Framed reproduction of Plate M - Trout Flies - from Mary Orvis Marbury's 1892 book - Favorite Flies and Their Histories - tied and photographed by John "CJ" Bonasera, aka, "Catskill John."

This frame of antique-style wet flies was made four or five years ago by Pennsylvania resident, “Catskill John” Bonasera. “CJ” is one of the contributing fly tiers for my current book project on the 19th Century Orvis flies, and he sent this photo to me the other night. I immediately thought it was worth sharing with my subscribers and visitors. This is “CJ’s” reproduction of Plate M – Trout Flies from Mary’s book.

The patterns are: No. 84 – Alder; No. 85 – Abbey; No. 86 – Alice; No. 87 – August Dun; No. 88 – Allerton; No. 89 – Adirondack; No. 90 – Bowman; No. 91 – Brown Gnat; No. 92 – Black May; No. 93 – Beauty; No. 94 – Ben Bent; No. 95 – Brown Adder; No. 96 – Black June; No. 97 – Blue Jay; No. 98 – Bee.

There were replicated as the book plate paintings are illustrated, using a flying lead of gut.

The photo below is a comparison of the flies mounted on the mat board alongside the plate image from Marbury’s book. It is a beautiful example as a work of art by a talented fly tier. Thanks CJ, for granting permission to post your work here!

Plate M - Trout Flies, from Favorite Flies and Their Histories. The painted illustrations are on the left, CJ's fine reproductions of these antique trout flies are on the right.