Red Quill

Here we have a really old pattern 1803, first tied by an english gentleman by the name of Thomas Rushworth. I believe this fly was the one that Mr Art Flick borrowed the name from to his Red Quill.

The Complete Flytier

“From Reuben R. Cross Lew Beach , New York” A trademark full of respect by anglers from the past and present. Theodore Gordon might very well be the one that popularized the dry fly to the American flyfishers, but from looking at pictures of flies from Cross and others my opinion is that it´s Cross who set the standards to the Catskill style dry fly of today. Cross was the first professional flytier to write a book about flytying, Tying American trout lures (1936). He wrote three more books, Cowdung of Shrin Creek, Fur Feathers and Steel (1940) and finally The Complete Flytier (1950).

Reuben Cross grew up in the Neversink area, the domains of the master himself, Theodore Gordon. Cross claims to have learned to tie flies from Gordon, who knows? The stories tells othervise, not even Herman Christian who was a close friend to Gordon got any hints or lessons from him. On the other hand it´s known that Gordon taught Roy Steenrod to tie flies. Later Cross said he learned to tie flies by taking apart Gordon´s flies, this feels more reasonable as it seems to have been a common way to learn the art those days. Cross himself wasn´t that eager to share his knowledge either, Walt Dette said that he offered Cross 50$ if he taught him to tie flies, an offer Cross quickly turned down. Other stories tells that Cross did show his techniques and secrets as long as he didn´t felt any competition, a fact I can relate to as he was a semiprofessional flytier and partly tied flies for a living. Later in Cross´s flytying career he did great efforts in sharing his knowledge, attending at angling fairs etc.

The Cross Special

Reuben´s most known fly was the “Cross Special” named by the way it´s originated, a “Cross” between a “Quill Gordon” and a “Light Cahill”. Cross was once asked about what made the “Cross Special” so special, “Not a damned thing”, he replied.

During the time my own interest of the “Catskill style dry fly” grown into the passion of today I have learned that Cross was kind of a grumpy guy. After have reading his last book “The Complete Flytier” and after writing this little piece I have slightly changed my mind about Mr Cross. The book is about flytying in general, techniques, patterns and materials. The book is easy to read and understand, kind of laid back written and here and there I also found some laughs, so how grumpy could Mr Cross be? One of the laughs were the “Tie a dry fly” part were in the book is shown, tie in the tails first. Walt Dette who learedn to tie by taking Cross´s flies apart said that that wasn´t the way he tied them, so maybe he tried to hide some secrets even in his own book. My favourite parts of the book was the chapter of “Effective Patterns” were I found the “Ken Lockwood” Gray hackle and tails, Woodduck split wing and gold wired raffia straw body.
Ken Lockwood

Another chapter that fascinated me was the “favourite patterns”. Her I found the “Monsignore” originated by a Mr Claude Norton a flytier active in Newburgh, New York.
Monsignore

Also found the “Cochy Knight” originated by Jack Knight.
Cochy Knight

Herman Christian

Herman Christian 1882-1975

An old woodsman, trout fisherman, farmer, fishing guide, hunter and one of the hallowed four flytyers who founded the Catskill fly-tying tradition.

Christian was a great trout fisherman, widely known for his skills of finding the bigger fish. Christian learned to know Theodore Gordon around 1906 as a result of that he needed some decent flies, he had heard the rumors of Gordon’s flies so off course he decided that he needed some of those. As time went by they became friends. Christian was on a regularly basis fishing with Gordon, showed him where the really big trout’s were to be found. Despite the fact of Christian guiding Gordon in the Catskills after the big ones, Gordon never showed Christian anything regarding fly-tying. Gordon even put away his materials etc whenever Christian came by. Christian learned the secrets and how to tie flies by taking apart Gordon’s flies.

The most known patterns Christian left us are the “Christian Red Body” and the “Christian Green Body”. Two similar flies with the color of the body to separate the two patterns. The tail and hackle uses stiff fibers of dark dun, a peacock quill makes a nice dark rib over the glossy floss body leaving a nice segmentation and finally a lovely divided wood duck wing.

I think these two flies are amongst the most beautiful Catskill patterns. Now I only have to try them on the trout as well, and as Christian was known for his big catches he should know what he was doing when he created these masterpieces.

In between...

Now between a Merry Christmas and the Happy New Year I finally found some spare time to try out some new stuff that I recently came over. Some "White Deer Hair" and some really "White Fur". The Deerhair comes from.. eh well  a Deer and the fur from my mother in law´s cat, a Ragdoll, really cool cat by the way.
I have been searching ffor White Deer Hair for some time as I wanted it for Elsie Darbee´s Coffin Fly, it is needed for the body. Spun Deerhair cut short, makes a really nice lifejacket for a Hook #12.

The really White Fur from the cat was needed for Reuben Cross´s Cross Special, I noticed it in Mike Vallas -Tying Catskill styl dry flies. There was something I just couldn´t resist in that really white body.

I hope you like it... As usually I did :-)

Better late than never

I have not spent as much time with my blog lately, sorry, other obligations and some lack of mojo maybe?

Well... Got a parcel of Peccary from my friend Andy Baird a couple of weeks ago. Sat down this week and played with that, really liked the mottled effect it had on a Catskill dry I made with it. I will call it the Peccary Dun until I fin a more sexy name for it. The wings are of Teal, tails also Peccary..
Will be back with some more within a couple of days, just wanted to say hello...

British flyfair Auction

Steve who is running the British flyfair has this year´s auction set up to benefit the Potteries flytyingclub. The members of this club are an important link in the chain of staff setting up the world´s greatest flytying show.
Last year going there I didn´t really know about this event, so couldn´t do more than donate a couple of flies, If I remember correctly it gave like 10£. As a pretty competitive guy I wasn´t that satisfied with that contribution.... Well to this year´s event I took out the big artillery. I sent out some E-Mails and together with some friend started up a world vide project, a display frame with flies from the book North country flies by T.E Pritt. Now with only a couple of days left before departure it was finally ready, sort off. One of the participants, Charlie Davidson had his flies missing in action with a little help from the postal office. This issue will be solved in Stoke. I really hope that our efforts will give this fantastic group off people in the Potteries flytying club some funds, maybe even enough to invite me as a guestspeaker :-)

You can see the participants names and flies chosen in the picture. I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone joining this our little project, myself is honoured by being a part of this bunch of "top notch" tyers.

Hope to see a lot of people laying bid´s on the frame..

Getting ready...

Only a month left to this year top event, British Flyfair. This means busy times for us participating at flytyers row. Last year I just made some display flies, this year I have promised myself to make some stuff to create a nice atmosphere at my table..
First item, a Catskill collection in a handmade wooden box, box made by Lars Andersson a skilled Swedish craftsman.

The box has 18 Catskill flies in it. From left Royal Coachman Fanwing, March Brown, Quill Gordon, Red Quill, Conover and Ginger Variant. This box is offcourse when the "displayjob" is done possible to buy if anyone will be intrested.

The Royal Coachman Fanwing, one of my favourite flies to tie.

Second.. Some display flies.

Third out.. A Stewart "Three Killing spiders" frame. I have made four of them, will try to sell them to finance my trip.

Well these items and more will help me to make a nice little area for me and my visitors.