We’re celebrating my brother’s birthday tomorrow. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been home for it so it should be fun. This summer, my Dad, brother, and I are hoping to get some fishing in for Atlantic Salmon. Will probably try the St. Mary’s river mostly, as the last two years have been the best in the past 20 (catch and release only these days). Anyway, I’ve tied him up a few flies to go in the card. Just thought I would share:
Cosseboom: a popular fly in Eastern Canada. The hackle is a bit big on this one. It should be quite undersized:
Vanessa: This is my own pattern, though I didn’t have the lavendar floss for the tag nor the mallard dyed woodduck for the wing.
Blue Charm: the throat on this is blue squirrel tail. The hairwing version is probably more common, but we can get those at a shop if we want, so I tied him a feather wing version:
Red and Black basic Spey: I watched a David McPhail you tube video where he tied this one. I quite liked it and watching him really helped me with the wings. They aren’t quite right yet, but I’m finally starting to feel like my spey wings are improving. Unfortunatly, the body hackle went a bit hay wire. Still, these are all fishing flies, so picture perfect is not a requirement.
I’m really enjoying tying these. These are size 8 (Eagle River). These would be fun to fish back in NZ for some of the larger trout. I must remember to pick up a few packs of hooks to take back with me.
Great ties Jeff. At the moment I am tying for the same reason. I’m tying up Blue Charms, Orange Cossebooms, Big Blue intervale, Green Machines and Magog Smelts for the Spring.
Good luck with The Fishing and Happy Bday to your brother,
In New Zealand, where I have my full tying kit, I use a lavendar floss for the tag rather than the yellow, and the wing is Mallard dyed woodduck, which is much lighter. I only had a chance to fish it once, tied on smaller hooks for trout, and landed a small rainbow in the first few casts! John Scott did her proud last year when I sent him one to try out. I’m hoping she attracts a salmon or two as well. Fingers crossed.
Thanks Al! Gave them to him yesterday and he was pleased. I also threw in a Parmachene Belle, March Brown, and a fly we used to fish but I don’t know the name of (no tail, red body, silver rib, red hackle, white wings; jungle cock cheeks optional). Might be called a Premier, but I’m not sure.
Would love to see your ties if you get the time to snap a few pics and post them. The St. Mary’s River association has a web page with a number of local patterns that look pretty good too. I’ve tied a few up before, but have to re-locate the dressings so I can do a few more.