The history of fly tying has been characterized
since its very beginning by periods of explosive energy followed by
spells of quiescence. Possibly the most active juncture began in the
mid-1800s in England when interest in the dry fly began to gain
momentum. Spurred by the sight of trout rising to floating insects,
anglers would bend on a fresh wet fly and cast it upstream in hope
it would alight so softly that the surface film would keep it afloat for
a few seconds. Sometimes the ruse worked and when it did the rising
trout would often take the fly. But it was a hit and miss proposition
and it wasn't until Halford and others worked out a method of winding
hackles collar-style, bristling at right angles to the hook's shank, that
dry flies became consistant floaters. Then the dry fly movement
took off like gangbusters.
Fly dressers sought to produce flies that
mimicked nature as closely as possible. "Exact imitations" became
the goal and a vast array of materials was tried experiementally to
achive that end. Someone even tried to fashion mayfly wings cut to
shape from fish scales - presumably those of a carp.
The popularity of the dry fly on the chalk
streams of England led to a virtual cult following. Meanwhile, on
the banks of the Itchen - not far from the Test - G.E.M. Skues
was proving that effectiveness of nymph fishing and he soon acquired
a considerable following of true believers. Eventually, battle lines
were drawn and a virtual war was waged between advocates of the
floater and promoters of the sunken fly. In the autocratic scheme of
British angling at that time, it was no surprise that some clubs would
permit the use of only the dry fly - fished upstream - on their waters.
It wasn't long before Skues was banished from
his beloved Itchen and was obliged to take a rod on the Nadder.
Although he complained bitterly about his new chalk stream, it
produced larger trout for him than had the Itchen. Eventually,
cooler heads began to prevail and the ridiculous controversy ground
grudgingly to a halt with no apparent winners on either side.
In America wet fly fishing had been the
order of the day and when word of the new dry fly drifted across
the Atlantic it was received with enthusiasm. Theodore Gordon
began to correspond with Halford, Marston, Skues and others
gleaning much information from these pioneers. Gordon was
subsequently provided with samples of the new British flies and
from these he adaped his own versions for the faster-floating
streams of his experience. His dry flies were sparser than those
of the British, with slender bodies, stiffer hackles and often dressed
with split wings of rolled wood duck breast feathers. Thus was
the Catskill style born and its use still persists today.
~ Chauncy Lively
More next time. Chauncy's article appears
in the Spring Issue of the RIVERWATCH, the quarterly publication
of the Anglers of the AuSable, Grayling Michigan.
FAOL is proud to be a member of this fine organization,
dedicated to the protection of the AuSable River, its watershed
and environs. Dues are $25 per
year. For membership contact:
The Anglers of the AuSable
403 Black Bear Drive
Grayling, Michigan 49738
and visit their
website!
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