Metlfly Experiences

From Richard Smith, San Antonio, TX  Subject: ‘60s Fishing w/ VO Henry in Cimmaron, NM

I remember my first trout was caught on a Metlfly!  I was 10.  V O and his son took me for my first fly fishing trip.  They had a combination of a royal coachman followed by a small Metlfly.  It was like your YouTube video, they were catching trout every fourth cast.  They always caught their fish on the Metlfly.  I was using ginger quill followed by a royal coachman, but struck out until the very last when V O let me use his rig. Third cast and I hooked my first trout, a modest 8" rainbow.  I never found Metlfly until Kent's YouTube video.  I'm going to order some for my August trip to Durango, CO.

From David Hill Jr.,  Northern California  Subject:  It's Back!

My dad bought me some of each size Metlflys back in the late '60s from a store in Hayward, CA by our house.  We fished the Stanislaus River and the Lyons Canal in the Twain Harte, CA  area with bait and Mepps Spinners primarily.  I remember tying on a brass Marauder and fishing it where I had always caught planted Rainbow trout.  The first time was in the Stanislaus River below Twain Harte.  Wow, I was hooked.  I caught plants, native Rainbows, and German Browns which I had never caught there before.  Same thing happened in Lyons Canal.  As you would expect, we went back and bought many more, fished many California creeks and streams with these and even told my best friend about them.  Though at the time neither of us were old enough to drive, we still fished streams as often as my dad would take us.  I never thought much about this because after turning sixteen and with driver's license in hand, I started saltwater fishing and bass fishing most of the time.

About a year ago, I was at my parents' and found two Marauders in brass and one #3 in brass in our old freshwater box.  Forward to July 2017 on a drive up hwy. 32 from Chico.  I stopped to try the Metlfly in Deer Creek.  "It's Back".  Wow, The trout were plants but it's a damn good thing I crushed the barbs cause they would not leave it alone!   My wife said "you're acting like a little kid"  I just smiled, not sure if I should tell my dad.  He is in his late eighties but he still might want his Metlflys back.  Well, at least I know I can replace them now.  Thanks for the memories! 

From Donald Penland, Chico, CA  Subject:  The Only Lure I Needed on Spanish Creek

I grew up in Quincy, California and while in high school I spent most of my summers fishing Spanish Creek. It was about a three mile bike ride to get out to the stream so I traveled lite.  My mom required that I wear a water ski belt so I wouldn't drown but other than the belt it was just my fishing pole and a couple of Metlflys. There were lots of trees and bushes along the stream so it was easy to lose a lure.  That was why I always took a couple with me.  I tried salmon eggs, worms and stoneflies.  They worked but it was more stuff to carry.  After I found the Metlfly I didn't need to take any bait with me.  The Metlfly was always a fish getter. There is no end to the excitement of seeing the flash of the lure as you start to drag it back across the pool and then the flash of a trout hitting the lure. 

I lost my last Metlfly about ten years ago and was so disappointed when I couldn't find Metlfly anywhere on the internet.  I was surprised when I did an internet search this year and found that Kent Douglass had set up a website to purchase Metlflys again.  Now that I have restocked my Metlfly collection I am sure there will be more fish in my years of retirement.

From Mike Amaro, Pioneer, CA  Subject: Oh to Be 10 Again!

I was about 10 years old and my Dad took me to Pinecrest Lake in Northern California.  We had a small 12 foot boat and would troll the lake with spinners and do OK but nothing great.  One day my Dad came home with a Metlfly lure, a chrome one, and said "how would you like to try this at Pinecrest?".  So off we go to the lake and I got to try out my new lure.  Almost every fish we saw jump we would troll over to that area and catch a fish.  That Metlfly was far superior to everything else in the tackle box.  But sooner than later I lost the lure and never got another again.  Now 55 years later, I am talking to a friend of mine and we are comparing fish stories from Pinecrest and I tell him about my magic lure.  He says "yea sure you did".  So for the heck of it I went on line to search and cannot believe I found this site.  So of course I ordered two of each and am going to Caples Lake as soon as I get my new lures.  How fantastic!  I am 10 years old again!

From Bob Golden, Flora Vista, NM  Subject: Metlfly Fishing in Southwestern Colorado

My father and I used to fish on the Florida river above Lemmon lake north of Durango Colorado from 1964 to 1971. We used the brass Metlfly in clear water and the silver Metlfly after a rain. We had our limit of 8 by 10:00 am almost every day we fished. Other fishermen we met on the river told us they were not even getting a bite.and wanted to know what we were using. My dad would tell them but I kept it secret. I just did not want any other fishermen to know how awesome this lure really is. We only fished in streams and rivers but i believe it would work in lakes as well.

From Al Wulf, Gardnerville, NV Subject: The Day that Changed My Fishing Life

Forty five years ago while fishing a small stream in the Sierra I had backpacked into, I heard my wife, Sue, talking with someone. It was Jim Douglass, inventor of the Metlfly fishing lure. He asked how the fishing was. “Not that good” I said. He showed me his creel, it was full of fish. Jim then showed me his lure and told me the story of Metlfly. He gave me a couple lures and boy did I catch fish! When I got home I bought 7 dozen different sizes and colors.

Well, I ran out of lures but found his son Kent selling them on the internet. I ordered more and fished in four states this summer. They are still the best fishing lures on the market, my grandson loves them. I guess I will have to order him some for Christmas.

From: Ronald Sharp, Morgan, UT Subject: Strawberry Reservoir

I am a long time fly fisherman since age 4, taught by my grandpa an am now 72 years old. I began spin fishing with some Montana fishermen and a lure they make which slightly resembles Metlfly. I have fished with it for years and done well. I have been teaching my wife to fish for a year or so. My brother said he was feeling too old to continue using his boat, so he gave it to me. It is a 14 foot 10 horsepower troller. My wife and I went to Strawberry Reservoir and trolled. Several lures were doing well but I decided to try some oldies. My wife put on an old gold Metlfly and had a heyday. She kept the limit of four and also caught a 5 lb. cutthroat. I just ordered some more on line and am going to stream fish them in Utah and Montana, hopefully before it snows. Thanks for listening and I hope you catch all you ever want or need.

From: Clint Holliman, Draper, UT Subject: It Works!

Just a quick thank you for letting me know about your lures.

First time out was in January 2019 on the Provo river. I caught 3 Brown Trout in 10 minutes out of one hole using the brass micro-mite. I usually use spinners so I felt I was pretty comfortable trying these. It is a little different technique to get used to with speed of the retrieve and the water flow. In faster current they are so light they don’t dive as deep, I am going to try a split shot sinker up about 2 feet to see if that helps.

Can’t wait for summer to try these out in the smaller streams and the small lakes in the Uintah’s..

From: Joan MacNeill, California, Oregon Subject: Look Out Fish!

I fished in California and Oregon in the late 60s and most of the 70s, mountain streams. Then, from the mid-80s until now. I was so happy with my Metlflys! But I like to cast upstream, so they gradually disappeared. I was heartbroken to learn that I could not buy more. For at least 40 years I have waded, swam, climbed, dove, to rescue my last small chrome Metlfly. It's a joy to see they are now on the market again! Look out, fish!

From: Camdin Wulf, Nevada Subject: Best Catching Day at Anna Lake

It was a long walk up to Anna Lake where we planned to fish. We hit several snow banks on the way and had to go around them. When we got to the lake we saw a couple of nice brookies swimming along the bushes. We tied on a brass Metlfly with a small sinker. Later we would use a nickel and copper. Almost every cast brought in an 8 to 11” brookie. I was able to bring in two really nice fish about 13” long. We caught at least 100 fish that day. It was an amazing day and I can’t wait for the next time we go. It was one of the best catching days of my life.

From: Matt Dunkle, Colorado, California Subject: Metlfly Testing in the ‘60s

When I was young my dad introduced me to trout fishing and to Metlflys. He and his cousin used them almost exclusively in the early 60's. I am not sure how true the "fishing" story was, but I was told that my dad and his cousin had a friend that gave them Metlflys to try out (field test?) for him. Apparently this friend of theirs had something to do with Metlfly development and used my dad and his cousin to test out new design mods. Anyway, I have been looking for Metlflys for about 30 years now and I am glad I finally found them again!!

From: John Wallace, Michigan Subject: First Experience with Metlfly

I first fished with Metlflys in Lake Michigan yesterday. I caught a small Brown Trout on my first cast. The trout were too small to keep, recently planted, but they would not leave the lure alone. How are you fixed for Micro-Mites? I may want some more.

From: Matt Hammel, California Subject: Best Lure Ever!

Best lure ever! I caught 30+ trout in one day on the John Muir Trail, sometimes 3 casts in a row. I'm ordering more now for this year. Thanks again!

From: Craig Mosca, Orangevale, California Subject: Every Type of Fish

I have been searching for the Metlfly lure that I used to catch large and small mouth bass with in the 1960s in ponds and rivers around the American river near Sacramento. This was the most successful lure I ever used. Every type of fish would go after it and that's what made it special. I only have one left so this an amazing find!! I am so glad you are still making them!

From: Phil Kusnier, Grangeville, Idaho Subject: Metlflys for My Grandchildren

Fifty years ago, when I lived in Southern California, I had every version of you father’s Metlfly and used them religiously. My buddies and I would go all over California and fish with them. Quite frankly, I believe we really annoyed a lot of people who had been fishing a spot for quite a while as we would pull up, throw out a Metlfly and immediately catch a fish right next to them. The response we usually heard was “How the hell did you do that, we’ve been here for hours and haven’t even gotten a bite”. We would share the fact we had these very special lures and told them where we purchased them.

While fishing, I carried all my Metlflys in an aluminum fly box in my back pocket. One Spring, just before I was to enter the Navy during Vietnam, my buddy and I, wearing hip waders, ventured into a rapidly flowing stream. He stepped into a deep hole and one of his waders started filling with water. As I turned to wade upstream to help him, some how my fly box slipped out of my pocket and sadly quickly floated out of my reach downstream. There was no way I could have retrieved it as I had to quickly help my buddy.

I was totally devastated losing my favorite lures and didn’t have a chance to acquire new ones as I had to leave to serve in the Navy. After returning home, I looked in just about every store for Metlflys with no luck anywhere. So, for fifty years now, I have been looking to replace my favorite fishing lures. I have asked and researched everywhere with no results with people actually looking at me like I was crazy talking about a Metlfly.

Then, in January 2024, I stumbled upon your website and lo and behold, there were Metlfly lures! I couldn’t believe it! I discovered the reason I could not find them before; I was looking for Metal Fly lures instead of Metlfly lures. Oh well, I am excited to finally get my hands on some Metlflys again. I can now take my grandchildren out here in Idaho and show them how to catch a trout on just about every cast. I can encourage them to enjoy the outdoors, especially fishing, as I did when I was younger.