SQUARETAIL FLIES & GUIDE SERVICE
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I have finally decided to round up all of the late, great, Bob Upham's Grand Lake Stream streamer patterns that were scattered throughout my site and devote a page solely to his flies. My goal is to track down and show all of his undocumented patterns (which are considerable) as he was a very prolific tyer so this page will be a work in progress. Bob's tying style and sense of humor naming his flies have been a great inspiration to me and my own style. He was famous for saying "When they want a streamer they'll pretty much take anything" and he was right. Whenever I bumped into him while he was famously walking his dogs he would always recommend using a "Putt's Favorite" or "Alvin" which was usually pretty sound advice. The one time I saw him with a rod in his hand he had an "Alvin" tied on.
If anyone has an original of his that is not listed here please contact me to help out as I would be very interested in documenting it for a possible future book I am considering, Thanks!
Enjoy!
Allan's Smelt
Alvin
The one and only time I ever saw Bob with a rod in his hand, this was tied on the end of his tippet. He leaned over conspiratorially and whispered "It's just a jig" as if the other blue blood fly fishermen around might tar and feather him if they caught wind of what he was using. Personally I found that hilarious. Size 10, 1/80 oz
Cat Futch
One of Bob's better streamers for spring salmon. As a Submariner I'd love this fly anyways solely based on the story for which it's named. Read more below!
The Real Cat Futch!
This is Cathy "Cat" Futch, a Florida exotic dancer who in 1975 performed a topless dance on one of the fairwater planes of the submarine USS Finback as a "Thank You" for the crew for all of their recent hard work. Unfortunately it wasn't the wisest decision the subs Skipper ever made and it wound up getting him canned! Now you know... Bob, from the bottom of this Submariners heart I say "Thank You"!
Daisycutter
Everything about this little streamer is Day Glo, I love it!
Deadly Dauph
Close to Bud Wilcox's Tri-Color bucktail but the orange and green are inverted and the body is a tad different.
French Ghost
Not one of Bob's creations but I associate it with him as he tied and sold them. The original body color on the fly I own is more of a yellow-orange/goldenrod chenille that is lighter than pictured and no longer made.
Howdie Doodie
One Eyed Poacher
Before you ask, yes, the eye is intentionally only painted on one side of the fly! Named for author Edmund Ware's fictional character.
Phantom Smelt
Putt's Favorite
Named for the late Richard Puttkamer, this is usually my first choice to tie on for a spring streamer on GLS. I have heard that this streamer is used as a secret fly for some Adirondack pond brookies with really good success. Weighted.
"Putt" with a nice one!
Red Belly Ghost
Spring smelt pattern.
Seargant Eastwood
Named for Bob's boot camp drill Seargant. I only have this displayed for reference. Due to my limited amount of the unique outer wing color I do not tie this commercially, sorry.
Silver Bullet
A nice bright fly to get the fish moving.
Spongberg Quad
"33"
Tomah Joe
The fly Bob tied in Dave Klausmeyers streamer book was on a streamer hook. The fly I own is tied on a #10 wet fly hook however.
Uncas
Wholly Ghost
Bob Upham's Grand Lake stream killer. The spartan simplicity is perfection itself for a streamer on hard-fished waters like GLS. This fly has everything you need and nothing you don't.
