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The Green Weenie was developed by Ken Igo and Russ Mowry from the Latrobe area in Western Pennsylvania. (Please see below the profile on Russ Mowry). Ken Igo began the development with a simple fluorescent green/chartreuse chenille body on a #12 Mustad 79580 hook. While the fly was mildly successful, it was discussed during a meeting of a small but elite group of Westmoreland County fly fishermen. The group went by the name Afloat and met monthly in Russ’ basement to discuss flies, fly fishing, fly tying, drink beer, shoot the bull, and not necessarily in that order. Following one of these sessions, Russ suggested to Ken that the fly would be more enticing to trout if it had a tail. Trying to keep the tying very simple, they decided a one-quarter inch loop of the chenille might do the trick. The Green Weenie was born. The name was picked up from Bob Prince, the announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who would wave a green wiener to jinx the opposing team.

The fly was fished for a couple years by members of Afloat and by a few others who had contacts with group members. On a visit to Russ, I was introduced to the fly and carried it back to York, PA, where I fished it on Muddy Creek, introduced local TU members to it, and became known locally as the "Green Weeny Guy."

The fly first appeared in writing in Charles Meck’s book, Pennsylvania Trout Streams and Their Hatches, 1989 edition. Charlie accompanied Russ and Ken to the Loyalhanna Creek and was somewhat startled to see them tie on a Green Weenie and proceed to catch a couple dozen trout.

The Greenie Weenie

Hook: #12 Mustad 79580
Thread: Red Uni 6/0
Tail: Furled Green Chenille
Body: Wrapped Green Chenille
Instructions: Make the tail by twisting and doubling over the chenille (furling) and leaving it 1/4 " long

Russ Mowry (1927-1997)

An innovative fly tier from Western PA was associated with many of the well-known fly tiers and authors of the past 30 years. He often was a guest tier at the Seven Springs Fly Tiers Symposium in Somerset, PA, and other similar events. His trademark flies were spent wing parachutes using burned wings though he was just as skilled in tying the Catskill style dry flies. Collaborating with another Westmoreland tier, Ken Igo, he developed the Green Weenie, a fly that continues to grow in popularity. For many years after his retirement from the Latrobe Steel Company, Russ owned and operated Mowry’s Fly Box, in Latrobe, PA, dealing solely in flies, fly tying materials, and fly fishing equipment.

One of the founding members of the Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited, he held many offices in that organization. A year prior to his death, he was presented that organization’s Silver Trout Award for outstanding service and for giving unstintingly of his time and effort in working for the betterment of the organization and improvement of the Loyalhanna watershed. He was a member of Spruce Creek Rod and Gun, Slate Run Fly Fishers, and a founding member and driving force behind a special Westmoreland County group of fly fishermen, known as Afloat.

Russ was a pleasant mannered individual who always had a smile on his face. He lived by the old adage that it was better to say nothing if you were unable to say anything good about a person.

Russ was brother in law, buddy, friend, fishing companion, and mentor to Fred, teaching him to tie flies and fly fish more than 50 years ago. Russ always joked (?) that when he married Fred’s sister, he didn’t know until the ceremony was over that Fred went along with the deal.

Fred Bridge ©2007

About the Author...Fred Bridge, who uses the handle Fred of York, now resides in York, PA, but learned his fly fishing and fly tying from his mentor and brother-in-law Russ Mowry. Fred has been fly tying and fly fishing for more than 55 years and did some professional tying. He is retired and spends much time fly fishing, fly tying, woodworking, and volunteering his time as a Lieutenant in the Manchester Township Fire Police.