One of the classics, the Cowdung comes from the British Isles, inspired by the grubs that an angler can still find on the underside of an aged cow flop. A person who uses fur and feathers instead can save themselves the indignity of looking for bait.

Want the right context? Look for cows. In my mind, they go with cutthroat trout in places like the Nehalem or the Nestucca or the Trask in June, July, August and September. Like any wet fly, the Cowdung can be used as a searching pattern. A downstream swing might be employed, especially in a back eddy.

Tie the Cowdung with orange thread on a No. 10-14 wet fly hook. Use flat gold tinsel for the tail and build the body with a mixture of tan, yellow and olive rabbit. Wrap a red-brown hen hackle at the collar then finish with lacquered cinnamon turkey wings.

—Gary Lewis, for The Bulletin