Fly tyers fall into two groups: the insane and the almost-insane Those who tie the most realistic bug they can, and the impressionists, who are seeking flies that only need buggy.

I’m firmly in the latter camp, but that’s likely a reflection of laziness; I do sloppy “buggy” well. Still, even the rampant impressionists want their flies to look like something edible, which is why Michelle Mahood’s photography site will probably see a lot of fly tying visitors soon.

A small sample of the bug photos available at Mahood's site (click image to go there)

It’s practically a photographic encyclopedia of Northern California trout food, so next time an annoying, Type A fly tyer chastises you for too-heavily speckled Callibaetis wings (yes, this did happen), you can bitch slap him using Ms. Mahood’s excellent photographs.

The Underground’s Favorite Photo? Probably the blood curdling assault on a fly fisherman by a giant crustacean. Keep you up nights.

See you staring at the monitor, Tom Chandler.