5. Flies

SOMETHING ABOUT FRAUDULENT FEATHERS EVOLUTION

The early history of trout flies has been touched upon in another chapter. Possibly the first fly used for bass fishing was the “bob “mentioned in a previous chapter  if you call that a fly. The flies used by the early Kentucky bass fishermen were either large trout flies or bass flies of their own tying. It is a curious fact that of all the favorite bass flies now in use, none of them trace their lineage back to these first bass fly fishers  especially remarkable as they were men of unusual mechanical and artistic abilities and most expert and studious anglers. It is equally true that none of the bass flies recommended by the early American angling writers are now in favor. We have already described Dr. Bethune's pattern, and Frank Forrester in his “Fish and Fishing “gives the formulae for several patterns none of which are now used. Many of our most successful bass patterns are merely trout flies somewhat enlarged.

HOOKS

The principal part of any fly is the hook. I do not intend to go into a lengthy discussion on angles of draft or other technicalities of fish hooks as good flies nowadays are always tied on suitable hooks and fly fishers should use nothing but good flies as their quarry is a hard fighter and his mouth is exceedingly tough, requiring a sharp point to hook him and an honestly made hook to hold him. My preference is for the round bend hooks like the O'Shaughnessey or Sproat in the larger sizes and the Model Perfect, Limerick or Sproat in the smaller ones although if the hook is of good quality I will not reject a well-tied fly if on a hook with a side bend like the Sneck  and I don't believe a fish would either.

SIZES

Bass flies vary somewhat as to size regardless of the size hook used, some being tied bulkier than others. However, a good bass fly should be neatly proportioned and should correspond, to some extent at least, to the hook on which it is tied.

For small, clear streams where the bass average small or moderate in weight, the choice of the average bass fisher would be a number 6 or even as small as a number 8. When the same stream is roiled a number 4 or number 2 would be required to get the fish's attention. For average bass streams numbers 4 and 2 are most often used while numbers 1, 1-0 and up to 3-0 are appropriate for clouded waters, wind swept lakes and streams and for the big bass of our southern states. These sizes (all based on Redditch scale) are only general and many anglers prefer larger or smaller hooks. The tendency among bass fishermen, however, is toward smaller and better hooks.

There is a wonderful variety in the sizes of trout flies. For wet fly fishing sizes 4 and 6 are considered large; 8 and 10 medium; 12 and 14 small and “tinies,”or very small, run all the way to 22 which are no larger than an anaemic mosquito. Local conditions should govern the selection of sizes of flies. In some waters the trout show a marked preference for certain sizes and many expert anglers claim that a variety of sizes is more important than a multitude of patterns. My own experience inclines me toward the same belief and in late years I have carried with me more size 6 than ever as I have found that the trout favor a large fly more often than the general run of anglers seem to believe. Unless local anglers advise otherwise the novice would not be far out of the right track if he would proportion his sizes on the following basis, taking a dozen flies as a standard: size 6, 2; size 8, 4; size 10, 4; size 12, 1; size 14 or 16, 1. Smaller flies are used for dry fly fishing, number 12 being the standard in most American waters.

A time-honored rule in bass or trout fishing is to use small or dark colored flies in very clear water and during bright weather and the larger ones and the gaudiest colored on dark days, at night or when the water is discolored. This is a safe rule to follow, generally, except that certain sky conditions make a dark colored fly more prominent than a light one when fishing at night.

STYLE

Good winged bass flies are tied with the wings “reversed.”That is, the wing is first tied under the body and then reversed and tied over the body making them much more durable.

Wings are usually placed where wings ought to be, but for fishing in weedy places bass fishermen often have the wings “inverted”tied on the under side to cover the hook point and act as a weed guard. Another method much used on the Illinois River, is to tie a few horse hairs on the hook shank, immediately under the eye, of sufficient length to extend over the hook point. Either method, I believe, is superior to a wire weed guard.

Hackle flies, which are almost as good for bass as for trout, are tied without wings and the hackles (hair-like “legs ") are on the upper part of the body only. Palmer flies are similar but have the hackles the entire length of the body and are often finished off with a short red tail, which I believe adds to their attractiveness.

Trout flies tied on long shank hooks are often very effective when there is a hatch on but the hooks must be of good quality.

SNELLED, LOOPED AND EYED FLIES

I do not like snelled flies and intend to never use another one. My experience is that the snells give out before the fly, leaving an otherwise good, but useless, fly on your hands. Besides, they occupy too much space and are bothersome. The eyed fly was revived when dry fly fishing became popular abroad and most fly fishers now use flies tied only on eyed or looped hooks, which they fasten directly to the leader. A large number of them can be carried in a comparatively small space and they can be used with a modern spinner often desirable in bass fishing.

Some large bass flies and most salmon flies (the smaller sizes of which are excellent for bass) are tied on hooks with a twisted gut loop instead of an eye and they possess the advantages of eyed flies except possibly they are not quite as durable.

If the angler has flies tied on hooks with turned down eyes he may find that they do not “ride “well with a spinner. If such is the case he can straighten the eye by heating it over a flame, straightening carefully with pliers, dipping in oil and permitting to cool rapidly on a window sill with the window slightly raised. This may not be a scientific way but it works.

How MANY FLIES?

Some fly fishers use as many as three flies and not a few prefer two. Most of the time I use only one fly but do not question the sportsmanship of those who do not agree with me. In fact, my preference is based on efficiency. In other words, I believe that a single fly, properly and carefully fished, will produce more rises and catch more fish, and certainly is easier and simpler to handle, than a cast made up of two or more flies. Sometimes it is a good plan to start with two or three flies to see what they are taking.

BEST PATTERNS FOR BASS

A variety of flies is the spice of fly fishing and few of us care to limit ourselves to four patterns (Lake George, Grizzly King, Seth Green and Coachman) as did Seth Green.

About three years ago I sent a questionnaire to some of the most expert bass fly fishers in the Middle West asking for the names of their twelve favorite patterns (exclusive of floating flies) for bass fishing. These were published in my column, Woods and Waters, in the Chicago Tribune, but I believe they are worth reprinting, representing as they do, the opinions of some of our most successful anglers.

Willard A. Schaeffer, of Rock Island, III, limits his favorites to six patterns as follows: Phil Mitchell, Onondaga, Reade, Lake George, Lord Baltimore, Royal Coachman.

Fred O'Reilly of Wabasha, Minn., is an "old timer “on the upper Mississippi River and being the local tackle man, he has opportunity to study the results produced by the different patterns. His favorites are: Lake George, Royal Coachman, Grizzly King, Professor, Lord Baltimore, White Miller, Yellow Coachman, March Brown, Silver Doctor, Parma-chenee Belle, Onondaga.

H. A. Newkirk, Chicago, does not believe that 12 patterns are necessary. He offers the following as being ample: Westwood Bug, Oliver, Knight, Colonel Fuller, Emmett.

Fred Peet, Chicago, believes in the following: Queen of Waters, Colonel Fuller, Professor, Bucktail, White Miller, Brown Hackle, Grey Hackle, Yellow May, Montreal, Seth Green, Rube Wood, Ferguson.

Call J. McCarthy, famous tournament caster, who posed for the casting pictures in this work, selects these twelve: Grey Palmer, Brown Palmer, Professor, Refmac, Black Palmer, Cahill, Coachman, Red Ibis, Parmachenee Belle, Grizzly King, Green Drake, Jungle Cock.

Will H. Dilg, writer of fishing stories of the upper Mississippi River, prefers: Colonel Fuller, Oliver, Yellow May, Reade, Royal Coachman, Knight, White Miller, Parmachenee Belle, Scarlet Ibis, Raven, Jock Scott, Durham Ranger.

Wm. J. Jamison, Chicago, selects the following: McGinty, Royal Coachman, Brown Hackle, Professor, Silver Doctor, Reuben Wood, Stone, March Brown, Lord Baltimore, Yellow May, White Miller, Coaxer.

Hon. Carter H. Harrison, former mayor of Chicago, is “satisfied to cast the following in the order named: Silver Doctor, A. S. Trude, White Miller, Yellow Sally, Parmachenee Belle, Lord Baltimore, Seth Green, Grizzly King, Professor, Jock Scott, Scarlet Ibis, Black Gnat."

My own favorites are: Brown Palmer  red tail, Jungle Cock, Silver Doctor, Grey Hackle, Yellow May, Colonel Fuller, Montreal, White Miller  redtail, Parmachenee Belle, Lord Baltimore, McGinty, Westwood Bug.

RECAPITULATION

When we recapitulate we find that the above patterns rank, in point of times mentioned, as follows: White Miller, Parmachenee Belle, 7; Colonel Fuller, Professor, 6; Lord Baltimore, 5; Yellow May, Reade, Royal Coachman, Silver Doctor, Brown Palmer, 4; Grey Palmer, Montreal, Grizzly King, Bucktail, Brown Hackle, Oliver, Scarlet Ibis, 3; Raven, Jock Scott, McGinty, Reuben Wood, Seth Green, Black Gnat, Bug, Coachman, Jungle Cock, Phil Mitchell, Onondaga, Lake George, March Brown, 2.

MISSISSIPPI PATTERNS

Flies mentioned particularly for the Upper Mississippi River, probably the best piece of fly fishing bass water in the world, rank as follows: Reade, Parmachenee Belle, 4; Colonel Fuller, Oliver, Royal Coachman, White Miller, 3; Bug, Professor, Knight, Scarlet Ibis, Raven, Jock Scott, Silver Doctor, Lord Baltimore, Lake George, Onondaga, Grizzly King, 2.

WHITE MILLER

The young angler might conclude from the above that the White Miller is a “killing “bass fly for general fishing. Those who included it in their lists did so because it is a special fly  for night fishing and for very roily water.

FLOATING BUG AND ITS HISTORY

The idea of a cork-bodied fly is very old. Gervaise Markham in “The Art of Angling,”1614, gives directions for tying a trout fly “fixed upon a fine piece of cork."

The first floating fly made commercially for bass fishing probably was the “Coaxer “fly, a loaf-shaped piece of cork with wings of red felt and a single hook concealed by a feather.

I have been unable to learn definitely when the present form of cork-bodied bass fly, or “bug,”first came into use. In 1911 Mr. B. F. Wilder, of New York, found Mr. Louis B. Adams using such flies of his own tying on the Belgrade lakes, in Maine. Mr. Wilder passed the idea along to a number of mid-west anglers, notably Will H. Dilg and Fred Peet of Chicago. These ardent brothers of the angle tried them, in 1916, on the small mouthed bass of the Upper Mississippi River with wonderful success. Mr. Dilg  Will o' the Houseboat  wrote several articles on this fishing which appeared in Field and Stream and the bass bugs instantly became immensely popular throughout the United States and Canada.

Realizing the danger and confusion of a multitude of patterns I suggested that a few patterns should be standardized, and as a result a meeting was called by some Chicago fishermen and professional fly tyers and the following patterns were named and described as being adequate for all conditions of weather and water:

These “bugs “are also made in trout size which have been found very effective. They are tied in imitation of the standard patterns. The regular bass sizes have also been used successfully on very large trout.

BEST PATTERNS FOR TROUT

"Don't bother with a lot of flies,”said Thad. Nor-ris, one of America's early fishing writers, “for here are four that will serve all purposes: one is the Red Spinner; the second a Black Gnat; the third is the Coachman; the fourth and the best of them all is the Red Palmer or Red Hackle, as it is indifferently called.”Pennell, a famous English trouter, confined himself to what he called three “typical”flies; green, brown and yellow hackles. Both of these men became famous as anglers but neither succeeded in “selling “his idea of few flies to the general run of trout fishermen.

In her charming “Favorite Flies and Their Histories,”Mary Orvis Marbury gives the result of a symposium on the best trout flies with the following results:

Many years later (1916) I conducted a similar symposium among middle western anglers of repute and the result was as follows:

Still more recent is the symposium conducted by the American Angler, more than two hundred prominent anglers contributing. Each man was requested to name his three favorites and three points was awarded the ones chosen first; two points to the second and one to the third. The score follows:

Favorite dry fly patterns are also a matter of opinion. Many of the favorite patterns of British dry fly men are no| t of exceptional value for our waters. This applies especially to streams stocked only with brook and rainbow trout and to our western rivers where the brown trout is unknown.

Emlyn Gill and Samuel Camp have made a considerable study of dry fly fishing in American waters and their favorite fly patterns are:

SPINNERS

There are times when it is necessary to fish a little deeper than a fly ordinarily sinks or when a plain fly fails to attract the attention of our whimsical quarry. When these conditions prevail the glitter of a tiny spinner often induces the fish to strike.

You will occasionally find an angler who objects to the spinner on the grounds that it is unsportsmanlike but some of the finest sportsmen I know will use a spinner when the bass or trout will take nothing else and under the circumstances I believe its use is justified.

I give the fish ample opportunity to take a plain fly; if they register no appreciation of my lofty ethics I add a tiny spinner and do it shamelessly.

The spinner for fly fishing should be small (sizes o, 1 and never larger than 2) and preferably of the kind with a patent snap that permits instant changing of flies. Ordinarily the single blade type is as much as one can handle easily on a fly rod.

The dark finishes, copper and black, are for very clear waters; the nickel, brass, gold and silver for waters that are normal or roiled.

An innovation in bass fishing is a small wooden imitation minnow light enough to be used on a sturdy fly rod. It is equipped with a double hook on the belly and is a miniature of the “wobbler “type of lure used so successfully by the bait caster. It darts back and forth in the water, when being retrieved, in imitation of a frightened or crippled minnow.

Another attraction that may be added to one's fly is the rubber strip sold by the tackle dealers. It is white, very thin, light and “wriggly “in the water. It is designed to imitate the bait caster's pork strip but is much lighter in weight.

The ethical question of using lures of such nature on a fly rod is something for each angler to decide for himself.

FLY BOOK AND BOX

Snelled flies are best carried in the books provided with some arrangement to hold the snells straight.

Eyed flies may be carried in the boxes, made for the purpose, with a metal clip to hold each fly. These boxes vary as to size, form and finish see any tackle catalog.

The angler who uses “bugs,”wigglers and other bulky lures will have to find some receptacle, other than an eyed fly box, to hold them. A new fly book is ideal for the purpose. It consists of several leaves of a peculiar felt which holds the hook but permits it to be withdrawn instantly, without catching. In a book of this kind one can carry a number of the bugs and several dozens of the ordinary flies.

CARE OF FLIES

Flies wear out from use but this can be postponed if they are given a little care. Flies that have been recently used should not be put in the box or book with other flies. Dry them either on your hat band, or by letting them lie in the sun or have a separate place for them in the box or book. Keep the hook points sharp and free from rust by filing them a little if necessary.

Store your flies where the moths cannot get at them if you put your flies away for the winter. If you arrange and rearrange them from time to time, during the winter of our discontent, as most of us do, keep them in the box or book. Moths know better than to attack the flies of an angler who “fusses “with his tackle 'tween seasons!

SOME NEW FLIES

Most of the favorite flies are well known to anglers in general but some of them have been originated since the publication of Mrs. Marbury's “Favorite Flies and their Histories”and other standard works. For that reason I deem it advisable to give a brief mention of some of these flies which include some of the most effective patterns known to present-day fishermen.

A. S. Trude. This fly was originated in 1900 by Hon. Carter H. Harrison and named for his friend, A. S. Trude, an attorney-angler of Chicago. Scarlet body with one winding of gold tinsel; brown hackles; wings from tail of fox squirrel, showing the dark bar.

Bucktail Minnows. A series of flies with bodies, hackles and wings of bucktail hair. Bodies wound with gold or silver tinsel. Tied variously by a number of fly tiers. Designed to imitate a live minnow.

Col. Fuller. Originated by 1899 by John Shields, Sr., of Brookline, Mass. Named for the late Col. Fuller, a noted Boston sportsman, who used it with great success on the Belgrade Lakes in Maine. There is considerable variation in the tying of this fly. The original pattern had a gold tinsel body with a gold rib; peacock herl head; wing bright yellow; outer wing or shoulder, scarlet; tail black.

Dazzler. Originated in 1918 by Bert Crawford, St. Joseph, Mo. Striking bass flies of hair and feathers highly decorated with tinsel.

Devil Buff. Originated in 1917 by O. C. Tuttle, Old Forge, N. Y. A series of odd-looking trout and bass flies of bucktail, made in various sizes and shapes and decorated with colored “eyes “and other markings.

Drag on Fly. I first saw this fly in 1916. It was tied by Ben Winchell, a Chicago amateur. It is an imitation of the dragon fly or “darning needle “and is said to be especially killing in quarry fishing. Tied in various sizes and color combinations.

Emerson Hough and Wm. Wood Bucktail Trout Flies. Originated about 1910 by Emerson Hough and his woodsman friend, Wm. Wood. Made entirely of bucktail tied very irregularly or untrimmed.

Emmett. Originated in 1900 by Richard S. Em-mett on the upper Mississippi River. Shiny black body; black hackle; turkey wings and tail.

Fischer. Originated in 1916 by Charles Stapf of Prescott, Wis. Large scarlet body; hackles long and scarlet; wings, mallard; tail white.

Knight. Originated in 1902 by John B. Knight of Chicago. White body; white hackles; wings, mallard or turkey with a few strands of scarlet; over wing or shoulder, white; tail, peacock herl and one strand of turkey.

Luminous Bug. Originated in 1914 by E. H. Peckinpaugh, Chattanooga, Tenn. A cork-bodied “bug”with luminous head. Tied in patterns to correspond with standard wet flies.

Larry St. John. Originated by Call J. McCarthy, Chicago, in 1915. Lavender body with gold rib; gray hackles; mallard wing; over wing or shoulder, English pheasant neck hackle; tail, gray.

Nature Flies. Originated in 1916 by Louis Rhead, Brooklyn, N. Y. A series of trout flies tied in exact imitation of American trout stream insects.

Oliver. Originated in 1904 by John Milton Oliver of Chicago. He was fishing the upper Mississippi with a Coachman fly when its peacock herl body became frayed. Having some bright yellow winding silk in his tackle box he fashioned a bulgy body with it and had unusual success. Body, bright yellow or orange, very bulky; ginger hackles; white wings; tail, barred wood duck.

Palmer Grasshopper. Originated in 1917 by M. Palmer, Pasadena, Calif. A combination wood and feather imitation of a grasshopper.

Palmer Blue Devil. Originated in 1918 by M. Palmer, Pasadena, Calif. Imitation of a small blue dragon fly or “darning needle."

Prismac Hair Flies. Originated in 1915 by Call J. McCarthy of Chicago. Bodies, hackles and wings of dyed bucktail hair in various color combinations.

Phil Mitchell. Originated in 1907 by Willard A. Schaeffer, of Rock Island, 111. He was attempting to dye some feathers a certain shade of yellow but the result was a peculiar orange. He combined these orange feathers with others and the result was the Phil Mitchell. Olive green body; orange hackle; wings, barred wood duck; tail, red.

South Bend Bucktail Flies. A series of bucktail flies in various colors originated about 1912 by South Bend Bait Co., South Bend, Ind.

Squirrel Tail Trout Flies. Originated in 1917 by Fred N. Peet and Charles Antoine, Chicago. Variations of the A. S. Trude fly but without hackles.

Winged Helgramite. Originated in 1916 by Louis Rhead, Brooklyn, N. Y. Exact imitation of big stone fly or winged helgramite. Body tinted wood; legs of fiber, wing gray.

Westwood Bug. Originated in 1912 by I. T. Cook, of St. Louis, who had them tied by Miss West-wood of Wilmette, 111. Made entirely of natural (gray, black and white blended) bucktail hair, tied “flat”to imitate a craw fish. Sometimes called the “Mississippi Bug “because it was first used on that river.

Wyman. A series of flies tied by Edward Wyman, Chicago. One pattern has small bright yellow body with scarlet rib; large hackles of elk hair; long tail of red, white, blue and black.

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