Steve Gossage
aka: ClearFork - Wooster, Ohio
I
bought my first fly rod in 1969; a Pflueger Medalist outfit complete with
fiberglass rod, Medalist reel and double taper line, all conveniently blister
packed, and sold by a local discount store. That outfit saw a lot of use and I
still have it today, although the quality of my other equipment has improved
greatly over the years.
It was not long after that, that I thought tying my own flies would save me money. With no one to teach me, I gave it my best shot at tying ants and beetles on worm hooks from the local sporting goods store. And that was the extent of my fly tying for years. Finally, I took lessons at a local fly shop and improved greatly. Since then, fly tying has become a passion.
While
I have no desire to tie commercially, I do part with a lot of my flies through
friends and Internet Fly Swaps. I prefer to stick with the somewhat traditional
patterns and probably enjoying tying dry flies the most.
In May 2000, I retired after 30 1/2 years service with the State of Ohio and now have a little more time to pursue fish in local and far away streams. Some of my favorite streams are in Yellowstone National Park and I try to visit them as often as possible. I also fish the Lake Erie tributaries with their fantastic fall, winter and spring runs of large steelhead.
Our
local Trout Unlimited Chapter has also consumed much of my spare time and over
the years and I have held the positions of President, Vice-President, Executive
Officer and Director.
Right is a cutthroat trout on the Yellowstone River and above is a brown trout from Clear Fork River in Ohio.
Ed's Note: Although I haven't met Steve in person I have communicated frequently with him over the years. He is a good friend of Bob Balogh, one of my fishing buddies, and I hope to fish with them together soon. If laughing is good for a person's health, then fishing with those two will take 20 years off my life.
Select One of Steve's Flies:
Sucker
Spawn
Be
sure to visit our on-line store at http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Black 6/0. Tail: Yellow
hackle fibers. Rib: Flat
silver tinsel. Body: Black
floss. Throat: Yellow
hackle fibers. Wing: Four
white saddle hackles. Cheek: Jungle
cock.
Note: This is my favorite streamer pattern. It can also be tied with a white marabou wing, which
is very effective. This fly is a very good trout and smallmouth bass pattern. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Olive 6/0
or 8/0. Wing: Dark
blue dun hen hackle tips. Tail: Dark
blue dun hackle fibers. Body: Medium
olive dubbing. Hackle: Dark
blue dun. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread:
Black 6/0. Tag: Oval
silver tinsel and yellow floss. Tail: Golden
pheasant crest. Butt: Black
ostrich. Body: Black
floss. Rib: Silver
oval tinsel. Hackle:
Dyed-blue guinea fowl. Wing: Yellow
bucktail
over red bucktail. Head: Black. Note: Originated by
John Wright of Sprouston, UK and originally used the hair from a golden
retriever for the wing. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Gray 8/0
for body, Danville’s Spiderweb for parachute. Body: Light
tan dubbing. Wing: White
poly yarn. Thorax: Peacock herl. Hackle: One
large blue dun hackle. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Tan or
gray 6/0 or 8/0. Wing: Lemon woodduck, upright and divided. Tail: Medium
dun hackle fibers. Body: Hendrickson
pink dubbing. Hackle: Medium
dun. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction.
Tier: Steve Gossage
Hook:
TMC200R, size 14-20.
Note:
The fly included on this page was
tied using Rob McLean's rabbit dubbing for the abdomen, but white ostrich also
works well.
The Mysis Relicta Shrimp, also known as Opossum
Shrimp, is a freshwater shrimp. It is a primary food source for salmon,
steelhead, trout, smelt, alewife, sculpins, and many other fish. They have
been introduced in some endangered salmon rivers and they contributed
significantly to a increased population. with guesstimates running as high
as 70 percent of their food intake. Imitations are very popular for
steelhead, especially in the Great Lakes region.
Mysis shrimp are arthropods which has a segmented shell-like exoskeleton
that is shed several times to allow growth (usually 4 times in a life span).
They usually molt when about 3/16", 3/8', 1/2' and 5/8". Some have been
known to grow as much as 7/8" long, so large pattern may be productive. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Olive 8/0. Shuck (Tail): Olive
Antron Yarn (leave forward section for underwing). Rib: Fine Copper Wire. Abdomen: Olive Antron. Underwing: Olive
Antron yarn. Wing: Brown
partridge hackle tips, two, tied with concave side facing down. Antenna: Woodduck
flank. Thorax: Peacock herl. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Olive 8/0. Tail: Dun
hen saddle. Abdomen: Olive
goose biot. Wingcase: Dun CDC. Thorax:
Gray-olive Superfine. Legs: Dun
hen saddle. Note:
Obviously an emerger pattern, this fly was also found to be very effective on
big cutthroat on the Yellowstone River when fished deep on a dropper behind a
tungsten bead head prince nymph. It can also be tied in gray and brown. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. Tier:
Steve Gossage
Thread: Orange or
black 6/0. Tail: Hair
from fox squirrel back. Rib: Oval
gold tinsel. Abdomen: Whitlock SLF
dubbing – fox squirrel abdomen. Thorax: Whitlock SLF
dubbing – fox squirrel thorax. Legs: Brown
partridge. Note:
Another Whitlock creation. Originally tied with the under fur of the fox
squirrel which is still very effective. Select
One of Steve's Flies: Return to Steve's
Introduction. 
for your tying needs.
Hook: Mustad 9575
size
6-10.
Hook: Standard
dry fly size 12-22.
Hook: Mustad 36890
size 6-8 (sometimes tied on double hooks).
Hook: Partridge
15BN, Size 8-14.
Hook: Standard
dry fly, size 12-16.
Thread: White.
Eyes: Black monofilament eyes.
Tail: White hackle cut short with a strand of pearl Flashabou on
top.
Rib: Pearl Flashabou.
Abdomen: White dubbing or white ostrich.
Thorax: White dubbing.
Hook: Dry
fly, size
14-16.
Hook: TMC 2487 Size
18-22.
Hook: 2X Long
nymph hook, size 4-16.
Tier: Steve Gossage
Hook:
Thread:
Body:
Note:
Sucker Spawn is a simple and very effective great lakes Steelhead pattern. This fly was originated in centeral Pennsylvania at least 40 years ago, although not as a Steelhead fly. Sucker Spawn was first fished in the Lake Erie tributaries around 1980-81 by Chuck Farneth.
Be sure to visit our on-line store at
http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.