Deb, I would have to agree with your teacher. If your love patterns, Kelson is great source but Pryce-Tannatt's book still stands as one of the best book of instructions on the subject. I prefer to tie the simpler, older patterns though. The Scropes's flies pictured on the reference you gave Wes have an interesting story of their own. The link that I find most interesting is: www.fedflyfishers.org/FlyTying/SALFLYER/vol_summer/more.htm I'm working on getting the materials to tie these flies right now. BTW, Scrope's book is fascinating reading. He had a great wit and has some hilarious stories to tell. One example is the one about the river keeper who was expected to report anything he saw that might be out of sorts. So whenever a fresh salmon somehow came to be at his home (low pay made them vulnerable to bribery) his wife always blindfolded him before any sign of the fish appeared at the table. After every last trace of the meal was gone the blindfold was removed.
Bill -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Deborah Duran Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 10:47 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [VFB] Atlantic Salmon Flies? Bill I've heard similar things said about Kelsons book. Well I've looked at the book I've haven't picked up a copy of it yet. One of my teachers had a very negative opinion of his instructions and illustrations. It is impossible to tie a fly and have it resemble an illustration in his book. After he walked me through a few pages of the book I could see his point. He had a gentleman try to commission him to tie all the patterns in Kelsons book and he turned him down for this reason. I did pick up the Pryce Tannatt book recently and I am really enjoying that. Deb ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Bailey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 12:07 AM Subject: RE: [VFB] Atlantic Salmon Flies? > It is my understanding that it had to do with job security. Selling > flies was a competitive business then as it is now. If you could produce > flies that no one else knew how to make, then you had a monopoly on > them. I've read that that's why Blacker's instructions were so obscure. > It's virtually impossible to tie some of his flies in the way that he > describes. In those days women's hats were frequently loaded with an > unbelievable amount of feathers. As the story goes, a fly tyer named Pat > McKay walked into one of these hat stores in 1810 during a visit to > Ballyshannon and discovered a wealth of exotic feathers. In order to > have something different to sell, he began incorporating them into his > flies. Thus began the history of the gaudy fly which peaked around the > turn of the last century with the inky boy fiasco when people became > aware that such exotic, complex creations weren't really necessary to > catch salmon. > I have become especially interested in the earlier, plainer flies. > I've learned to use natural dyes and have sought out the old materials > like hog's wool, mohair and fine yarns. There is also a lot of > interesting reading from those days about flies and fishing > > Bill
