Using this streamer pattern for salmon, tied with
white feather wings, jungle cock shoulders and a
silver body, dating about 1928, was an idea of
Gardner Percy, of Portland, Maine.
It was name after L. Dana Chapman, of Boston,
Massachusetts, who, from 1934-1941 had a tackle
shop at 8 High Street. He gave Mr. Percy the
first order for that pattern.
The pattern was originally known as the Bonbright,
after the late George D. Bonbright, a well known
New York fisherman who used it in larger sizes
for tarpon in Florida. Mr. Bonbright designed
a salt-water fly rod for tarpon.
Mr. Chapman, born in 1858, served his tackle
apprenticeship, as a boy, under Lorenzo Prouty
and was at one time employed, as was Prouty, at
Bradford & Anthony.
Dana won the gold medal for accuracy fly casting
at the 1908 Boston Sport Show.
Bonbright Streamer
Tail: Red and white duck wing, and golden
pheasant crest.
Body: Flat silver tinsel.
Rib: Fine oval silver tinsel.
Throat: White hackle fibers.
Wing: Four white neck hackle.
Horns: Blue macaw tail feather.
Shoulder: Golden pleasant crest,
followed by a red duck breast.
Cheeks: Jungle cock.
Tied by Don Bastian.
Publisher's Note: The photo shown above
is labeled as the Bonbright in Forgotten
Flies. A photo of a 'Dana' is shown, but
it not the fly described above.
Credits: Text from Fly Patterns and Their Origins,
By Harold Hinsdill Smedley, photo from Forgotten
Flies.
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