Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Lil' Dorothy

Lil' Dorothy is a fly that was created by Mark Libertone of Wellsville N.Y. Mark was a fine fly tyer and angler who loved to tie wets, soft hackles and flymphs. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mark but had several conversations with him on various forums and email. When I started tying flies they were simply awful. The feathers were cheap the hooks the wrong style and the proportions were terrible. Mark would always comment that the effort to tie was the important part, and I had that down, everything else could be fixed. He was a part of my inspiration.

His soft hackle fly Lil' Dorothy which I have tried to tie to his recipe, a few change were put in for I did not have the material, and I I'm sure Mark would not disapprove, for he was just that type of man.


Lil' Dorothy
Lil' Dorothy represents the emerging stage of the Little Sulphur mayflies that would hatch on Mark's home water, I believe it was the Genesee River. He commented that these sulphurs had a very distinctive orange body, and it shows well in the material he chose to use.

The Lil' Dorothy is a simple fly that has exquisite beauty.

Hook, any good wet fly hook...Thread, Cream or White...Abdomen, Pale Orange Embroidery Thread #722," I substituted Pearsall's Orange Silk"...Thorax, Cahil Colored Dubbing...Hackle, Cream or Very Pale Ginger.



14 comments:

  1. Alan
    The Lil' Dorothy certainly looks like it would get attention from both brook and wild browns. Got the soft hackles today and will be on the tailrace with them next week. Thanks

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    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill I'm sure that would be the case when sulphurs are coming off the streams.
      Glad you recieved the flies, can't wait for your report.

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  2. Replies
    1. Mark
      Thanks
      Mark it was a pretty easy tie, just didn't have the right materials. I love tying soft hackles.

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  3. Very glad (and surprised) to find this tying tribute to my friend Mark Libertone! Mark lived on the Genesee not far from my own place, and he could tie like no other. Although I am not much of a tyer, myself, I was inspired by Mark's efforts in many ways. We communicated and fished together for years. I'm sure he'd be proud of your tying accomplishments, like Lil' Dorothy herself/itself.

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    1. Rivertoprambles.wordpress.com
      Thanks
      Walt I thought you may have known him. I hear he was a very good angler and did some fine work with youngsters lending his knowledge of fly tying. Mark was a real nice person in every way.

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  4. A fine tribute to someone who I'm sure was not fully appreciated during his time. It's a great looking fly.

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    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard, just trying to keep memories going.

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  5. Replies
    1. Justin Carfagnini
      Thanks
      Justin you have said volumes in those two words.

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  6. Alan, Another keeping it simple, keeping it minimal. Mr. Libertone obviously had a keen eye to create this for his home waters. Thanks for the post.
    Kurt

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    Replies
    1. Brookie61
      Thanks
      Kurt that simplicity thing seems to work my friend.

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