I say Matuka, you say Matuku

[Donald Nicolson]

For a couple weeks now I have been reading Keith Draper's book
'Trout Flies in New Zealand'. A very interesting book, which was published
in 1971. One very important point is that there are no Matuka flies named
in it. There is a Matuku fly, with the original recipe using the Australasian
bittern feathers and the modern (1971) version using hen pheasant flank
feathers. There are quite a few patterns using various feathers in what is
known to us as the Matuka style, but no mention of the word Matuka.
It looks like the the word was coined outwith N. Z., possibly in Australia.

I bought Derek Quilliam's book 'A Complete Guide to N. Z. Trout Flies' 2000 from AbeBooks and now await its arrival.
I hope to dress some flies and will post the results.
( Complete with recipes of course.)

[Donald Nicolson]

Here is a Web-Site with a lot of NZ lures, really worth a look.
http://www.fishingwithflies.com/Lure...troduction.htm

[bobbyg]

I guess so, if you can afford to go fish New Zealand?
I've listed things for sale here, for say $50.00, that are worth at least a $100.00
with no takers? Go figger.

I'll check it out anyway.

[Donald Nicolson]

I do not quite get the relevance of the first three lines to my post
Many NZ patterns are used here in the UK, they were designed to
catch larger brown and rainbow trout which are the main predators of
all smaller fish.
The likelyhood of myself being able to go to NZ, or North America for
that matter is very remote. That does not stop me being interested in
patterns from other countries. The trout in all these places don't have
any hesitation in trying to eat these lures.
As a matter of fact the web-site address I gave is in the USA.

[JeffHamm]

Hi Donald,

Yes, Matuku is the Maori name for the local Bittern. It's feathers were used to create a lure, with the feather lashed along the hook shank. The Matuku was being overhunted for its feathers, so it was protected to prevent it going the way of the dodo. Anyway, as substitutes were searched for, a large variety of patterns developed that were tied like a "matuku", so here "Matuku" is used to describe the style of the lure (i.e. like calling something a bucktail, or streamer).

- Jeff

[Lake Erie High Ball]

Donald

You have given me quite a distraction. This is a case, for me anyhow, where the fly / flies or should I say "Lures" caught the fisherman first. I love the looks of them. If I tied some and never fished them they would still look great in a shadow box.

For now I will have to put these in a note book to tie up after my promotional test.

Thanks for the post.

Sean

[Donald Nicolson]

Hi Jeff,
I have been reading Derek Quilliam's book
'The Complete Guide to N. Z. Trout Lures' for about three days now.
I must say, a superb book, it has nearly 500 lures, complete with recipes,
the pix are all of flies dressed and photo'd by the author.
For a good few years I have been fascinated by a couple of flies
mentioned in Courtney Williams (1949) 'Dictionary of Trout Flies',
called 'Reckless William' and 'Reckless William's Mate'.
I have never been able to find any other references to these flies
until now. The illustrations in Courtney William's book were very poor,
Derek Quilliam's pix and recipes are very clear, I think he may be the
first to dress them in over sixty years.
There are many other patterns here I want to try. They may be easier
for me until my hand and eye co-ordination improve.
Watch this space.

[JeffHamm]

Hi Donald,

Yes, I recall you sent me some pdf files concerning those patterns. They're in my fly tying box. As I recall, they seemed to me to be tied "hook point up", and in a flat wing-style (like a Craig's Nighttime, but using mallard feathers I think). I would be interested in seeing a copy of them, so I'll be keeping an eye out for your presentation.

- Jeff