Shakey Bealy — Shakey Beeley

Shakey Bealy — Shakey Beeley — tied by Nick Nicklas, Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone, 1980s

By Nick Nicklas, Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone, 1980s, submitted by Mike Cline.

Description

The Shaky Beely, sometimes spelled Shakey Bealy, is a soft hackle fly pattern designed by Nick Nicklas of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Montana. Nick developed this version of the fly based on earlier patterns, particularly adapting his large eastern March Brown Soft Hackle to target fall-run brown and rainbow trout on the Madison River inside Yellowstone National Park. The fly was named after a Yellowstone National Park ranger from the 1940s, nicknamed Shakey Beeley, who was known for fishing a secret hole on the Madison River and landing large trout. Nick Nicklas has mentioned that the design was inspired by this ranger, blending traditional soft hackle techniques with innovative touches to create a highly effective attractor pattern. The Shaky Beely has proven extremely successful for swinging in western waters, particularly during fall, and has been tied in both orange and purple variations to appeal to trout. The fly’s design emphasizes contrasting colors and flash, making it particularly enticing to brook and rainbow trout It has become a staple in many anglers’ fly boxes for Yellowstone and other western rivers, celebrated for its effectiveness in low-light conditions and during migratory trout runs. In summary, while the Shaky Beely draws inspiration from historical anglers and traditional soft hackle patterns, Nick Nicklas is credited with creating the modern version of this fly that is widely used today.

Tying Process

These versions tied on Firehole 718 #10 barbless hooks. The purple version is tied with UTC small silver wire ribbing and grouse tail/hackle.

Materials

Hooks

Target species: Trout

Fly types: Emerger