FLYMPH FORUM

tie2fish wrote:Drive through, by all means. I simply mentioned a couple of things I have seen in print, and have no evidence to back them up in a debate forum. I am not a very well informed scholar of the history of fly tying and only a mediocre tyer at best, so I should probably not venture my opinions in public.

*chuckle* fear not - am not going to put you on the spot. My scepticism on the Catskill style of flies is already well documented

Cheers,
Hans W

Don't worry tie2fish, there are holes in Hans argument as well , starting with Halford.
catch me if you can............
Jim

Jim Slattery wrote:Don't worry tie2fish, there are holes in Hans argument as well , starting with Halford.
catch me if you can............
Jim

JimBo...

Let me see... (you can cross off as not applicable and educate us all in the process):

1. Catskill style dry flies are those originated by people whose family tree is firmly rooted in the Catskills region of NY state for at least 8 generations, along the paternal line (or not)
2. Catskill style dries are any patterns first tied while the person at the vise happened to be spending the day in the Catskills region of NY state (or not)
3. Catskills dries are those hackled heavier than those flies not considered Catskills style dries (or not)
4. Catskill style dries are so identified by having a rolled split upright lemon woodduck wing (or not) - provided either 1 and or 2 are also applicable (or not)
5. Catskill style dries are so identified by having a short section of bare shank just at the eye (or not)
6. Catskill style dries are so identified by the fact that they bounce along the surface of streams in the Catskills region of NY state perched on hackle tips and tips of the tail, keeping the hook very much elevated above the water surface (or not)
7. Catskill style dries are codified in such a way that there is an established and generally accepted/formalized baseline that simply examining an actual dry fly in hand one can cleanly and unequivocally differentiate between those that meet the aforementioned criteria, and those which do not.

Have at it good sir...

Cheers,
Hans W

Hans,
I will skip the tedious questions and simply go with Pictures
Halford fly (Halfordian era):


Catskill fly (Herm Christian):

Jim,

You are dodging the specific question and avoiding the direct answers. Forget Halford, and focus on contemporary dry flies.

Thanks,
Hans W

Hans,
Sir it is quite clear you have now muddied the water. Seeing as the fate of the world, as we now know it( compared to 10 minutes ago), firmly weighs in the balance, I will make quite clear your question, which is taken verbatum as such "Is this where I will ask what makes "Catskill dry" any different from UK dries from Halford's time?"
Decisively and unequivocally I have answered your question with mere pictures .
Jim

Dear sir Jim - I will make it really simple for you. Only answer allowed is yes or no:

Does a contemporary tied Adams (mixed grizzly/brown barbs tail, muskrat body, grizzly hackle tips wing, and a mixed grizzly/brown hackle qualify as a "Catskill style dry"?

I await your mono-syllabic response with interest.

Cheers,
Hans W

Me, I am just wondering if in Han's list above- no.1, is it also required that the tier that is an 8th generation Catskillsian still required to marry a first cousin or even closer sibling?