POLLY ROSBOROUGH

(1902-1997)

Ernest "Polly" Rosborough was born in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. He acquired his nickname from coworkers at a box factory in Northern California because he talked so much-- "Polly the parrot." At age 24 he moved to Klamath Falls and then shortly thereafter to Chiloquin, Oregon where his name became synonymous with the Williamson River and its trout. For a period in his life Polly earned money by both tying flies and trapping marten in the winter. At age 80 he published a how-to book on trapping called Marten I have Known.

In 1965 Polly self-published his first book "Tying and Fishing the Fuzzy Nymphs." This group of fuzzy flies were based on his belief in simulating the action of insect life versus trying to imitate the literal composition of aquatic insects. While this collection highlight his nymph patterns, Polly was also a prolific tyer and innovator of salmon and steelhead patterns. In 1975 at the age of 73 he was awarded the Buz Buszek Memorial Award for making "significant contributions to the art of fly tying."

Golden Stone Nymph
Yellow May
Isonychia Velma
Near Enough
Fledermouse
Dark Caddis Emergent
Hare's Ear
Casual Dress
Muskrat
Blonde Burlap
Green Damsel

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