Finding fly dressings that have lapsed into the past, or gaining new insights into standard dressings, can be as satisfying as finding a batch of rare feathers. In The Salmon Fly (1895) George M. Kelson had mentioned both the Red and Bronze Pirates, but neglected to disclose the patterns for either fly and though rendering the dressing for the Bo Peep, he had written very little about the fly. Thus, locating these dressings in earlier publications as part of the Blue Boyne Set is indeed noteworthy.

Prior to writing The Salmon Fly, over a century ago, Kelson had written extensively for the sporting tabloids of the day. In the July 11, 1885 edition of one of these papers, "The Fishing Gazette," Kelson had described the Blue Boyne. Of the Blue Boyne and its inventor, Major Traherne, Kelson had written:

. . . a veteran angler the other day, during that trying north-east wind and bright sun, when the water was dead low and the fish dreadfully sulky and settled down, gave us one more example of his skill. After a week's perseverance and toil, he designed a fly, and landed his eighty-second spring fish. . . . and there was an immediate demand for blue Chatterers.

Hook: No. 7.
Tag: Silver twist and claret silk.
Tail: A golden topping.
Butt: Black herl.
Body: A continuation of the fine silver twist, is divided in three sections (after the fashion of the Popham) with blue chatterer; but the feathers are tied in sideways instead of being flat-that is to say, two or three on either side near the top, and on either side near the bottom; but by no means veiling too much of the body. The first set just overlap the butt; feathers a trifle larger are selected for the center; and still longer ones at the throat, projecting a quarter of an inch towards the barb of the hook.
Wing: The wing is composed of five toppings.
Head: Black herl.

Source: Kelson, George M. "On The Description Of Salmon Flies.-No. 28."

The Fishing Gazette. July 11, 1885.

It is interesting to note that variations exist between "The Fishing Gazette" pattern and the one presented in The Salmon Fly. (In the July 23, 1887 issue of another early sporting tabloid, "Land And Water," Kelson had presented the same version as The Salmon Fly.) In "The Fishing Gazette" pattern, Kelson had indicated a tag of silver twist and claret silk; he omitted the claret silk in The Salmon Fly and "Land And Water" accounts. Other differences included the changing of the tail from a Golden topping to Indian crow, and the incorporation of yellow Macaw in a wing with a reduced number of toppings.

G. S.

(Traherne.)

Tag: Silver twist.
Tail: Two Indian Crow (back to back).
Butt: Black herl.
Body: Silver tinsel (oval, the finest), intersected by four sets of Chatterer above and below at equal distances apart. 1st set at one-fourth of space between butt and head: 3rd set forming throat.
Wings: Two strips of yellow Macaw and two toppings.
Head: Black herl.

Source: Kelson, George M. The Salmon Fly. 1895.

The reasons why discrepancies exist between the Blue Boyne that Kelson had first mentioned in "The Fishing Gazette" and subsequent patterns will probably remain a mystery. In his "Land And Water" account Kelson had written: "The wings then were composed entirely of golden toppings, and that was the original dressing." Therefore, though Kelson had noted the changes, he was lacking in their documentation.

It is in the same "The Fishing Gazette" 1885 article that Kelson had written of his Blue Boyne variation, the Red Pirate. He had stated:

The only difference between the "Red Pirate" and the "Blue Boyne" is that the former has a blue instead of claret tag, red Indian Crow's feathers instead of blue Chatterers, and Amherst Pheasant horns.

In his 1892 book, How To Tie Salmon Flies, Captain Hale had attributed the Red Pirate to Kelson and rendered it the same way.

The Red Pirate

(Mr. Kelson. )

Tag: Silver twist and blue floss. Tail: Topping.
Butt: Black herl.
Body: Silver twist, in three sections, each butted with black herl. At each joint are Indian crow's feathers, sideways, two or three on each side near the top and bottom; the feathers gradually increase in size from the first joint towards the head.
Wings: Five toppings.
Horns: Amherst pheasant.
Head: Black herl.
Hook: No. 7.

Source: Hale, Captain J.H. How To Tie Salmon Flies. 1892.

It is in the August 20, 1887 issue of "Land And Water" that Kelson had given the dressing for the Bronze Pirate.

The Bronze Pirate

(Kelson. )

Tag: Silver twist.
Tail: Toucan.
Butt: Black herl.
Body: Silver tinsel, ribbed with silver twist, partially butted in three equal sections with Impeyan Pheasant (cheek feathers) increasing in size.
Wings: Impeyan Pheasant (doubled, crest) and two toppings.
Head: Black herl.

Source: Kelson, George M."Standard Salmon Flies." Land And Water. August 20, 1887.

It seems that Kelson had named these flies according to the color of the body veiling. As to the "Pirate," Kelson himself had stated in "The Fishing Gazette:" " 'Red Pirate'-a capital name, perhaps, as I certainly infringed the 'law of imitation' in delineating the outline, if such law exists."

The Bo Peep, another of Kelson's variations, had been written about in the July 30, 1887 issue of "Land & Water."

. . . another of the `Blue Boyne' class . . . We will consider it to-day as a change fly to the "Blue Boyne," which, of course, is not infallible . . . and we have "Bo Peep," which I intended for open places, and more particularly when the sun shines.

Though Kelson had not given a dressing at that time, it probably appeared a week later (as was the practice) in the August 6, 1887 issue. Not having access to that issue, I have given the dressing presented in The Salmon Fly.

Bo Peep

S.S. (Kelson. )

Tag: Silver twist (plenty).
Tail: Toucan (three) and two small Chatterer (back to back).
Butt: Black herl.
Body: In three equal sections of silver tinsel (oval, the finest): No. 1, butted with Toucan above and below, followed by black herl. No. 2, butted with Indian Crow above and below, followed by black herl.
Throat: (or No. 3 section)-Double Chatterer feathers (back to back) on off and on near side.
Wings: Ibis and red Macaw in fibres, and three toppings. Horns: Amherst Pheasant.
Head: Black herl.

Source: Kelson, George M. The Salmon Fly. 1895.

The flies in the Blue Boyne set were all designed for use on a very specific occasion: low water. Thus, Kelson had specified that they be dressed sparsely, and on a small hook. The #7 hook depicted in the plate of Bartleet hooks after the last chapter in The Salmon Fly measures only three quarters of an inch long. Indeed, Kelson had also recommended tying them smaller!

Though my research has identified only these members of the Blue Boyne set, it would seem that Kelson had alluded to others in the August 20, 1887 "Land And Water" article:

The "Bronze Pirate," the last of my selections from the "Blue Boyne" set, was introduced for using on the special occasions to which I have lately been referring. There are others; but I did not think it necessary to include them in the list. The "Red Pirate," though not so serviceable as "Bo Peep," deserves mention; it is largely known, and was one of my own inventions as well.

It would be most satisfying to uncover the flies that completed the set.

Simple in appearance, complex in execution: if tied accurately, the foregoing flies will provide even the accomplished tyer with a grand challenge. Not only are some of the materials difficult to obtain, but tying on a #7 hook is something only a few tyers have been able to master. So get out those small hooks you have been pushing aside and tie a fly from the Blue Boyne set.