F.F. for the Suir E
The following flies are listed in Francis Francis's book " A Book On Angling" from 1867.
For the SUIR The flies were obtained frm Mr. Brady. He send the flies with a note from Mr. Staples, a resident on the river SUIR, regarding the first two flies. Mr. Staples claims they are his patterns, and there are some variations on them.
I will mark them variations with a * per fly.
No. 1:
Tag : Silver tinsel and orange yellow floss.
Tail : Sprigs of bastard Bustard and Ibis.
Butt : Black Ostrich.
Body : red, plum coloured floss.
Ribs : Silver twist.
Hackle : Light orange.
Throat : Argus pheasant hackle.
Wings : A good bunch of green peacock herl, with strips of brown turkey with dun points mixed. A topping over all.
Head : Black.
Tail : Sprigs of bastard Bustard and Ibis.
Butt : Black Ostrich.
Body : red, plum coloured floss.
Ribs : Silver twist.
Hackle : Light orange.
Throat : Argus pheasant hackle.
Wings : A good bunch of green peacock herl, with strips of brown turkey with dun points mixed. A topping over all.
Head : Black.
* Suit by water, large or small and with a blue silk body with a blue hackle, or yellow or dark orange, over dark purple
or dark mauve-coloured silk. In this mannar it can be varied to suit anytaste.
No. 2:
Tag : Silver tinsel and Lemon floss
Tail : A topping.
Body : Red, plum coloured floss
Tail : A topping.
Body : Red, plum coloured floss
Ribs : silver twist.
Hackle : Light orange.
Wings : Tippet, green peacock, brown mallard, a strand or two of gallina, and grey mallard, stained yellow.
Horns : Blue macaw.
Hackle : Light orange.
Wings : Tippet, green peacock, brown mallard, a strand or two of gallina, and grey mallard, stained yellow.
Horns : Blue macaw.
* Suit by water, large or small and with a blue silk body with a blue hackle, or yellow or dark orange, over dark purple
or dark mauve-coloured silk. In this mannar it can be varied to suit anytaste.
No. 3: This grey fly is not much bigger than a trout fly. The size must be varied to suit the water.
Tag : Silver tinsel.
Tail : A topping.
Butt : Black ostrich.
Butt : Black ostrich.
Body : A turn of orange floss, the rest silver grey fur.
Throat : Very pale yellow hackle.
Wings : A few sprigs of tippet, brown Mallard over it and yellow gallina over that. (wing rather thin).
Head : Black.
Head : Black.
* " Subsequently I received other flies through Mr. Brady, for the early spring fishing. I select two; In spring, the bodies are
tied roughly of pig's wool; silk bodies come in later, and comprise either orange, yellow, or green with a red hackle. "
No. 4:
Tag : Gold tinsel and a bright yellow pig's wool.
Tail : A strand or two of Bustard, golden pheasant tail, red parrot and mallard.
Body : Medium blue pig's wool ( dressed large and rough).
Ribs : Silver tinsel.
Throat : Blue Jay.
Wings : Peacock herl (the blue eye of the feather forming the butt end of the wing).
Head : Rough and of yellow pig's wool.
Tail : A strand or two of Bustard, golden pheasant tail, red parrot and mallard.
Body : Medium blue pig's wool ( dressed large and rough).
Ribs : Silver tinsel.
Throat : Blue Jay.
Wings : Peacock herl (the blue eye of the feather forming the butt end of the wing).
Head : Rough and of yellow pig's wool.
No. 5:
Tag : Silver tinsel and black pig's wool.
Tail : Green peacock herl, some tippet and blue Macaw.
Body : One third dirty brown red, better than another third of dirty olive yellow pig's wool, the rest black.
Ribs : Gold tinsel.
Wings : Peacock herl, with the eye at the but as before
Head : Rough, of red pig's wool.
Tail : Green peacock herl, some tippet and blue Macaw.
Body : One third dirty brown red, better than another third of dirty olive yellow pig's wool, the rest black.
Ribs : Gold tinsel.
Wings : Peacock herl, with the eye at the but as before
Head : Rough, of red pig's wool.