The “Whatchamacallit”.
First time out this fly caught a large bag full of fish, and everybody who has used it since has also caught large bags of fish, Indeed, if you use this fly, take a large bag along with you for the fish. Originally it was tied at the bench from memory of an insect I saw on the lake two years before, and vaguely remembered after three glasses of whiskey. “Ephem…” something or other. Easy to recognise.
This is a really deadly fly.
You can use any hook you like.
You will need some special thread from one of those Swiss embroidery suppliers, I forgot the name, but it looks black in water.
For the body you need some of that shiney stuff, “dazzle”, or “glimmer”, or “brilliance”, or something like that.
The hackle is one of those multicoloured feathers from the end of a Chinese feather duster sold by Woolworth in 1969 or maybe it was 1972?
For wings you will need some of the soft transparent stuff which I think is usually used for making curtains, Walmart sell it in the aisle two aisles down and across from the electric drills.
The original used special glitter spar varnish my brother made in 1953 for the head, but it had all dried up when I needed it and so I used whitewash mixed with kerosene. This takes a long time to dry as well, so maybe it is close to the original mixture?
I was going to call this fly an “Adams”, because my son’s name is Adam, and I tied it for him, but loads of people have already used this name, and then I decided to call it “Bloggs’ Fancy”, but a lot of local people who used it called it something else and I just forget what that was right now. Anyway, have fun tying and fishing this wonderful fly!
Sorry I don’t have a picture of this fly right now, but the instructions should be clear enough.
If you don’'t have this fly in your box, then don’t despair, if you are forced to, you can just use one of those little black ones instead, but then you might not need a large bag for your fish…
PS. You can add a tail made from one of those fluffy feathers from the Christmas turkey, but you have to buy the turkey unplucked if you want to do this. These feathers are even harder to find on naked turkeys. Feathers that have been in the oven look very similar to each other and may be discoloured and hard to work with, so pluck the turkey before you roast it. These feathers do have a name, “Apricots” or “plums”, or something very similar at least. Just choose a large fluffy one.
PPS. My buddy saw this, and reminded me that it wasn’t exactly the insect I saw at all, it was a fly some guy from Chicago was showing around in the club house after fishing, while we were having a few beers. I am positive about the “Ephem…” though, “Hic!”. or was it “Effin…something or other?”.
PPPS. My brother just hit me with a turkey after we got in an argument about the tail material. He swears that the original fly had a tail of special wool which my sister had in her work box for mending the socks my father brought home from the second world war. Hell, you can use that as well if you like, no need for violence, but then it just aint an original Whatchamacallit as far as I am concerned…
PPPPS. It don’t matter much to me at all, I was only trying to be as accurate as possible, if you don’ t like my pattern then maybe you should just ask that guy from Chicago about his effin fly?
EDIT. Sorry, but I don’ sell any of this special stuff, I am only posting these deadly patterns to help my fellow anglers. However, my brother owns a tackle shop which specialises in original exclusive fly patterns using original materials, dubbing made from old socks, various shiney stuff, roasted turkey feathers, and an exclusive line of large fish bags.
TL
MC
