Silver Betsy Atlantic Salmon Fly Pattern

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Does anyone have a good picture of this pattern? I remember it a little but the only reference I find for it is in Terry Hellekson’s “Fish Flies” but I do not have a copy of it…

Thanks
art

2

I have never heard of the Silver Betsy… only the Silver Doctor… here is a picture of it!

http://www.perfectflystore.com/silverdoctorinfo.html

3

hap,

I just looked it up in the Terry H. book. He says it’s the same as the ‘Silver Abby’ and gives the recipe but no picture.

4

Thank you very much! Could I bother you to post the recipe, also, please? I should have been less specific in that I have nothing at this point! :confused:

5

hap,

This is exactly as it appears in the book by T.H.(pg 590). Sounds like a reasonably easy fly to tie.

Silver Betsy
Hooks: TMC7999 or DAI2441, sizes 4-10.
Thread: Black.
Tip: Oval silver tinsel.
Tail: Scarlet red hackle barbs.
Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Flat silver tinsel.
Wing: Gray squirrel tail tied low over the body.
Hackle: Grizzly tied as a collar and tied back and down.
Head: Black.
Also known as Silver Abbey

Allan

6

Ronn Lucas has a picture of a fly called …Abby"…may be related.

http://flyanglersonline.com/flytying/atlantic/personalities/foster/

7

I found another Abbey pattern: http://hatchesmagazine.com/blogs/Hatches/2010/09/12/the-ray-bergman-collection-abbey/

8

Thanks to all, especially you Allan for going back and posting the recipe!!! I appreciate the efforts and getting the recipe spelled out!
art

9

hap,

Glad I could help.

Allan

10

Wow, haven’t tied these in a VERY long time, like more than 25 years ago. The pattern is listed in my copy of Hair-Wing Atlantic Salmon Flies by Keith Fulsher and Charles Krom but there is no picture (that whole book is black and white except for a half dozen color plates with a small portion of the flies shown. It also states in the book that the Silver Abbey and Silver Betsy utilize the same materials. The pattern that Allan listed above is the same as my book except it says the “tag” is Oval Silver tinsel, there is no tip and the tail just says “red dyed hackle fibres”, not scarlet red, if my memory serves me, the hackles are quite bright on both the Silver Abbey and Red Abbey. Enjoy the tying and thanks for the memory. Dwight

11

Interesting. This has the same colour scheme as what would be called a “Silver Dorothy” here, it’s tied with Grizzle hackle for the wing (the streamers), which are tied down along the hook (Matuka style), and the tip wouldn’t be included (yes, major changes and different flies, but similar overall idea). I’ve tied a few standard NZ Matuka pattern as squirrel tails, and this would have been the conversion (apart from the tip). They work very well.

  • Jeff
12

Had the squirrel tail out for another job so while it was to hand I though I’d put you out of your misery.
To the dressing given by Allan. It is an easy fly to dress so we will expect you to do better than my quick first attempt.

Cheers,
A.

13

Very nice AlanB!!

14

AlanB,

How in the world do you always get the head of your flies so neat and what ‘cement’ do you use? Care to share? Fantastic!

Allan

15

That’s excellent AllanB! Yes, I’m sure that would do very nicely on the rainbows and browns here.

  • Jeff
16

Watch some of Hans’ videos. If you can make a head like he does, then you can build whatever you like. Then practice practice practice.
The head cement is Deer Creek’s Diamond Hard UV resin. I use it for two reasons. I hate having racks of flies with their heads drying. The UV is dry instantly so I don’t have to avoid dust. Also Diamond Hard dries tack free, so I don’t have to go over it again with another varnish. That is rather self defeating.

For my flies a head like Hans makes is my aim, but shiny heads sell so for the ones I sell I have to do them.

Cheers,
A.