Dai’s Greenwell

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davidriley
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:20 am
Location: Cheltenham, UK

Dai’s Greenwell

Post by davidriley » Tue Nov 10, 2020 6:24 am

This is a fly which has its origins in Wales. It is one of Dai Lewis’s of Tregaron flies. Dai was born in 1880 and fished the Teifi all his life making a living from fly dressing. I was given the dressing for the fly in 1969 by Ieuan D Owen, who was taught to fly fish by Dai. Ieuan wrote a book about Dai, titled ‘Trout Fisherman’s Saga’.

I have caught a fair few fish with this fly, especially when I fished the Welsh Dee and other rivers of North Wales.

Dressing:-
Kamasan B405 size 14 hook ( I tie #14/16), Uni-thread 8/0 green. Thread body ribbed with fine gold round tinsel (I have used wire).Fewgold pheasant tippets for the tail. Indian Hen ginger/greenwell cape hackle.
Note - ideally the hackle should be from a Coch-y-Bonddu cape.
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Ron Eagle Elk
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Location: Carmel, Maine

Re: Dai’s Greenwell

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Tue Nov 10, 2020 8:40 am

Lovely. Can't help but wonder what it looks like wet.
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
joaniebo
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Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2014 12:24 pm

Re: Dai’s Greenwell

Post by joaniebo » Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:23 am

If I recall correctly, many of Dai Lewis' dressings were used and / or modified by the Rev. Edward Powell using quite bushy hen hackles for Rev. Powell's wet and dry flies.

Christopher Knowles' great book called "Orange Otter" shows both pictures and the dressings of the Powell / Lewis flies which were so successful for the Rev. Powell that he was, at times, banned from several trout waters and his catches were often used to augment the food supplies of his church "flock."

Moc Morgan's book "Trout and Salmon Flies of Wales" also has pics and dressing of additional Dai Lewis dressings, if anyone is interested.

Both books are great readings for those interested in the dressings from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
davidriley
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Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:20 am
Location: Cheltenham, UK

Re: Dai’s Greenwell

Post by davidriley » Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:30 am

Ron Eagle Elk wrote: Tue Nov 10, 2020 8:40 am Lovely. Can't help but wonder what it looks like wet.
This may give you an idea
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David
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Ron Eagle Elk
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Location: Carmel, Maine

Re: Dai’s Greenwell

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:31 pm

Lovely, David. Thank you. As I suspected it looks absolutely delicious if your a fish.
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
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