face when A.S. Trude started to catch cutthroats on it. Dan Bailey is also a major player. Perhaps, not so much in devising patterns, rather in marketing them.
I'd like to add to your list: Jack Horner (Humpy Pattern), Lenard Halliday (Adams), Randall Kaufmann (Stimulator), Doug Prince (Prince Nymph), Ross Marigold (Serendipity), Charlie Brooks (Brook Stones), Rene Harrop (CDC Cripples and Hairwing Duns), Craig Mathews (Sparkle Dun), Vince Marinaro (Thorax Duns), AK Best (Quill Bodies), Sylvester Nemes (Bringing the Soft Hackle to North America). I find Ed Schroeder's name to a lot of Parachute Patterns but I suspect that the parachute was developed much earlier. The Matuku is a recent pattern from New Zealand, who came up with that?
I'm really a neophyte when it come to pattern history. It is a very intrigueing aspect to fly tying, however. BTW, thank you for the CD on Stillwater Fly Fishing. Hopefully, we can encourage you to take on a pattern history of trout flies as well. ;-)
Steve Schalla
