DocsFlies.com
Title
Docsflies - Dougherty's Fly Box: Tying Fish-catching Flies Since 1988
Description
The intent of this site and my task-at-hand is to give back to you, the collective fly fishing community, the knowledge I've gained from years of fly fishing for both warm and cold-water species. This includes fly selection which aptly melds the site's name "Dougherty's Fly Box". Many of the flies outlined are productive patterns tied to match specific baits for specific localities. By outlining, it's my attempt to simplify fly selection.
Born in 1973, I grew-up in rural Pennsylvania. Following an experience (as explained below), I taught myself to fly cast beginning at the age of 14. I continued to learn the art of fly fishing by cutting my teeth on famous local waters such as the Letort, Yellow Breeches, Clark's Creek, Conodoguinet Creek and the Susquehanna River. I moved away from the area to attend the Pennsylvania State University and was one of the lucky few to attend a course
called Angling taught by Vance McCullough (originally started in 1947 by George Harvey, The Dean of American Fly Fishing). When not studying to become a Biologist, I perused the banks of Spring Creek, Spruce Creek or the Little Juniata. Mixing my interest in fly fishing with Biology I aided graduate students with macroinvertebrate identifications and performed research involving the Environmental Protection Agency's Rapid Bioassessment Protocol and Hilsenhoff values for the assessment of stream quality. Summers between schooling and my senior year were spent collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates under the tutelage of professional entomologists. Two cumulative years were spent performing crop entomology with the United States Department of Agriculture and aquatic entomology with Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection, Blackfly Division. Upon graduation, I entered the work force with a BS in Biology and an interest in Toxicology. I found work with a major pharmaceutical company where I'm currently a scientist. My fly fishing experience continues today and I can normally be found fishing the banks of the Little Lehigh (PA) or Sandy Hook (NJ) or preparing for a trip to Martha's Vineyard (MA), Chincoteague (VA) or the Salmon River (NY). My experience spans more than 15 years, with trips from Pennsylvania to California, Massachusetts to North Carolina and places in-between. I've tied for local shops and for friends and my success on the fly, although not limited by these, has included trout, bass, salmon and striped bass. Fly fishing has been and continues to be a great endeavor, one I wish to share.
