Post
by flyfishwithme » Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:26 am
The correct pronunciation is as spelt. For clarification, the 'G' sounds like a 'J'.
While Keith Zwar is commonly attributed with developing the fly, in truth he did it in collaboration with a Mr. Malcolm Gillies.
Gillies' was a well know fly fisherman and owner of one of the largest fishing tackle business in Australia. That business is till operating today. he is also accredited with developing many Australian fly patterns.
Zwar and Gilles would have fished extensively around the Snowy Mountains area of Australia at a time when the Snowy Hydro Electric Scheme was being built, at a time when many new migrants were entering Australia fro a War torn Europe. The history of that time is fascinating.
The new man made lakes of Eucumbene and Jyndabyrne were filling fast and the stocked trout grew rapidly and to large weights. It was a heady fishing period and I was fortunate to fish it just before they reduced to normal impoundment fisheries.
In the area were rives with names like, Eucumbene, Jyndabyrne, Snowy, Tumut (Tju:met), Tantangra, Goodarrgandra, Combungra, Tooma AND the Geehi (now if you think Geehi was difficult try these names)are just some magical rivers that they would have fished as I did before the headwaters were all locked up in National Parks. Gosh this brings back memories. The fishing up to the late 70's was world class and the Eucumbene and Jindabyne are still classed at that level.
Zwar's Geehi, the correct naming of the fly, was developed as a general purpose fly but most probably to imitate the small alpine grasshoppers that abound during summer months. While these rivers and streams have aquatic insects, the most dominant food during the Spring and summer are terrestrials. That is why the Australians converted the Red Tag to a dry fly.
Look inside the fly box of any Australian fly fisher who fishes rivers and you will most likely locate a few Zwar's Geehi's and Red Tags.
I have an original Zwar's Geehi and the Victorian Fly Fisher's Association (of which I am a past president and both Keith Zwar and Malcolm Gilles were members) has a large amount of historic Australian Fly Fishing memorabilia including Zwars and Gillies flies.
From the original that I have and that of the Variant that Hans posted there are some notable differences. The tail is the most obvious as the original used un=dyed Golden Pheasant and was instrumental in likening the fly to a 'hopper'. The front hackle is much larger, almost out of proportion, to that of the palmered hackle. The rear half of the body is not paltered, a point often overlooked today. And, it was not tied on a long shank hook, a standard size was used normally in a size 10.
Today, Zwar's Geehi is tied in a variety of sizes. When I was a guide in Tasmania over 15 years ago we used it extensively in a size 16 presenting it to tailing fish on the lakes and tarns in the highlands. It was and still remains a good fish taker.
Today I still tie them and use it on the fast riffles here in the norther streams of the UK. The combination of materials seems to attract takes from fish, especially on bright days. In the States you would use a bi-visible. Try a Zwar's Geehi, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Thank for posting the 'Geehi' Hans. It has bought back fond memories for me when I used to fish the Snowy Mountain area with friends now departed.
Philip
