"This fly was anmed after Charles Abbey of the famed sporting good and
fishing tackle firm of Abbey and Imbrie, of New York City.
Mr. Abbey, as a young man, was employed in the tackle department of
Andrew Clerke & Co. "purveyors of fine tackle," 1820-1875.
The first split bamboo rods made for the trade by Charles E. Murphy,
of Neward, N.J., were sold in 1863 by Mr. Abbey while so employed."
Charles Hallock in The Fishing Tourist, 1873, wrote
that the Abbey was a good fly for ouananicke, originally native to Lake
St. John and the Saguenay regions of Canada.
Ouananichi is pronounced wah-nah-neesh, with the accent on the first
syllable. The word is of Montagnais Indian derivation meaning "little
salmon."
The Abbey is described as:
- Body: Red Floss.
- Tip: Gold.
- Rib: Gold.
- Tail: Pheasant tail.
- Wings: Mallard wing.
- Hackle: Brown.
"Abbey and Imbrie succeeded into the business of Andrew
Clerke & Co. in 1875."
Quoted section from Fly Patterns and Their
Origins, published by Westshore Publications,
Color photo from Forgotten Flies. We appreciate use permission!
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