Thanks, Paul The site posted in an earlier post showed that many of the speys were tied with non-heron feathers. It's tough to tell if that is a deviation from the original pattern, or if the original pattern called for it. Maybe in the recipes they should call out substitute materials when it is the case, and if the pattern is a classic or not.
Thanks for your input. Was Spey casting started on the Spey River? Was the first Spey rod used on the Spey River? CMWTK. DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Marriner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 4:19 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] Spey Hackle?-another option > It might be worth a moment or two to clear up some confusion re Spey > flies. Spey flies were named for the river Spey, as that was where the > design originated. > According to Buckland and Oglesby, only 2 of the original 8 patterns > called for heron feathers (grey), the remainder for black or red Spey > cock feathers. These latter were feathers from a particular variety of > rooster, now believed to have disappeared. They are very different from > heron, being instead quite webby. The feathers were tied in at the back > by the butt to have the longest fibers at the back. > Another characteristic (5 patterns) is the bronze mallard wings, tied > very low and short. > The meaning of Spey flies has been grossly mangled. What are now called > Spey flies seem to be anything with a palmered hackle that is long and > flowing. > Cheers, > Paul > http://www.galesendpress.com > -- > Paul Marriner > Outdoor Writing & Photography. Member OWAA & OWC. Author of Stillwater > Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics (Print [NEW] & CD), Modern Atlantic Salmon > Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic > Salmon. >
