Great job by Eric Austin about ‘Fan Wings’ on the cover edition of this weeks’ site.
Eric, fan wings, when tied properly, are perhaps the most intriguing fly to view. I enjoy tying them but cannot say the same about fishing them because I’ve hardly used them. Why? I don’t know. I think you raised some question about them going out of favor. Perhaps because they are not as easy to tie properly and when not tied properly, they will cause all sorts of havoc with your tippet/leader. Also, since we fly fishers have become small tippet conscious, these flies simply do not behave. I recall reading in an older book, don’t remember which, that the fly would create some twists in the tippet and when it hit the water, the tippet(must have been gut and fairly stiff) would untwist which would cause the fly to flip and that would attract the trouts.
I believe there are directions for tying fan wings in books by Bergman, Blades, Herter, maybe Cross, Holden and some probably others.
I’m pretty sure that “Whirl-away McSneak” is a complete chapter in Charlie Fox’s book, This Wonderful World of Trout. It is one of my favorites. As I recall, the ‘Old Man’ places a bet with someone that ‘Boy’ can catch and land a trout that’s eluded, broke off or mystified everyone who’s tried for it. The narrative of what Boy does(“Whirl-away McSneak)” is described in detail. He wins the bet.
I ended up with a few fan wing flies in a royal coachman style, in a bunch of flies given to me one time. Before getting them I never had seen or heard of one before and only from the artical do I now know what they are called. I had been told by the person given them to me they were a style from Canada. To me they are some on the most intresting looking trout flies I have in my collection. I have only pulled out and fished one of them one time. I did not have any trouble fishing them by the tippet twisting but I was fishing an Alpine lake at the time. I worked very well for the small Rainbow trout planted there by the Trail Blazers.
I have often thought about tying some and wondered why you never see them in books now days. Now I have at least a partial answer. Thank You.
I still may tie a few some day when time allows because the one I used was a fun fly to fish on that little Alpine lake and I feel it might be good on presured lakes in which the fish have seen a lot of flies.
the Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference has a section dedicated to tying these very intriguing wings. i have tied a couple, but have never fished them. they are very nice looking flies, but i would be upset, catching a fish on one, and having the “wings” get all mussed up.
ive only tied them in a royal coachman pattern, and they werent as fun to tie as they are to look at. so for my money: when im fishing, i use traditional slip-style wings, but for pure looks and display…these fan wings create a beautiful profile that definately appeals to my artistic side.
ps–the FTBSR recomends using a drop of head cement on each stem to hold the wings in place for tying. ive tried it with and without the cement, and the cement definately makes it alot easier…
Everyone dies. Only the lucky ever truly Live. Take your time.
The fan wings of yester year, are no different than tying in any A.K. Best style wings as he uses mainly hen hackle wings…and the same procedures work on all wings of this type.
Maybe one of the swaps I get into, I’ll do one of these pattern’s…prolly would be enjoyed by most I’d think…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best