"Thorn Tree - Old Flies - Fly Angler's OnLine week 210 "

Welcome to 'just old flies,' a section of methods and flies that used-to-be. These flies were tied with the only materials available. Long before the advent of 'modern' tying materials, they were created and improved upon at a far slower pace than todays modern counterparts; limited by materials available and the tiers imagination.

Once long gone, there existed a 'fraternity' of anglers who felt an obligation to use only the 'standard' patterns of the day. We hope to bring a bit of nostalgia to these pages and to you. And sometimes what you find here will not always be about fishing. Perhaps you will enjoy them. Perhaps you will fish the flies. Perhaps?

Part One hundred fourty-five

Thorn Tree

By John McBride

This is one of my family's handed-down version of Charles Cotton's Trout Fly patterns from the 5th edition of the Complete Angler, using newer materials of course.

Thorn Tree

Body: Black thin dubbing, and very small.
Wing: One gray duck, or mallard flank over the back like a cape.

The Thorn Tree fly is used in March. The body is as little as can be made with absolute black dubbing mixed with eight hairs of Isabella colored mohair. Wings of a bright Mallard's feather. An admirable fly, and in great repute amongst us as a killer fly. ~ John McBride

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