How to Tie the Conover – Classic Catskill Dry Fly Tutorial

With: Savage Flies

We’re diving into one of the true classics of American dry flies: the Conover. Straight out of Mike Valla’s Tying the Founding Flies, this pattern is pure Catskill tradition — simple, elegant, and surprisingly effective.

It’s what I like to call a “no-nonsense” fly. Just three elements — tail, body, and hackle — but don’t let that simplicity fool you. The Conover shines as both a caddis hatch match and a generic mayfly attractor, and it’s one of those patterns that’ll quietly earn a permanent spot in your fly box. Plus, with its subtle dubbing blend of muskrat and red wool, it’s got that old-school charm that just looks fishy.

🧵 Step-by-Step Tying Guide

1. Hook and Thread
Start with a size 12 standard-length barbless dry fly hook. Secure it in your vise and start your tan 70-denier threadnear the middle of the shank. Wrap a smooth thread base.

2. Tail
Select about 10–12 cream hackle barbs — just enough for a light, elegant tail. Measure them about one body length long, then tie them in at the bend of the hook with a few firm wraps. Trim the excess.

3. Dubbing Blend (Body)
You’ll need a custom dubbing blend — about 60% muskrat underfur and 40% red wool yarn, chopped into ½" pieces. Toss it in a coffee grinder and give it a quick blend. Don’t stress if it’s not perfectly even — a little variegation adds nice texture.

Apply a touch of wax to your thread and dub a noodle about 2 inches long. Wrap the body forward to just behind the eye, leaving room for hackle.

4. Hackle
Traditionally, this uses golden badger hackle, but if you don’t have that, no problem — grab a light ginger hackle and run a black Sharpie line down the center of the stem for a close match.

Tie in the hackle and make 4–5 firm wraps forward, creating a nicely hackled collar. Secure and trim the excess feather tip.

5. Finish the Head
Pull back any forward-facing barbs, form a small neat head with your thread, and whip finish. Add a drop of head cement to lock it all down.

6. Clean Up
Trim any stray guard hairs or hackle fibers that block the hook eye. Give it a once-over — you’ve got yourself a classic, fish-ready Catskill dry.

🪱 Recipe

• Hook: Standard dry fly hook, size 10–16 (size 12 used here)

• Thread: Tan, 70 denier (6/0)

• Tail: Cream hackle fibers (10–12 barbs)

• Body: 60% muskrat underfur / 40% red wool dubbing blend

• Hackle: Golden badger (or light ginger with black Sharpie stripe)

• Head Cement: Clear fly head cement