FLYMPH FORUM

A recent purchase was the Fieldfare, a new bird to me.

Dennis,

That's a nice looking hackle. I haven't had an opportunity to see this skin. I recall a number of patterns in the old yorkshite type flies and maybe scot style too, calling for fieldfare hackles.

I especially like the top fly. Is the feather from a different area on the skin than the second and third? They all three have unique qualities. That hackle with those sparce bodies make for a very nice looking pattern.

Is that hook blue?

Dennis,

I was also wondering about the hook used in the top two flies. Which make, model, and size is it?

Also, wonderful flies. Fieldfare is a unique hackle that I've never seen before your pics.

Thanks,
Jay

William, Jay, the hooks are Aiken Fine Wire Eyed Hooks #10 and yes they are blued. They are the last from a packet I bought about 20 or 30 years ago. I don't know why I bought them, I don't really like the shape. But, bought them I did and sure as hell being a Scotsman, I wasn't going to waste them!
I'll do a photo of the Fieldfare skin tomorrow and post it for you to see.

This is the Fieldfare skin I have.



And a few close ups...

Mmmm! Those close-up shots make my mouth water.

Dennis,

Nice looking flies. Thanks for the photos of the Fieldfare. What a beautiful bird. Another skin to add to the list for my next call to Cookshill.

REE

Cookshill sells these?

After looking at the Cookshill site, I could find no Fieldfare listed.

Here are Skues comments on the Fieldfare -

"Felfet or Feltyfare. - See Fieldfare.

*Fieldfare (Felfet, Feltyfare, Blue Back, Jackbird). - The primaries and secondaries of this handsome bird make excellent wings. They are , however, much neglected in this country ; they are of a blue-dun colour.

The late David Foster recommended them for some of his Derbyshire patterns, and Mr T. E. Pritt, in “North Country Flies,” gives a pattern of “Fieldfare Bloa,” winged with a soft feather from the rump, and Jackson gives a spider legs similarly winged. In Scotland the bird is highly prized. There is no apparent reason why the shoulder knob feathers should not be used as hackles. As alternative wings for his Fieldfare Bloa, Mr. Pritt offers (1) tern, (2) “blue tail,” and (3) jay; but the rump feather is both browner and dustier than any of these."

This is the best info on Fly Dressers Birds
http://www.dtnicolson.dial.pipex.com/page81.html