Royal Coachman

This year marks the 140th anniversary of the development of the Royal Coachman wet fly. Developed and first tied by New York fly tyer John Haily in 1878, its perseverance, popularity and certainly its familiarity are without peer. This season I intend to revisit this pattern with vigor by testing it’s effectiveness in cold water, warm water and salt water. Note the original barred wood duck tail; its replacement with the more commonly seen golden pheasant tippets was a result of the precarious drop in the numbers of woodies previous to the establishment of migratory bird hunting regulations. Thankfully, wood duck are now thriving. A beautiful bird, a beautiful fly and a great time to be a sportsman. Best wishes to all my angling brethren for a great season in 2018. Make sure you give a Royal Coachman a chance this year. It’s a wonderful part of our American angling heritage.

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“W.T.”

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Pink Lady

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Jenny Lind

Finally getting around to tying a pattern I’ve admired for years. I think that white perch’ll like this one!

 

 

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Grass Hopper

A classic wet fly for bass ready to delight in the ’16 season!

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Salty Professor

For the life of me I can’t remember where I read it, but this past winter I read a passage from the 1890’s wherein a fellow was reporting the great striped bass fishing he had been having with some large Professor wet flies. Well naturally I filed that away with a smile, and this weekend set to tying some size 2 Professors on some Mustad 3407B Zinc-covered hooks that I snelled with Mason 16 lb. test hard-mono. The hooks are perfect for salt water wet flies in the traditional style. I’m looking forward to revisiting the delights my brother-of-the-angle enjoyed so many moons ago…

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Maybelle Dragon

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Pennell’s Sweep

Sooty as a ‘sweep, Harry Pennell’s “The Sweep” is an English chub fly introduced in the Fishing Gazette in 1877. It later appeared with it’s simple pattern recipe in it’s originator’s book “Fishing: Pike And Other Coarse Fish; London: 1885. Pennell’s namesake iron, the Pennell Sneck, supports this simple hackle fly of black and white ostrich herl. Though Harry preferred the turn-down eye, my stock of Sneck hooks is limited to T.U.E., so it will have to suffice…

Pennell was a great advocate for the sporting qualities of chub, and I share his enthusiasm for their North American equivalent. Harry suggests ox brains as an excellent bait for chub; I think I’ll stick to “The Sweep”!

 

 

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White Jungle Spoonwing

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Bob Wilson

“Bob Wilson” on a sz. 8 Sawada Limerick wet fly hook. I like the look of these hooks and they are sharp! An excellent fishing hook with a nice black finish.

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Ferguson

A streamer fly conversion of the classic bass fly “Ferguson”…

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“Tricked out” Black Pond

Black Pond, sz. 1, on a Mustad 3890 with a painted ring-eye. Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel, gloss white. I saw this “trick” in a Japanese book some years ago. Just for fun!

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White Marabou Muddler

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My New Etsy Shop

I have opened up a new Etsy Shop where I will be offering vintage Fly Tying Equipment, flies and other goodies. I’ve just begun adding stock, but more will be coming daily. I hope you’ll visit and feel free to contact me if there is any particular item you are looking for. Thanks! Here’s a link to the shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ClassicFlyTyer

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Wee Smallies on the FWD

This past week I fished my Fan Wing Damsel on a small New Hampshire River during low-water conditions and had a great time with wee smallies. 9′ 4X tippet, sz. 10 FWD’s and my cane 5 weight made for a memorable outing. Oh… and I still have some love for chub too!

 

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