The Merlin is an all-purpose generic mayfly pattern that has taken fish for me throughout the season and throughout the world.

It's one of my oldest dry fly patterns, dating back to the late 1960's when I was living in a tent in Yellowstone Park on the banks of the Madison and earning spending money by tying flies for Bud Lilly's Trout Shop in West Yellowstone.

An adaptation of the popular Adams dry fly, the Merlin features a mixed-hackle of grizzly/furnace, a somewhat high wing of grizzly tips, a tail of moose body hair, and a body of olive dubbing.

Recommended Sizes:  14,

Recommended Colors:  merlin blend,