Fall 2008 Hatches Magazine

Transcription

1 Fall 2008 Hatches Magazine 83

2 As fly tiers and fly fishermen, we all want to tie the newest fish catching patterns. Most tiers want to try the newest materials and see how they might be utilized more effectively. Many tiers and fishermen have wondered how certain flies came into existence or What were they thinking when they came up with this? A few, like me, have an interest in local or regional patterns and how they developed. As a fly tier and collector, I have tried to seek out flies in different parts of the country and in Europe, specifically asking shop owners and guides to point out patterns in their bins and boxes that originated locally and are known fish catchers. With the advent of numerous magazines, partially or completely, devoted to fly tying, there is a growing body of information on the origin and development of fly patterns. There are also books, video tapes, DVDs and websites which chronicle this information. There are volumes of books written about flies originating in Europe, New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Catskills, the Upper Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Canada. Recently there are numerous works written about salt water flies, both for inshore and offshore use. The one area of the United States that is under represented in the recording of fly patterns and their development is the Southeastern United States, particularly the Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountain areas of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. There are several reasons for this lack of written record. First, the geographic isolation has always been formidable. From some of the hollers, in the 19th and early 20th century it might have taken 2-3 weeks to travel to a major city such as Ashville, North Carolina or Knoxville, Tennessee. There was little exposure to the printed word in these people s lives and little reason to contribute to the written record. Second, many of the local inhabitants fished for subsistence, and much less for sport, as was more common in the North. In light of this fact, few would want to enlighten anyone else regarding the successful flies of the region, unless to enlighten family members in order to supplement the dinner table. Finally, I imagine that the rate of illiteracy was very high. These folk simply had no way of leaving a written record, even if they wanted to. They had an oral/aural tradition in which the written word was not important. In researching for this article, one book that was mentioned as a reference over and over is Hunting and Fishing in the Great Smokies by Jim Gasque. Published in 1948 by Knopf, it deals little with patterns and more with fishing locations and experiences, with one chapter dedicated to Mark Cathey, perhaps the greatest fly fisherman ever to come from those parts. But that is the subject of another bit of research. Other resources which the tying historian should consider are Southeastern Flies by L.J. DeCuir, Fly-fishing Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains by Don Kirk, and The Fly Fisherman s Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by H. Lea Lawrence. Perhaps one of the best resources for a pattern listing is Roger Lowe s Fly Pattern Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains. This work is perhaps the most extensive listing of fly patterns effective in the Smoky Mountains. Listed are patterns of local origin as well as patterns from across the country, which have proven effective in the area. Roger is a native of Western North Carolina and was taught to fish and tie flies by his father and grandfather. The Lowes have known some of the originators of many of these flies, or at least the descendents and survivors of the known originators. In 84 Hatches Magazine Fall 2008 many cases, however, it seems that the Smoky Mountain Flies are more often attributed to the streams on which they originated than to particular individuals. Dry Flies Thunder Head: This fly was popularized by Fred Hall of Bryson City, North Carolina. It has been compared to the Adams, attributed to Leonard Halladay. According to DeCuir, Fred Hall never saw an Adams or met Leonard Halladay before developing the Thunder Head. One might assume that these are similar flies developed in parallel. Tying the Thunder Head with muskrat fur is a variation, as the original was tied with North American Possum fur. Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook Wing: White calf tail, upright and divided Deer body hair Body: Muskrat or opossum underfur Hackle: Dark brown Ramsey: A variation of the Brown Hackle Peacock (a wet fly) is attributed to the Ramsey family, one of the earliest rod building, guiding and fly fishing families in Western North Carolina. This fly is effective year round. Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook Tag: Fine, flat gold tinsel

3 Golden pheasant tippet Body: Peacock herl Hackle: Brown Grey Hackle Yellow: Although the originator cannot be documented, this is one of the prettiest dry flies to come from the Smoky Mountains. Version One has a tail of red hackle fibers and a body of yellow floss. Version Two has no tail and a body of yellow dubbing. Roger Lowe s experience is that this fly is more productive fished as a wet fly. According to Roger, it is especially effective on Straight Fork, Deep Creek and Cataloochee Creek. Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook or pale yellow Red hackle fibers Rib: Fine, flat gold tinsel Body: Yellow floss Hackle: Grizzly Hackle: Barred ginger Rattler: According to Roger Lowe, the Rattler is an old pattern originating on the Oconaluftee River. The notable characteristic of this fly is the body composed of dry fly hackle. Because of the heavy hackling, it is a fly that will float very well. Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook Wing: White calf tail Golden pheasant Underbody: Black thread Body: Brown and grizzly hackle Adams Variant: Roger Lowe has attributed this fly to Fred Hall. According to Fred s widow Allene, it is the only fly that Fred actually invented. It is an Appalachian classic: beautiful, functional, and yallar. Jim Charley: The origin of this fly is unknown. However, it is believed to have been developed in Western North Carolina. It is a yellow mayfly imitation that originated on the Pigeon River. It is characterized by its barred ginger hackle tip wings. Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook Thread: Yellow Wing: Barred ginger hackle tips Barred ginger hackle fibers Body: Golden yellow dubbing Hook: Thread: Wing: Rear Hackle: Center Hackle: Front Hackle: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook Black Grizzly hackle tips Deer body hair Grizzly, one size smaller than hook size Yellow ostrich herl Grizzly and brown Nymphs Fall 2008 Hatches Magazine 85

4 Tellico Nymph: This is one of the best known flies to come from the Southern Appalachians. The originator of the fly is unknown. The fly is named for the Tellico River in East Tennessee. There are several variations including one with an orange body, probably representing a crayfish. Hook: Thread: Weight: Wingcase: Rib: Body: Hackle: Daiichi 1550 Standard Wet Fly Hook 8-14 Black Lead wire (optional) Brown hackle fibers or golden pheasant tippet Turkey tail fibers Peacock herl Yellow dubbing, floss or chenille Brown Cottontop Nymph (George s Nymph): This nymph is Eddie George s adaptation of the original Cottontop Nymph. Both of these flies are characterized by a tuft of white fiber tied over the thorax or neck of the fly. Some commentators believe the white may act as an indicator if the fly is fished damp (floating in the film). The fly was developed for the Little River. Hook: 6-12 Thread: Shellback: Body: Wingcase: Hackle: Daiichi XL Standard Nymph Hook Black Brown hackle tied on a downward angle Turkey tail fibers Peacock herl White goose fibers Brown Yallarhammer Wet Fly: Of all the flies of the Southern Appalachians and Smoky Mountains, this is the fly of legend. This fly is distinguished by the palmer which creates the body. The Yellow Shafted Flicker is a common woodpecker in the Eastern United States. Locally it is known as a Yellow Hammer or, in the common vernacular, it is pronounced Yallarhammer. There is a yellow shading of the under wings and both the male and female birds have a red diamond pattern on the nape of the neck. Coffey s Stone Creeper: Roger Lowe notes that Frank Coffey designed many flies in his lifetime. However, he asserts that the Stone Creeper is his greatest. Although latex is derived from the sap of the rubber tree, some might justifiably consider this one of the earliest synthetic material flies. Hook: Daiichi XL Standard Nymph Hook 6-12 Thread: Black Weight: Lead wire (optional) Body & Thorax: Brown latex Grey goose biots Feelers & Wing Buds: Grey goose biots 86 Hatches Magazine Fall 2008 Tying The Yallarhammer Wet Fly Hook: Daiichi XL Standard Nymph Hook 8-12 Fibers from long side of yellow-dyed dove flight feather Body: Peacock herl Hackle: Short side of yellow-dyed dove flight feather, palmered up the body

5 1 2 3 Attach thread behind eye and wind back to the base of the barb point in open turns. Strip off fibers from the leading edge of a dyed yellow dove primary flight feather and bind down as a tail. Tie in the leading edge of a dyed yellow dove primary flight feather that has been split or stripped from the quill. Soaking the feather for several hours will make it more pliant and wrap more easily. Tie in 5-6 strands of peacock herl near their tips at the tie down point of the tail Twist the herl into a rope using hackle pliers. Wrap the herl rope forward to the head. Wrap the split quill forward in open turn to the front of the body. Fall 2008 Hatches Magazine 87

6 7 Tie off quill and whip finish. patterns for your own use. Record how they are tied and the circumstances related to their success. If possible, try and determine who the originator is. Once these patterns have been identified, drop me an net) so that I might share in your find and perhaps get one of your local flies for my collection. And in all things tying: Tight threads and bright heads! This article would not have been possible without the expert assistance of Mr. Bruce Harang of Vancouver, Washington and Mr. Roger Lowe, Lowe Guide Service, Waynesville, N.C., Attach thread behind eye and wrap back to the base of the barb. Tie in the ginger hackle fiber with a length equal to the hook shank. Tying The Yallarhammer Dry Fly Hook: Daiichi XL Dry Fly Hook Ginger hackle fibers Wing: Lemon woodduck flank fibers- divided Body: Yellow dubbing overwrapped with the short side of yellow-dyed dove flight feather- clipped to size Hackle: Ginger The leading edge on the primary wing flight feathers (the biot strip) is the material used to produce this fly. The rachis of the feather is split longwise and the pith removed. It is best to soak the feather in water several hours before attempting to wrap it. As most all songbirds, the Yellow Shafted Flicker is protected. It is illegal to kill the bird or sell the feathers. Apparently, it is not illegal to possess the feathers. There are very good substitutes for the Yellow Shafted Flicker feathers such as grouse, dove, or quail dyed yellow or olive yellow. Grizzly hackle dyed yellow is also suitable. One of the notable common characteristics of many of these flies is the presence of the color yellow (yallar) in them. These waters have yellow stone flies and mayflies. Many flies will be successful in these waters, but if the fisherman is just prospecting for fish when there is no particular hatch, consider using a fly with yallar in it. Even better, try one of these patterns which have along history of catching fish. In summary, every region of this country has its own local patterns, developed by tiers and fishermen who may never write about their patterns. They are patterns which have proven to catch fish in myriad situations. Seek out these 88 Hatches Magazine Fall Wrap the thread forward to the point that the lemon woodduck wings will be attached. Tie the woodduck fibers in, split and divide and make sure they are upright. Create a smooth underbody with the thread and wrap back to the beginning of the tail fibers. Attach the leading edge of a yellow dyed dove primary flight feather that has been split or stripped from the quill. Soaking the feather for several hours will make it more pliant and wrap more easily.

7 4 5 6 Form the body with sparse application of dubbing to the thread and wrap the body to the base of the wings. 7 Secure a dry fly quality ginger hackle behind the wings. 8 Wrap the hackle forward with turns behind and in front of the woodduck wings. Wrap the yallarhammer quill forward in open turns, stopping before the wings. Trim the quill tips evenly so that they are slightly shorter that the hook gape. Fall 2008 Hatches Magazine 89

8 9 Clip the waste end of the hackle and whip finish. 90 Hatches Magazine Fall 2008