I have been playing with Tupps dressings for a couple of days now. Hook.Daiichi 1550 size 12. Silk. Pearsalls gossamer Primrose. Tail. Medium ginger cock. Body. Yellow button hole twist. Rib. Fine oval gold tinsel. Thorax reddish yellow cream mix of Sealex. Hackle. Honey Dun. The Tups color blend wa...

From the list of Fly dressings that the Darbees used.
The Professor.
Hook. Mustad 3906B size 12.
Silk. Pearsalls gossamer Primrose.
Tail. Scarlet.
Body. Yellow seal fur.
Rib. Fine gold tinsel (metal).
Hackle. Ginger hen.
Wing. Light gray mallard.

From The Art of Trout Fishing in Rapid Streams by H.C. Cutcliffe published in 1836 #9 FOR THE month of March. Hook. Daiichi 1550 size 12. Silk. Pearsalls gossamer straw. Body. Hares flask mixed with water rat. I subbed pine squirrel. Rib. Yellow button hole twist. Hackle. Rusty Dun cock leaning to a...

From Ronalds the Fly Fishers Entomology published in 1836 the Gravel Bed.

Hook. Mustad 3351 sneck bend size 13.
Silk. Pearsalls Gossamer gray.
Body. Gray silk.
Hackle. Black hen.
Wing. European Woodcock.

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Dark Watchet with coot Hackle and pine squirrel for the dubbing. Pine squirrel is as close as you can come to water rat. Luckily I have a small piece of water rat. A gift from a fine friend to compare the 2.

Tom.

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Keep the skins intact! Just get yourself a dubbing rake. Fast efficient and fun to use.
No guard hairs!
Tom

A well tied fly deserves head cement!

Tom

I do not know what bird the quill comes from. I have a quill section that Dick Talleur gave me long ago saying "here use this for Breadcrusts". I have heard that the originals were tied with grouse quill.

Tom