Harley W. Reno holds a B.S. and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology (Specialty- sensory anatomy in fishes). He retired after 34 years of professorial duty as a biologist, environmental engineer, and systems engineer, and 25 years of Engineering and environmental duty in the oil, gas, and coal mining industries and nuclear waste management programs of the U.S. Department of Energy. He also spent 50 years guiding all over the United States, in Mexico, and Canada. He still floats and guides, although without remuneration, on rivers throughout the inter-montane west.

The Brillo Pad is a heavy, weighted fly that is easy to tie and fun to fish. The fly is fished fast under the surface or down to about 24 inches, depending on the speed of the current, with three short, quick upward twitches of the rod tip intermingled with three short strips which individually collect slack that builds in the line between twitches. This is a streamer that is fished totally by sight, although some strikes are so vicious and explosive that visibility isn’t necessary.

Recipe:

• Hook: Mustad 9674 sizes 4 or 6
• Thread: Danville’s 3/0 waxed fly master thread
• Bead: Brass, copper, or silver bead in 7/32 or 3/16
• Weight: 4″ strand .20 or .15 lead wire (optional)
• Tail: Six to Eight strands Flashabou in brass, copper, or silver (match to bead)
• Hackle: UV Polar Chenille in olive-copper ultraviolet, copper uv, uv silver, or clear

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