Origin of Many Species

troutheaven · #1 (**permalink**) 20-01-2010, 09:07 PM

I know some of you guys are interested in the evolution of some of our modern patterns.

I would reccomend trying to acquire a copy Of Collins Illustrated Dictionary of Trout Flies by John Roberts.

There's some fascinating stuff in there including prototype Shuttlecocks, a pattern that looks exactly like Bob Wyatt's Deer Hair Emerger created by someone called Fran Betters, but no Dabblers!

balnacnoc · #2 (**permalink**) 20-01-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutheaven

but no Dabblers!

Oh yes there are, plate 10. Orange Rory also included, funny thing is it says original Orange Rory was tied with Cock hackles and not Hen.

BRUCE1 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-01-2010, 09:18 PM

stan, i have had the book a couple of years or more ,its certainly very informative..

maharg · #4 (**permalink**) 20-01-2010, 09:21 PM

Just goes to show, nothing much new in fly tying or fishing for that matter.

seanie · #5 (**permalink**) 20-01-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutheaven

but no Dabblers!

Sorry Stan but you are wrong about no mention of Dabblers. I have the book and on pages 53/54 there is the tying for dabblers. Also on Plate 10 are pictures.
Having said that i would agree that it is a book I would also recommend.

Sean

Gander · #6 (**permalink**) 20-01-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutheaven

There's some fascinating stuff in there including prototype Shuttlecocks, a pattern that looks exactly like Bob Wyatt's Deer Hair Emerger created by someone called Fran Betters, but no Dabblers!

Fran Betters, well known in the USA fly fishing circles, sadly passed away last September. His legacy as a fly tyer include the Ausable Wulff, the Usual (the one pictured in JR's illustrated Dictionary) and the Haystack (even more like Wyatt's DHE).

The reason for the similarity is simple. Bob wyatt was attempting (successfully in my opinion) to improve on these patterns. His aim was to create a fly that had the high vulnarabilty posture of the Klinkhamer, but with the ruggedness and ease of tying of the Usual/Haystack. Bob's fly differs from Fran's in that it has a curved abdomen that is tailess, and therefore fished sunken, ala Klink. The DHE also incorparates a spikey hare's mask thorax.

Bob gives full credit to Fran on page 130 of his book "Trout Hunting", where he describes the development of his fly.