The Powell Buzz Hackle fly

[Rich Morrison]

I had a nice chat with our forum host Bill today. He called me trying to remember the name of the Powell’s fly with hackle at both ends. It’s the Buzz Hackle. Here it is as tied and labeled by Walton Powell…

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Rich,


Many from Northern California asked for the Buzz Hackle dry fly so we had some tied up locally.

We always kept them in stock for these old-timers who loved them.


Here is a good article all about the Buzz Hackle by "Fly Fishing the Sierra":

https://flyfishingthesierra.com/buzzhackle.htm



"Fly Fishing the Sierra" is a wonderful website that you should know about.

________________________________________________

About 40 years ago an old timer came into my shop to buy some size #10 Renegade dry flies.

I had to order some for him because my largest was a #12.

He said he used them for Half-pounders in the Lower American River.

After that, I used them on the Lower American and the Klamath River.


Here is an excellent tying video by the famous Charlie Craven of the Renegade:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rene...--7oY8yYM,st:0

Charlie Craven is one of the top fly tiers of our time and has made a huge contribution to our sport.

[RoosterHunter]

Many years ago, I talked with Walton Powell at the ISE Fly Fishing show which was held at the San Mateo county fairgrounds. I was looking at one of his bamboo rods which came with two tips. At that time, I was tying flies for the shop. He said " do you like that rod"
of course I said "Hell ya". Well I got a deal for you...OK, what's your deal....I want you to tie me up a 100 dozen Buzz hackle flies and I will give you the rod. Now these flies are not for the shop. So we agreed and right then he gave me the rod and said it's yours. I still have that rod today and have NEVER used it. As a matter of fact, it's only been out of the rod tube maybe a dozen times.
That's my story and I sticking too it.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Cool story Jay.



Maybe 40 years ago Walton Powell and his lovely wife came to my fly shop to see if I was qualified to be a Powell fly rod dealer.

I guess I passed the test because I got to be a Powell dealer.

The Powell rods were made on the same blanks as G. Loomis back then. The "IM6/Graphite III" fly rods were highly prized.


Chuck Campana bought a new G.Loomis 9'6" #7 line in 2 piece and could cast a Cortland 444 SL WF7F all of its 105'.

Chuck showed me that the G.Loomis rods had a larger tip top and the first 4 snake guides were larger so they cast further than Powell's.


In the 1980s we carried almost all the fly rod manufacturers: Sage, G. Loomis, Powell, T&T, Orvis, Winston, Scott, Cortland and Fisher.


Back then there was a new fly shop opening and new guides almost every month.


Back about 30 years ago there were about 60 Sage dealers in California. Now there are about 12 ?

[RoosterHunter]

Another story....Most of you might remember Buz Buszek owner of Bus's fly shop in Visalia. Back then I lived in Monterey and would drive all the way to his shop for materials. His shop was a small garage but well stocked. It was then I put my hands on some of the first Henry Hoffman's #1 grizzly super saddles. Buz and I made a deal in trade for a Hoffman Neck and a super saddle in return, I had to tie up 50 dozen King's River Caddis patterns.
Now 51 years later, I still think about the good old days

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Amazing Jay

I don't think there are too many left in this fly fishing world who have seen what we have in our lifetimes.


Years ago we used to drive down to Buz's place and buy materials.

By then Buz was gone and his wife Virginia ran the shop.



Here is some history of Buz's Fly Shop from the website 'RiverKeeper Flies'.

https://www.johnkreft.com/history-of...ing-1947-1997/

[Rich Morrison]

Cool story Jay.



Maybe 40 years ago Walton Powell and his lovely wife came to my fly shop to see if I was qualified to be a Powell fly rod dealer.

I guess I passed the test because I got to be a Powell dealer.

The Powell rods were made on the same blanks as G. Loomis back then. The "IM6/Graphite III" fly rods were highly prized.


Chuck Campana bought a new G.Loomis 9'6" #7 line in 2 piece and could cast a Cortland 444 SL WF7F all of its 105'.

Chuck showed me that the G.Loomis rods had a larger tip top and the first 4 snake guides were larger so they cast further than Powell's.

This is a common misconception. Powell rods were never built on Loomis blanks. I have a legal document that confirms this. Powell and Loomis shared a blank rolling facility…initially in Oregon and then Washington. But the mandrels were proprietary and the tapers were specific to each company. They alternated production for the two companys. Gary could not have made his big new facility in WA work without the equipment that Walt brought to the table.