Franklin’s “Chappie”
Originally Printed April/May 1969 Salmon Trout Steelheader
Franklin’s Summer-Run Steelhead “Chappie”
This popular summer-run steelhead pattern was developed in 1940 by the late C.L. "Outdoor" Franklin. Franklin was on a stream one day when he observed a young man catching trout after trout while he was going fishless. When unable to stand it any longer, he introduced himself and took a long look at the fly with such killing properties. It was a nondescript affair of grizzly hackle wings and orange wool body. The fly was refined by Franklin and called "Chappie" after the young chap he met on the stream.
"Outdoor" Franklin was born on March 30, 1877, in LeMars, Iowa. While a young boy he traveled from Iowa with his parents to Everett, Washington. During the long trip by stagecoach, the party fought for their lives during an Indian attack. Franklin grew up, got married, and started a family in Washington. Following his wife's passing, he moved to southern California. In the years to come he would travel, write, and test equipment for Richfield Oil Co., Howard Buick Co., Western Auto, and the Automobile Club of Southern California. A still tangible example of his work are the beautiful pamphlets on wildflowers handed out by Richfield stations. For many years he wrote a column for the Los Angeles Times that suggested weekend trips to his readers. And during one period, he had a local television show called "Fishing is Fun."
His car was fixed camper style, and Franklin was the first to drive the Tioga Pass Road each spring into Yosemite National Park. The highlight of his "drives" is probably one made to the tip of Baja, California. He was the first to ever drive this route, felt at the time to be impassable. Erle Stanley Gardner of "Perry Mason" fame, and an enthusiastic "desert rat," wrote of Franklin's trip in his recent book, "Off the Beaten Track in Baja." The journey was so rugged, it involved as much dragging as driving.
Once introduced to it, the Klamath became Franklin's river. He fished it to the exclusion of almost all others for thirty years and is responsible for naming many of the riffles between Hornbrook and Hamburg. These were eventually mapped out by Franklin for resort owners along the river. His favorite fishing companion was Milt Kahl, but Franklin could be found in the company of Cap "Go to Hell" Davis, Kilsey Turner, Earl Henking, Ken Anderson, Fred Reed, Peter Schwab and Bobbie Dunn. Late in life, he mixed business with pleasure by field testing Sila-Flex rods for Pacific Laminates, Costa Mesa, California, and commercially tying flies for New York Hardware in Los Angeles.
His colorful career ended with his passing on May 11, 1959. The Chappie is tied in any size up to No. 1. It is used from the Skeena to the Sacramento but is most popular on the river Franklin was so devoted to.
Two variations in use are worth mentioning. The Donnelly Chappie, by fly tying great Roy Donnelly of San Pedro, California, substitutes a yellow wool body. Victor Moore of Smithers, B.C., uses a flame yarn body in his Flame Chappie. It has proved an effective pattern on the Bulkley, Morice, and Kispiox rivers.
Note: pictured below is an image from a fly plate from Steelhead Fly Fishing and Flies (1976). The original image from the book has been digitally restored. The original image can be seen on the #6 color fly plate in the bottom row.
Dressing Notes:
Tail: Tips of two grizzly hackles face to face. Body: Orange wool ribbed with orange silk thread or gold tinsel. Hackle: Grizzly. Wings Two long grizzly hackles tied back to back and high off the hook. Original Design: C.L. “Outdoor” Franklin