Herl be it peacock or ostrich is a staple in the construction of Atlantic salmon flies as well as steelhead and a few trout patterns. The feathers themselves seem to possess a magic that will trigger a fish to strike. When they are incorporated in Atlantic salmon flies they are beautiful. Some of the trout flies that use peacock are both beautiful as well as effective. I think almost every angler has a Royal Coachman fly in their fly box that's only one pattern, I'm sure you can name one or many more.
The flies posted here also use peacock and Ostrich in there construction. These flies were first tied in the 1880's. Simple and elegant North Country Spiders.
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| Thompson's Fancy" |
"Thompson's Fancy"....Body, Slate Colored Silk...Two Twists of Black Ostrich Herl at the tail and under the shoulder...Wing, Gray Feather.
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| "Blades Purple Dun" |
"Blades Purple Dun"...Body Purple Silk dubbed with fine Peacock herl, and over ribbed with purple silk...Wings Blue Hackle.
Alan, First fly, which I personally tied and caught a trout on was a pattern of ultimate simplicity:
ReplyDeleteBody peacock herl
Wing yellow calf tail
That's it!
I'm sure it will still catch trout today.
John Dornik
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John the fly tyers art is really just that "art" and while I love every fly that was created I think the trout don't care. Simplicity is beautiful and effective.
Simple and beautiful flies that catch fish, Alan. The herl has wonderful properties with the way it reflects light. Combined with a turn or two of feather fibers it is deadly. I have a few Royal Coachmen in my fly box and those too catch fish, plus I enjoy tying them.
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam I have one of your Royal Coachman flies and it always works when called on to do so.
The Royal Coachman is beautiful when tied in all it's forms.
Alan, I am glad you connected with the Royal Coachman. No one knows what they are meant to imitate, but that has been a proven fly for a very long time. What the trout see in it is anyone's guess.
ReplyDeleteSam, Mark is very fond of the Royal Coachman. He fishes it all year long with success.
Deletevery good patterns as you always do your Alan, but the fly does not have to be "cute" for a fish to attack ... right?
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando that's very true, all you have to do is look into my fly box, there are some awful ugly flies in it and they do catch fish.
Pretty has its place and I think you know where that place is.
Seeing some of these old time flies makes me think that perhaps we all missed something a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard I know I missed it. I guess we all go through that fly fishing progression on our way to the "top".
Alan
ReplyDeleteSimple elegance !!!And they are very effective!!
TROUT1
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Pete we do know the value of these flies.
nothing like fishing some of the old spiders. Simple catches fish. ;0
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
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Ralph those flies are such a pleasure to fish, and that tug....
Alan, I have threatened many times to fish my 70 yr. old granger. Bamboo rod and soft hackles and old spider patterns for a an entire year to see what results I would have. Seeing your beautiful patterns pushes me a little further told that goal. Ver nice my friend.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad that would be an interesting challenge for sure.
There was a man that fished only a pheasant tail for a year and did very well. They did an article on the feat in Fly Fisherman...his name Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia.