Hey Paul, Can you give use the salmon fly lineage? Interesting topics here for sure.
Cheers, Alberta Al -----Original Message----- From: Paul Marriner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 12:00 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [VFB] Major Pattern Inventions Steve, at the risk of alienating a few, I would say that none of the names you mentioned really influenced changes in fly patterns. Here we're talking mostly about trout. Let me explain: Lee Wulff is remembered primarily for his Wulff patterns; the main feature of which is a divided hair wing. Other than "his" patterns, the number of dry-fly patterns with divided hair wings is pretty small. The most popular dry-fly is still likely the Adams (and its variations like OBA); the Adams follows a classic model dating well back into the 19th century (or much earlier depending on how loose a definition you use). Vast numbers of parachute flies are also tied (and sold), and these date to the early 1900's. Unfortunately I don't know the originator of the parachute design, I'll have to do more research. Polly Rosborough tied some fine nymphs, but certainly no commercial and few amateurs go to the trouble of making bodies as tough as his, or preparing the materials in the way he does. The most popular nymphs are still based on the Skues' model (circa 1900). I don't have the figures but I wouldn't be surprised if variations of Sawyer's Pheasant Tail nymph aren't the biggest sellers. Gary LaFontaine created a couple of very popular caddis pupa patterns; but their model hasn't really been followed by others, e.g., you don't see mayfly or stonefly nymphs being tied with that antron "envelope." His other patterns have never gained much popularity. For my money the most influential "modern" American tiers (trout) are people like Carter Harrison who presumably produced the earliest hairwing, downwing, style fly called the Trude for the ranch where it was first tied using spaniel hair (the original was wet but it was being used dry by the 1920's). However, it was the commercial tiers like Dan Bailey and others that pushed this style into the "limelight." This style has influenced hundreds if not thousands of other patterns (Sofa Pillow, EHC, etc.). Francis Betters whose Haystack pattern (the idea for which he got from a friend of his father) was the forerunner of the myriad of Comparadun style flies; however, once again, perhaps most of the influence was due to Caucci and Nastasi who extended the design far beyond anything Betters had considered. Russell Blessing who tied the first Woolly Bugger (although much of the credit must go to Barry Beck who publicized it), Don Gapen who created the Muddler, Bob Clouser who produced the first real fly-rod jig; etc. Take a handful of flies from your boxes and try and trace their origins. I could almost draw the genealogical tree for salmon flies but that's another subject; as are saltwater flies (not an area with which I have much familiarity). Stillwater trout flies have yet another lineage. Lots of fun, eh! Cheers, Paul -- Paul Marriner Outdoor Writing & Photography. Member OWAA & OWC. Author of Stillwater Fly Fishing - Tools & Tactics (CD), Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon. This communication is for use by the intended recipient and contains information that may be privileged, confidential or copyrighted under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby formally notified that any use, copying or distribution of this e-mail, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. Unless explicitly and conspicuously designated as "E-Contract Intended", this e-mail does not constitute a contract offer, a contract amendment, or an acceptance of a contract offer. This e-mail does not constitute a consent to the use of sender's contact information for direct marketing purposes or for transfers of data to third parties. Francais Deutsch Italiano Espanol Portugues Japanese Chinese Korean http://www.DuPont.com/corp/email_disclaimer.html
