Humpy

Written by DCarp

Humpy

RWFF Humpy

• Hook: Dry Fly Size 10-18
• Thread: Match Body Color
• Tail: Deer Hair
• Body: Floss (Yellow, Red, Orange, Green, Purple)
• Shellback: Deer Hair
• Hackle: Brown

RWFF Tying Tip

Substitute pheasant wing case for deer hair shellback and lighten a bit. Try various floss colors. One of my favorite flies.

HISTORY

The North American Humpy fly pattern is mainly a fast water attractor with very good floatability and visibility. The origin of the Humpy pattern is in dispute. Some say it is a combination of Jack Horner’s Deer Hair pattern and Canada’s Tom Thumb. Both patterns were in use on Western North American streams in the late 1930’s. But in his article "Goofus Bug Evolution," in the American Angler (Spring, 1990) Pat Barnes credits this pattern to Keith Kenyon. Kenyon, a Montana guide and tier, created in 1944 for the Firehole River. Its effectiveness leaked out and requests for that "goofy deer hair fly" bombarded Pat and Sig in their West Yellowstone shop. Thus the name "Goofus Bug" was adopted. The name "Humpy" applies to this pattern coming from Wyoming sources. Others credit Leonard ‘Boots’ Allen as the designer. He was tying and selling Humpies in the late 1940’s.