I have written about this fly several times as well as the book from the pattern is taken from. The fly is Salars Nemesis, and the book is titled Six Months In Scotland. Most fly fishers and fly tyers are familiar with Sylvester Nemes. He is Americas soft hackle guru. He has written several books on soft hackle flies and are considered standards in the fly tying world. Six Months In Scotland is a bit different in that it gives the reader a good look into Atlantic salmon fishing in Scotland. His perspective is at times humorous and detailed.
The salmon fly Salars Nemesis is unique in that it is a soft hackle fly designed to catch Atlantic salmon. I don't know of any other salmon fly that is a soft hackle fly. When I was first shown this fly by the late Bill Shuck I became totally obsessed with it. It's a simple fly compared to most salmon flies and the materials are common and not expensive with exception of the jungle cock. Over the years I have tied many many Salars Nemesis flies and have fished them heavily. They have produced countless trout and bass and sunfish.
The book is a bit hard to find. I managed to locate mine at a fly fishing show. It's a good read.
I found this passage interesting and when I read it I said to myself "I could fish with these guys"...they have it down.
Salars Nemesis.....Nemes got it right again.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteI read with great interest your post above about Syl Nemes' Salars Nemesis! I do remember your passion for this pattern and I am glad you have had such great success with it on fishes on our side of the pond! You have done what I have always wanted to do and that is convert (tie) the pattern on wet fly hooks for other species! Yours look fantastic.
I also have a copy of Syl's book, "Six Months in Scotland" and found it a fascinating read! Things are so strikingly different in the British Isles and Europe concerning the fishing! I have the recipe highlighted in orange on page eighteen and surprisingly, the only photograph of the pattern is on the back cover of the dust jacket! That kinda surprises me because Syl was an excellent photographer!
I also have two Salars patterns tied by Bill Shuck! They are both excellently tied patterns as was a great feature of Bills efforts not only in tying but, in his life! One of the patterns is set on a salmon hook while the other is on a down-eye wet fly hook!
I would encourage all of the followers of this blog to seek out Syl's book and read it! It is only part of the great man's huge M.O. concerning patterns and their histories!
Yours from the den,
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug I will pull out that fly at any time any season when I get the urge to fish something different...most times I get a positive result. I found that odd that there was not more written about Salars Nemesis. His detail of life in Scotland keeps you reading and I have read it several times. Bill is the gent that got my obsession started and I thank him for it.
That's the one book Nemes wrote that I don't have. I've had it on my wish list over at Ken Callahan & Co. (bookseller and all around good egg) for a long while now. While I don't have a Salars, I do have a couple of flies that Bill tied. I love the way you tie the Salars Nemesis, Alan. I need to get off my butt and get back onto the tying bench...
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike perhaps now is a good time to make that purchase. It will make for entertaining reading, and rereading on those long cold northern Maine nights. Fly tying is a wonderful therapy.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly! It has been about a year and a half since I have placed a hook in my vice even though it and my small box of basic tying tools occupy a permanent place on my desk!
Alan, you have provided the spark so that I can rearrange my priorities and get started back into this wonderful art! My first pattern out of the gate? A Salars Nemesis! Thank you for that!
I'm looking for materials even as we speak,
Dougsden
Doug, check your Flymph inbox, please.
DeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteI still have both Salars Nemesis you tied for me a couple of years ago. One is kinda bet up becasue some of the hand size gills at Walker Lake did a number on it early spring last year. It will be back in action early next spring. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill I to have four of them that are in decline, but they still do the job. Some say that a coating of lacquer on the body will help, I say I'd rather have the shabby fly as proof of success.
Yet another of the innumerable discoveries from this blog: I sought out and found a copy of Six Months which had a Nemes tied Nemesis in the front page. I assembled materials and have tied a couple of sloppy versions, and need to give it another try. But I used fake jungle cock and was not impressed with the result, perhaps now it is time to look around for some suitable jungle cock. Inspired! Thank you Alan.
ReplyDeleteNed Zeppelin
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Kevin you put a lot of effort into finding the book, it probably was not cheap. You assembled the materials and then used a fake JC nail. You can find some good deals on ebay. Even split JC feathers can be repaired easily.
Great job Alan! Where do you get your jungle cock eyes? Pretty stuff that's pretty pricey.
ReplyDeletejturick388
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I have found a few at fly shows over the years, and ebay is also a good source.