2 - Hatches Magazine

Fall 2008 • Hatches Magazine
83
As fly tiers and fly fishermen, we all want to tie the newest
fish catching patterns. Most tiers want to try the newest
materials and see how they might be utilized more effectively.
Many tiers and fishermen have wondered how certain flies
“came into existence” or “What were they thinking when they
came up with this?” A few, like me, have an interest in local
or regional patterns and how they developed. As a fly tier
and collector, I have tried to seek out flies in different parts
of the country and in Europe, specifically asking shop owners and guides to point out patterns in their bins and boxes
that originated locally and are known fish catchers.
With the advent of numerous magazines, partially or completely, devoted to fly tying, there is a growing body of
information on the origin and development of fly patterns.
There are also books, video tapes, DVDs and websites
which chronicle this information.
There are volumes of books written about flies originating
in Europe, New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Catskills, the
Upper Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Canada.
Recently there are numerous works written about salt water
flies, both for inshore and offshore use. The one area of
the United States that is under represented in the recording
of fly patterns and their development is the Southeastern
United States, particularly the Southern Appalachian and
Smoky Mountain areas of Western North Carolina and
Eastern Tennessee.
There are several reasons for this lack of written record.
First, the geographic isolation has always been formidable.
From some of the “hollers,” in the 19th and early 20th century
it might have taken 2-3 weeks to travel to a major city such
as Ashville, North Carolina or Knoxville, Tennessee. There
was little exposure to the printed word in these people’s
lives and little reason to contribute to the written record.
Second, many of the local inhabitants fished for subsistence, and much less for sport, as was more common in
the North. In light of this fact, few would want to enlighten
anyone else regarding the successful flies of the region,
unless to enlighten family members in order to supplement
the dinner table. Finally, I imagine that the rate of illiteracy
was very high. These folk simply had no way of leaving a
written record, even if they wanted to. They had an oral/aural
tradition in which the written word was not important.
In researching for this article, one book that was mentioned as a reference over and over is Hunting and Fishing
in the Great Smokies by Jim Gasque. Published in 1948
by Knopf, it deals little with patterns and more with fishing
locations and experiences, with one chapter dedicated to
Mark Cathey, perhaps the greatest fly fisherman ever to
come from those parts. But that is the subject of another
bit of research. Other resources which the tying historian
should consider are Southeastern Flies by L.J. DeCuir,
Fly-fishing Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains by Don
Kirk, and The Fly Fisherman’s Guide to the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park by H. Lea Lawrence. Perhaps one
of the best resources for a pattern listing is Roger Lowe’s
Fly Pattern Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains. This
work is perhaps the most extensive listing of fly patterns
effective in the Smoky Mountains. Listed are patterns of
local origin as well as patterns from across the country,
which have proven effective in the area. Roger is a native
of Western North Carolina and was taught to fish and tie
flies by his father and grandfather. The Lowes have known
some of the originators of many of these flies, or at least
the descendents and survivors of the known originators. In
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Hatches Magazine • Fall 2008
many cases, however, it seems that the Smoky Mountain
Flies are more often attributed to the streams on which they
originated than to particular individuals.
Dry Flies
Thunder Head: This fly was popularized by Fred Hall of
Bryson City, North Carolina. It has been compared to the
Adams, attributed to Leonard Halladay. According to DeCuir,
Fred Hall never saw an Adams or met Leonard Halladay
before developing the Thunder Head. One might assume
that these are similar flies developed in parallel. Tying the
Thunder Head with muskrat fur is a variation, as the original
was tied with North American Possum fur.
Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook 10-18
Thread:Black
Wing: White calf tail, upright and divided
Tail:
Deer body hair
Body: Muskrat or opossum underfur
Hackle:Dark brown
Ramsey: A variation of the Brown Hackle Peacock (a wet
fly) is attributed to the Ramsey family, one of the earliest rod
building, guiding and fly fishing families in Western North
Carolina. This fly is effective year round.
Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook 10-18
Thread:Black
Tag: Fine, flat gold tinsel
Tail:
Golden pheasant tippet
Body: Peacock herl
Hackle:Brown
Grey Hackle Yellow: Although the originator cannot be
documented, this is one of the prettiest dry flies to come
from the Smoky Mountains. Version One has a tail of red
hackle fibers and a body of yellow floss. Version Two has
no tail and a body of yellow dubbing. Roger Lowe’s experience is that this fly is more productive fished as a wet fly.
According to Roger, it is especially effective on Straight
Fork, Deep Creek and Cataloochee Creek.
Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook 12-18
Thread:Black or pale yellow
Tail:
Red hackle fibers
Rib:
Fine, flat gold tinsel
Body: Yellow floss
Hackle:Grizzly
Hackle:Barred ginger
Rattler: According to Roger Lowe, the Rattler is an old
pattern originating on the Oconaluftee River. The notable
characteristic of this fly is the body composed of dry fly
hackle. Because of the heavy hackling, it is a fly that will
float very well.
Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook 12-18
Thread:Black
Wing: White calf tail
Tail:
Golden pheasant
Underbody: Black thread
Body: Brown and grizzly hackle
Adams Variant: Roger Lowe has attributed this fly to
Fred Hall. According to Fred’s widow Allene, it is the only
fly that Fred actually invented. It is an Appalachian classic:
beautiful, functional, and “yallar.”
Jim Charley: The origin of this fly is unknown. However,
it is believed to have been developed in Western North
Carolina. It is a yellow mayfly imitation that originated on
the Pigeon River. It is characterized by its barred ginger
hackle tip wings.
Hook: Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly Hook 12-18
Thread:Yellow
Wing: Barred ginger hackle tips
Tail:
Barred ginger hackle fibers
Body: Golden yellow dubbing
Hook:
Daiichi 1180 Standard Dry Fly
Hook 12-18
Thread:
Black
Wing:
Grizzly hackle tips
Tail:
Deer body hair
Rear Hackle: Grizzly, one size smaller than hook size
Center Hackle: Yellow ostrich herl
Front Hackle: Grizzly and brown
Nymphs
Fall 2008 • Hatches Magazine
85
Tellico Nymph: This is one of the best known flies to come
from the Southern Appalachians. The originator of the fly
is unknown. The fly is named for the Tellico River in East
Tennessee. There are several variations including one with
an orange body, probably representing a crayfish.
Hook:
Thread:
Weight:
Tail:
Wingcase:
Rib:
Body:
Hackle:
Daiichi 1550 Standard Wet Fly Hook 8-14
Black
Lead wire (optional)
Brown hackle fibers or golden pheasant tippet
Turkey tail fibers
Peacock herl
Yellow dubbing, floss or chenille
Brown
Cottontop Nymph (George’s Nymph): This nymph is Eddie
George’s adaptation of the original Cottontop Nymph. Both
of these flies are characterized by a tuft of white fiber tied
over the thorax or neck of the fly. Some commentators
believe the white may act as an indicator if the fly is fished
damp (floating in the film). The fly was developed for the
Little River.
Hook:
6-12
Thread:
Tail:
Shellback:
Body:
Wingcase:
Hackle:
Daiichi 1710 2XL Standard Nymph Hook
Black
Brown hackle tied on a downward angle
Turkey tail fibers
Peacock herl
White goose fibers
Brown
Yallarhammer Wet Fly: Of all the flies of the Southern
Appalachians and Smoky Mountains, this is the fly of legend. This fly is distinguished by the palmer which creates
the body. The Yellow Shafted Flicker is a common woodpecker in the Eastern United States. Locally it is known
as a Yellow Hammer or, in the common vernacular, it is
pronounced “Yallarhammer.” There is a yellow shading of
the under wings and both the male and female birds have
a red diamond pattern on the nape of the neck.
Coffey’s Stone Creeper: Roger Lowe notes that Frank
Coffey designed many flies in his lifetime. However, he
asserts that the Stone Creeper “is his greatest.” Although
latex is derived from the sap of the rubber tree, some might
justifiably consider this one of the earliest “synthetic material” flies.
Hook:
Daiichi 1710 2XL Standard Nymph
Hook 6-12
Thread:
Black
Weight:
Lead wire (optional)
Body & Thorax: Brown latex
Tail:
Grey goose biots
Feelers &
Wing Buds:
Grey goose biots
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Hatches Magazine • Fall 2008
Tying The
Yallarhammer
Wet Fly
Hook: Daiichi 1710 2XL Standard Nymph Hook 8-12
Thread: Black
Tail:
Fibers from long side of yellow-dyed dove flight feather
Body: Peacock herl
Hackle:Short side of yellow-dyed dove flight feather,
palmered up the body
1
2
3
Attach thread behind eye and wind back to the
base of the barb point in open turns. Strip off fibers
from the leading edge of a dyed yellow dove primary flight feather and bind down as a tail.
Tie in the leading edge of a dyed yellow dove primary flight feather that has been split or stripped
from the quill. Soaking the feather for several hours
will make it more pliant and wrap more easily.
Tie in 5-6 strands of peacock herl near their tips
at the tie down point of the tail.
4
5
6
Twist the herl into a “rope” using hackle pliers.
Wrap the herl “rope” forward to the head.
Wrap the split quill forward in open turn to the front
of the body.
Fall 2008 • Hatches Magazine
87
7
Tie off quill and whip finish.
patterns for your own use. Record how they are tied and
the circumstances related to their success. If possible, try
and determine who the originator is. Once these patterns
have been identified, drop me an email (Flytyer-1@comcast.
net) so that I might share in your find and perhaps get one
of your local flies for my collection. And in all things tying:
Tight threads and bright heads!
This article would not have been possible without the
expert assistance of Mr. Bruce Harang of Vancouver,
Washington and Mr. Roger Lowe, Lowe Guide Service,
Waynesville, N.C., 828-452-0039.
1
Attach thread behind eye and wrap back to the
base of the barb. Tie in the ginger hackle fiber with
a length equal to the hook shank.
Tying The
Yallarhammer
Dry Fly
Hook: Daiichi 1280 2XL Dry Fly Hook 10-16
Thread:Black
Tail: Ginger hackle fibers
Wing: Lemon woodduck flank fibers- divided
Body: Yellow dubbing overwrapped with the short side of yellow-dyed dove flight feather- clipped to size
Hackle:Ginger
The leading edge on the primary wing flight feathers
(the biot strip) is the material used to produce this fly. The
rachis of the feather is split longwise and the pith removed.
It is best to soak the feather in water several hours before
attempting to wrap it.
As most all “songbirds”, the Yellow Shafted Flicker is
protected. It is illegal to kill the bird or sell the feathers.
Apparently, it is not illegal to possess the feathers. There
are very good substitutes for the Yellow Shafted Flicker
feathers such as grouse, dove, or quail dyed yellow or olive
yellow. Grizzly hackle dyed yellow is also suitable.
One of the notable common characteristics of many of
these flies is the presence of the color yellow (yallar) in
them. These waters have yellow stone flies and mayflies.
Many flies will be successful in these waters, but if the
fisherman is just “prospecting” for fish when there is no
particular hatch, consider using a fly with “yallar” in it. Even
better, try one of these patterns which have along history
of catching fish.
In summary, every region of this country has its own local
patterns, developed by tiers and fishermen who may never
write about their patterns. They are patterns which have
proven to catch fish in myriad situations. Seek out these
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Hatches Magazine • Fall 2008
2
3
Wrap the thread forward to the point that the lemon
woodduck wings will be attached. Tie the woodduck fibers in, split and divide and make sure they
are upright.
Create a smooth underbody with the thread and
wrap back to the beginning of the tail fibers. Attach
the leading edge of a yellow dyed dove primary
flight feather that has been split or stripped from
the quill. Soaking the feather for several hours will make
it more pliant and wrap more easily.
4
5
6
Form the body with sparse application of dubbing
to the thread and wrap the body to the base of the
wings.
7
Secure a dry fly quality ginger hackle behind the
wings.
8
Wrap the hackle forward with turns behind and in
front of the woodduck wings.
Wrap the “yallarhammer” quill forward in open
turns, stopping before the wings.
Trim the quill tips evenly so that they are slightly
shorter that the hook gape.
Fall 2008 • Hatches Magazine
89
9
90
Clip the waste end of the hackle and whip finish.
Hatches Magazine • Fall 2008