fly tying

101 Green Butt Skunks

By Scott Richmond

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ou never forget your first love. And for many Northwest fly anglers, the first steelhead fly they fell in love with was the Green Butt Skunk, invented by the late Dan Callaghan.

Of course fly tiers can't resist tinkering with someone else's creation, so there are many variations of Callaghan's original--at least 101 variations in fact.

The Perfect Tribute

Oregon fly tier Joel La Follette has come up with the perfect tribute to Callaghan and his fly: "The Dan Callaghan Collection--101 Green Butt Skunks."

This collection was unveiled at a short ceremony on Thursday, February 25, at the Oregon State Capitol Building. The three-panel collection, which includes original photographs from Callaghan, will tour Northwest fly fishing venues this summer. Then it will be auctioned in the fall, with the proceeds benefiting the North Umpqua Foundation.

Many Talented Tiers Involved

Over three years in the making, this collection contains flies from such noted anglers and tiers as Alec Jackson, Lani Waller, Polly Rosborough, Ed Haas, Frank Moore, and of course Dan Callaghan.

Dan Callaghan was a Salem-area attorney and fly angler who served as an Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commissioner. He was an ardent fly angler, conservationist, and photographer. He is closely associated with the North Umpqua River.

Auction Planned

The mounted collection will be auctioned off by sealed bid auction on October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at The Steamboat Inn on the North Umpqua. Sealed, written bids must be postmarked by October 10, 2010.

For more information on bidding, the collection in general, tour information, and photos of the collection visit www.royaltreatmentflyfishing.com or the North Umpqua Foundation site at www.northumpqua.org

The North Umpqua Foundation provides support for educational, legal and scientific endeavors that will result in the protection of the North Umpqua watershed and its anadromous fish.

Royal Treatment Fly Fishing is a website where noted angler and tier Joel La Follette shares his passion for fly fishing.

Scott Richmond is Westfly's creator and Executive Director. He is the author of eight books on Oregon fly fishing, including Fishing Oregon's Deschutes River (second edition).

Uploaded 03/03/2010.

Unveileing at the state capitol. Left to right: Senator Jason Atkinson, Joel La Follette, Governor Ted Kulongoski