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Atherton#4
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 12:52 pm
by upstatetrout

- P_20190208_111936.jpg (195.22 KiB) Viewed 3892 times
From John Atherton's book the Fly and the Fish his recommended wet fly No. 4.
Hook. Mustad #3906b size 10.
Thread. UTC 70 denier wood duck.(my choice Atherton did not specify.)
Tail. Dark Cree.
Body. Hare's ear,tied rough ribbed with oval gold tinsel.
Wings Hen pheasant secondary.
Hackle.Dark Cree
The wet flies in the book were designed as we're his dry flies to cover a range of colors and values that include many of the insects found in our streams. His chapter on flies and impressionism should be required reading for all fly tiers who actually fish. If you do not actually fish you do not have to take the test..

Re: Atherton#4
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 7:14 pm
by letumgo
Fantastic! You had me at Atherton, but damn that is SUPERB!
Kudos Tom.
Frame that bad boy... I would...
Re: Atherton#4
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:30 pm
by Bazzer69
Nice fly. I have two questions, was the original tied on a size ten? Was the wing that long in Athertons day?
B
Re: Atherton#4
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:43 am
by upstatetrout
As per Atherton he tied this fly on hooks size 8,10,12 and 14.
The wet fly wings in his book extend to mid tail maybe a little further.And yes that was the standard wing length back then and now.
Tom
Re: Atherton#4
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 8:49 am
by tjd
Tom,
Your tying is impeccable!
John Atherton's book and his philosophy on tying is very interesting. The Fly and The Fish is a title that I refer to quite frequently. His dubbing blends, use of cree hackle, and tying style make for very effective flies.
Best,
Tim