Spain probably isn't the first place one thinks of in relation
to Atlantic Salmon - or a hot bed of tying. The truth is Spain
has about sixteen rivers which are salmon rivers, eight of which
produce large catches of salmon in the eleven pound range.
According to Atlantic Salmon Flies & Fishing by
Joseph D. Bates, Jr., published by
Stackpole Books, "the most prolific river first, are the
Sella, Cares-Deva, Narcea, Ason, Pas, Eo, Navia and the Canero."
Where there are salmon, there are tiers specializing in flies for
the salmon. In Pravia, Spain lives one of the world's most
accomplished fly-dressers, Belarmino Martinez. Among the flies
he created are the Silver Martinez (Martinex Plateada) Cares River
(Rio Cares), Deva River (Rio Deva), Esva River (Rio Esva), Navia
River (Rio Navia), Ulla River (Rio Ulla) and the fly featured above,
the Pas River (Rio Pas). Senor Martinez is also a well-known salmon
angler.
This is the pattern, created and tied by Belarmino Martinez.
Pas River (Rio Pas)
Head: Brown lacquer.
Tag: Oval silver tinsel.
Tip: Red floss.
Tail: Golden Pheasant crest with two slips of barred
Summer Duck over.
Butt: Peacock herl.
Body: In two equal parts: the first half, embossed
silver tinsel veiled with yellow hackle tips and butted with Peacock
herl; the second half, red flossed ribbed with silver oval tinsel
and wound with green hackle.
Throat: Guinea.
Wing: Four red hackles, over which is a pair of
Golden Pheasant tippets.
Sides: Lady Amherst Pheasant tippets.
Cheeks: Very small Lady Amherst Pheasant tippets.
Topping: Golden Pheasant crest.
Credits: Information and photos from Atlantic Salmon Flies & Fishing,
we appreciate use permission. ~ DLB
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