FLYMPH FORUM

Since I just posted a pic on my version of Pritt's Greensleeves dressing, I noticed that there was an old pic of Pritt's Grannon / Greentail in my files. (again, with my heavy hackles).

From T.E. Pritt's book Yorkshire Trout Flies

33. GREENTAIL (Grannon Fly).
HOOK – No. 1
WINGS – Hackled with a feather from the inside of a Woodcock's wing, or from a Partridge's neck, or from under a Hen Pheasant's wing.
BODY – Lead coloured silk, twisted with a little fur from a Hare's face.
TAIL – Green silk, wrapped over lower part of body.

joaniebo, Howdy;

Very nice looking flies. It's been mentioned many, many times
that it's better to have to much in the way of hackle then to little.
Let the trout decied, they'll trim it to it's best thickness.

hank

Your files/flies are outstanding, Bob.

Thanks guys for the compliments. The old dressings and books about the old dressings / flies / methods really get me going, especially the search for as many of the original materials as possible to attempt to duplicate the old dressings.

Bob

Bob,
Very pretty flies! Alfred Ronalds included a Grannom pattern (which he also termed Granam, Green Tail, and Shell Fly) in his beautiful book The Fly Fisher's Entomology (1836). It's similar to Pritt's pattern:

Body: Fur of hare's face left rough, spun on brown silk. A little green floss silk may be worked in at the tail to represent the bunch of eggs there.
Wings: Feather from the partridge's wing, and made very full.
Legs: A pale ginger hen's hackle.

My attempt at a reproduction, using green dubbing instead of floss...

Phil

I have Ronald's book and will have to go through it and tie a few of his dressings.

Are you tying the old dressings again at the January "Icebreaker"? For years, I tied them at the Grand Rapids, MI "Celebration of Fly Tying" show in late February but the show was cancelled this year. It's fun to see people's reactions to the old flies as many of them have never seen them tied (or fished).

In June 2017, as I was having dinner at Gates' Au Sable Lodge, my buddy and I started talking to a couple guys at a nearby table. I gave them a bunch of my spiders / soft hackles to try plus my card. Two days later, I received an email stating they caught one fish during the evening Drake hatch by caught "a bunch" the following day on the spiders / soft hackles. :>)

Bob

I'm not sure I would consider those heavy hackled. I've seen a lot heavier hackled on much older flies. Those are about where I tie most of the time as emergers.

Bob,
Ronalds' book is a real gem. He made order out of chaos concerning the naming of insects and imitations. Eleven editions were published over ~80 years, which reflects its greatness. Not too long ago, I found an elderly copy of The Fly-Fisher's Entomology that led a sheltered life but was reasonably inexpensive. The hand-painted fly plates depicting naturals and imitations are gorgeous. For example...

Grannom natural:


Grannom imitation:



Yes, I'll be tying old fly patterns at both the TU Icebreaker (1/26; see http://www.swtu.org/2018/11/01/icebreak ... h-osthoff/) and Badger Fly Fishers Spring Opener (2/9; see http://www.badgerflyfishers.org/spring-opener) in Madison. My rule of thumb is to tie patterns that are at least 100 years old, although I sometimes make exceptions for authors such as Leisenring, Hidy, Sawyer, Rosborough, etc.

If the driving weather is agreeable, come on up! We'll discuss dotterel, landrail, plover, and other flighty matters. --Cheers, Phil

John,
Thanks for the heads up. I edited the links in my post also.
Wire? You need a mile or two? How are you fixed for Killer Bug yarn?
Las Vegas? Remember, what happens in Madison stays in Madison.

Phil

What a great thread! Imitative fly patterns, insect illustrations, and history.

I really enjoy multi layered threads like this. Thank you all, for contributing.