Bekeart's Special

The Bekeart’s Special is tied here by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies on YouTube, where you’ll find hundreds of classic and modern patterns tied with precision and no-nonsense clarity. You can also follow him on Instagram @savageflies.

Most of the background on this pattern was sourced by Matt from John Shewey’s Classic Steelhead Flies (2015). Like many storied flies, this one arrives with a touch of legend and a few gaps that may never be fully closed.

Jules Francois “Frank” Bekeart came to California in 1849 during the first rush for gold but quickly figured out that chasing shiny rocks wasn’t for him. Instead, he set up a gunsmithing and firearms sales business in San Francisco, which prospered. In 1890, he handed it off to his youngest son, Phil—full name Philip Baldwin Bekeart (1861–1936).

Phil wasn’t just a successful businessman; he was also a nationally recognized marksman and designer of precision target pistols. He repped major East Coast firearms manufacturers out West and, in his downtime, was a dedicated fly angler. He ran in good company—regularly fishing with Will and Henry Golcher of Golcher Brothers Sporting Goods and other members of the prestigious San Francisco Fly Casting Club.

As for the fly’s origins, things get a little fuzzy. Some believe John S. Benn, one of the most celebrated tiers of the day, created the pattern and named it for his friend Phil. Others, including English author A. Courtney Williams, credit the design directly to Bekeart in his 1932 book Trout Flies. Either way, it’s a sharp-looking fly with a classic West Coast pedigree and timeless appeal.