Daring Duffer's Sanctuary

[William Anderson]

Stefan once again entrusted me with photographing another of his stellar ties. This Sanctuary is such a beautiful little softie. There was mention of this fly previously and I'll let him describe his fly and connect the fly to the earlier conversation. Nicely done, Stefan.

Sanctuary



w

[tie2fish]

An immaculate job of ribbing on a crisp little pattern, Stefan. Looking forward to your comments.

[letumgo]

Oh, what a breathtaking fly. (I litterally gasped when I opened this post and saw the picture). Gorgeous fly Stefan.

[daringduffer]

Very well done William, thank you very much. I was inspired by Izaak in an earlier thread:

Re: Partridge and Hare's Ear

Postby daringduffer » 05 Dec 2013, 20:12
There was a fly similar to this one, "invented"/popularized by Dr Thomas Sanctuary (friend of GS Marryatt, HS Hall and FM Halford). He used a Coch-y-Bondhu hackle and probably fished it as a dry fly. I would be surprised if it wasn't fished wet as well...

The Sanctuary:
Dark Hare's ear fur on primrose silk
ribbed with flat gold tinsel
C-y-B hackle

A beautiful alternative to your excellent fly.

dd
slowly recovering

I have been thrilled by this pattern since I read about it years ago, but this is the first time I have tied it. Looks as if I was lucky. Coch-y-Bondhu hackle can be spicy sometimes, and the tinsel is the real deal from several decades ago. The fur is taken from the lower inside part of the hare's ear. It is important to remove it while the hare is still running. The primrose silk comes from an old wooden spool. They must have been stored well; I have only had one Pearsall's silk breakage and that was the other day (purple from a plastic spool - beware of plastic).

dd

[daringduffer]

When I wrote "the lower inside part" I actually meant the back side, but just above where the ear meets the poll. Clear as mud? I was so flattered by your comments that I messed everything up. Have to admit I am pleased by the result myself but rest assured; luck has everything to do about it.

dd

[Old Hat]

This pattern also shows up in Bergman's trout. Although I think it just lists brown hackle. . A great fly pattern. Very nicely done DD.

[gingerdun]

Stefan,
Nicely done. Wide tinsel segmentation is a great look, and my father used it a lot with hare's ear and also mohair bodies.
Lance

[daringduffer]

You read now and then an explanation of the attractiveness (to the fish) of gold tinsel that it reflects the surroundings (bottom, vegetation) as well as giving that segmented look. I don't know what to make of it. Embossed tinsel can't have the same effect but is widely used. The protagonists of the reflection theory recommends it's use (embossed) when light and bright (if I remember correctly). The same theory of reflection is referred to when it comes to "silvery" hooks; said to be invisible to the fish. Be as it may - gold tinsel or wire is a mighty tool for the fly tier. It boosts the confidence in the fly and might even make it more pleasing to the fish. The combination with hare's ear fur makes it outstanding. Adding a C-y-B hackle might give it som movement and a touch of class. Maybe it was needed to get it accepted by Halford too (included as it is in "Floating Flies and how to dress them").
Speculation on my part.

Now quoting Thomas Sanctuary from Hayter's book about Halford:

"It was in April, 1867. I was enjoying an Easter holiday, fishing the late Mr R.B. Sheridan's water on the Dorsetshire Frome, and was accompanied by a very intelligent lad, who carried the impedimenta. A few weeeks earlier, John Hammond, the well-known Winchester fisherman, had initiated me into the art and mystery of making my fly float on the crystal waters of the Itchen, after I had completely failed to entice those wary trout by the usual two or three wet-fly means. No lubrication then, only continual whipping to get the fly dry enough to float, and, I'm afraid, it never occured to me to grease it. Anyhow, that day subsequently on the Frome my lad, in answer to my complaint, that after a few throws the fly would persist in sinking, remarked *Pity, zur, that you can't oil the fly like a duck oils his feathers, then her would float surely*. This set me thinking. The next duck that was killed at home had his oil gland carefully extracted, and I carried it about wrapped in a piece of chamois leather, and greased my flies with it successfully, till, after many days, it became somewhat 'whiffy', and I was obliged to discard it".

End of story. Or not.

dd

[gingerdun]

*Pity, zur, that you can't oil the fly like a duck oils his feathers, then her would float surely*. This set me thinking. The next duck that was killed at home had his oil gland carefully extracted, and I carried it about wrapped in a piece of chamois leather, and greased my flies with it successfully, till, after many days, it became somewhat 'whiffy', and I was obliged to discard it".

Stefan, That is one of the most colorful passages of fishing lore that I have come across.
Thanks for sharing it with us!

[Old Hat]

I think he missed out. I've heard whiffy lures are very attractive to fish.