This Bradshaw fly is a variation of the very successful and simply
dressed Silver & Mallard trout pattern. Bradshaw first used it
duing a 1936 trip to Vancouver Island when he decided to give coho
[silver salmon] fly fishing at Duncan Bay, just north of Campbell
River [British Columbia, Canada] a try. After rowing the mile or
so up to Duncan Bay with his wife, Becky, they both had a successful
day tossing feather and hair-winged lures to salmon. Starting at
10:30 and finishing at just after 4 they caught a total of 10 salmon
and one seagull.
In his diary he gives the dressing for the fly he use: "#2 low water
hook, silver body, badger hackle & gray mallard & peacock wing."
He also gives a brief account of the fish and bird that he caught.
After landing his first coho, Brayshaw records:
I got a 5 1/4 cohoe & two four-pound humpbacks besides putting
back 3 grilse. Left the Bay at 4 & rowing home home a big
strike off the kelp & got a 10 1/2 pound cohoe - I also caught
& released a seagull in the bay.
A few days later Brayshaw was again out casting to salmon in
Duncan Bay and, early in the afternoon on the ebb tide, he took
a 7 1/4 pound spring and a 9 1/2 pound coho on his Mallard, Silver
& Peacock pattern. In just a few hours salmon fishing with his
new fly, Brayshaw took cohoes, pinks and springs. With such
catches, indeed, a most worthwhile pattern for the tinsel-tosser
to have in his fly box.
Mallard, Silver & Peacock
Hook: Number 2 low-water salmon.
Body: Flat silver tinsel.
Throat: Badger hackle.
Wing: Peacock and mallard flank.
[Head: Black.]
Originator: Tom Brayshaw.
Intended Use: Wet fly for coho [Pacific]Salmon.
Location: Duncan Bay, British Columbia, Canada.
~ Arthur James Lingren
Credits: Dressing, fly photo and text from
Fly Patterns of British Columbia by Arthur James Lingren,
published by Frank Amato Publications,
Portland Oregon. Ours sincere thanks for use permission.
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