Thunder Creek Flies

I have loved Kieth Fulsher's Thunder Creek streamers ever since I saw a Danish tyer tie one decades ago, so a whole book with Thunder Creeks by Fulsher himself. What can go wrong?

Well, honestly? Not much. I love this book. Fulsher's original "Tying and Fishing the Thunder Creek Series" is from the early seventies, but this edition has been updated with more patterns, more text and first and foremost new color images shot by David Klausmeyer.
All this makes it a fully updated, modern and absolutely gorgeous book even though it still has the air of the original and not least the pattern originator's own revised text.
Oddly enough the Thunder Creek is usually considered a freshwater pattern and the book lists 22 freshwater flies and six saltwater variations, but like the Clouser Deep Minnow the basic pattern has been adapted to many kinds of fishing and I have personally only used it in saltwater.

There isn't much to say about the book, which is exactly what a book like this should be: some history (a lot actually), some general thoughts on the pattern, a detailed rundown of the tying method and a whole bunch of patterns and not least fishing methods. You might argue that a whole book on one single pattern is overdoing it, but I disagree. Like the Clouser this is a very versatile fly with a ton of potential variation in material choice and color. The basic shape is the same, of course, but even within the tight frame there's possible ways to vary the look and the behavior of the fly.

I particularly like the general instructions on tying the Thunder Creek, which gives you a lot of tips on how to get the materials to behave and get those distinct lines and well separated colors on the fly. There are also a ton of variations shown, like tails, bodies and mixed materials in the wings like the use of flash and feathers.
Fulsher shows how to tie all kinds of baitfish imitations within the basic premise of the Thunder Creek, and finally goes through fishing methods using the flies.

As I said: I always loved the Thunder Creeks and mostly have had a few in my flybox. This book has only made me love the fly more, and will definitely make me tie even more. Global Class!

Thunder Creek pages

Martin Joergensen

We have much more about Thunder Creek flies in our streamer section and a video showing how to tie one.