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DRY FLIES

CATSKILL FLIES
Even though Theodore Gordon was not the first to use dry flies he is credited in developing not only specific flies such as the Quill Gordon but a whole style of sparsely dress fly patterns generally refereed to as "Catskill" flies. the fact that most of his flies were developed to imitate specific mayflies that don't exist in Australia they still are readily accepted by Australian trout. The Quill Gordon was first tied by Gordon the father of the famous “Catskill” school of fly tying in early 1900’s America. Many other flies followed. The school became famous for its beautiful and sparsely dressed flies and this fly adheres to that philosophy. The recipe that follows is not the original recipe for the Blue Dun  but I find this tie to be easier. As  well as the Blue Dun I also carry Quill Gordon's, Khaki Queens, and  Turkey Browns  dressed in this elegant  sparse style.
 


QUILL GORDON:

Hook - Size 12-14
Thread - Black
Tail -  Barred duck feather barbules
Body -  Stripped peacock eye quill over black thread
Rib - Fine gold wire, tinsel or thread
Wings  - Barred duck hackle fibers or tips
Hackle - Grey



KHAKI DUN:

Hook - Size 10-14
Thread - Olive
Tail -  Brown & olive hackle fibers
Body -  Stripped peacock eye quill
Rib Optional - extra fine gold tinsel
Wings  - Brown & olive hackle fibers or tips
Hackle - Brown & olive hackle

TURKEY BROWN DUN:

Hook - Size 10-14
Thread - Brown
Tail -  Black & brown hackle fibers
Body -  Stripped peacock eye quill
Rib Optional - extra fine gold tinsel
Wings  - Black & brown cock hackle or tips
Hackle - Brown & grizzly hackle

BLUE DUN


  MATERIALS FOR A BLUE DUN:

Hook - Size 10-14
Thread - Black
Tail -  Swamp hen hackle fibers
Body -  Stripped peacock eye quill
Rib Optional - extra fine gold tinsel
Wings  - Swamp hen hackle fibers or tips
Hackle -Grizzly hackle


A)

  1. Starting at the eye of the hook wind the thread backward along the front half of the hook shank in touching turns and then return the thread back toward the eye of the hook to the 3/4 position.
  2. Tie in a bunch of hackle fibers upright and divided.

or



Select two matching feather slips and tie them in upright with one on each side of the hook shank.

 
B)
  1. Wrap the thread almost to the bend of the hook and then tie in a tail of 6 or 7 hackle fibers. The finished length of the tail should be between 3/4 and the full length of the hook shank.
  2. Tie in the ribbing material at the bend of the hook.
  3. Wind the thread forward to the wing forming a smooth but thin body.

 
 

C)

Take a peacock herl and using an eraser wipe the flue off the quill.








D)
  1. Tie in the stripped peacock eye quill from the thick end directly behind the wing.
  2. Trim the butt end close to the tie in position

E)
  1. Wind the stripped herl all the way down to the bend of the hook so that there is just a pin line between each wrap of stripped herl.
  2. Whilst maintaining the tension on the stripped herl with your left hand pick up the ribbing material with your right hand and wind it back to the wing forming 4 or 5 segments that lock the stripped herl in position.
  3. Tie the ribbing material off and trim the excess of both the stripped herl and the ribbing material.


F)
  1. Tie the hackle in at the 2/3 position, this is, just a little behind the wings.
  2. Take the thread forward to the 95% position.

G)
  1. Wind the hackle forward in touching turns up to the wing and in front of the wing all the way to the thread.
  2. Tie the hackle off and trim the excess.
  3. Build up small neat head.
  4. Whip finish and varnish the head.

 
Copyright © 2005 Stephen Chatterton / Fish on Fly P/L - All rights reserved.
Last modified: 11-Jun-2008.

 
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