Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Speckled Dun

This dressing uses an American woodcock primary for the hackle instead of the undercovert assigned by the original dressing, and it substitutes antron for wool.
Hook:

14-16
Thread:

Yellow
Body:

Golden stone Antron mixed with medium hare's ear
Hackle:

Woodcock primary



John Kirkbride recommends the Speckled Dun for spring fishing, particularly in April and May, in his Northern Angler (1837). He recommends both a winged and a hackled version, the latter of which he dresses “with a portion of pale yellow mohair, mixed with a little fur from the hare’s ear, and a short feather from underneath the woodcock’s wing, near the butt.”

5 comments:

  1. Nice job. That looks like a nice pattern for the small yellow quills (#18) that come off late summer/early autumn. Thanks for posting

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mark - this one sounded great to me, but I haven't had a chance to put it in/on the water

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  2. Hey Neil--can you give me a quick tying tip? what is the best way to affix the hackle so that it covers on all sides?

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    Replies
    1. Joseph, with land bird and hen hackle, I usually tie the hackle in by the tip to the top of the hook shank, slightly toward the side of hook opposite me. Wrap the hackle and stroke the fibers back to help place them evenly around the shank. I wrap twice and tie off on top, pulling the hackle upward to secure it, break off the tied-in tip, then finish the fly.

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    2. excellent, thank you!

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