OBSCURE PATTERNS II

Marvin Nolte

More flies from references you may not have.

From The Driffield Angler, by Alexander Mackintosh, 1806, in his own words.

Of Salmon Flies-These, for the spring season, must be made much larger, but not quite so gaudy as those used in the summer, viz. let the hook be a No. 1 the shank three inches or more in length, and small at the end, in order that the head of the fly may be neater: the feather for the wings, the darkish brown speckled, from the turkey's tail, and mixed with about twelve harts (sic) from the peacock's tail, dividing them that there may be six in each wing; the next feathers for wings to these large flies, are kite, buzzard, bittern, and heron's wings. The body of the first fly, called that tartan-fly, is of four, five or more different colours, yellow, light blue, green, dark red, orange, and purple, and as many more colours as the fancy may lead the angler to; for the fork, or tails, use the dark mottled feather from behind the wild mallard's wings, and a black or red cock's hackle over the body, for the legs and head.

The remaining patterns, put into modem format.

A Second Fly

Wings: Mottled turkey tail, of a reddish cast
Body: Light brown bear fur mixed with dark brow hog's wool and gold colored mohair
Tail: Golden Pheasant crest feather
Ribs: Gold twist
Hackle: Large black cock's hackle
Throat: Red hackle (natural-MN)
Head: Deep red hog's wool or mohair

Black Dog

Wings: Bluish feather from the Heron's wing intermixed with turkey tail
Body: Lead colored hog's soft wool from under the ear
Ribs: Small gold twist
Hackle: Large black cock's hackle
Head: Dark green mohair and dark green silk

A Fourth Fly

Wings: Kite or Buzzard
Body: Light blue hog's wool and a little lead-colored mohair, mixed Ribs: Small gold twist.
Hackle: Dark blue
Tail: Bronze mallard
Head: A little of the same as the body, and dark blue silk

A Fifth Fly

Wings: Grey turkey tail .
Body: Two strands of copper peacock herl and two of the Green Plovers or Lapwing's topping
Ribs: Silver plaiting (flat-MN)
Hackle: Dark tinged cock's hackle (Furnace?-MN)
Tail: Two cock pheasant barbs
Head: Dark red silk

The Golden Fly

Wings: Golden Pheasant, Common Pheasant, Parrot, Peacock herl, Turkey tail, mottled Blue Jay, one on each side of the above mix
Body: Broad gold plaiting
Hackle: Natural red hackle
Ribs: Dark green silk
Head: Peacock herl and green mohair

The Silver Fly

Same as the Golden Fly except:
Body: Broad silver plaiting
Hackle: Light blue

Should you have access to The Driffeld Angler take the opportunity to read his tying instructions. They are detailed, particularly as regards attaching the gut loop.

From Ogden on Fly Tying, by James Ogden, 1887, in modern format:

Number 1

Wings: Bronze Mallard over Golden Pheasant tippet
Body: Claret or puce floss
Ribs: Gold tinsel
Tail: Small gold crest feather

Number 2

Wings: Same as Number 1
Body: Orange and black silk or mohair Hackle: Furnace

Number 3

Wings: Jay, set upright
Body: Water-rat fur
Ribs: Silver tinsel
Throat: Blue dun
Tail: Topping