Fieldfare and..

Moderators: William Anderson, letumgo

scotfly
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:12 pm

Fieldfare and..

Post by scotfly » Mon May 18, 2009 5:13 pm

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

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
William Anderson
Site Admin
Posts: 4569
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: Ashburn, VA 20148
Contact:

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by William Anderson » Mon May 18, 2009 9:03 pm

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?
"A man should not try to eliminate his complexes, but rather come into accord with them. They are ultimately what directs his conduct in the world." Sigmund Freud.
www.WilliamsFavorite.com
jcrumbacher

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by jcrumbacher » Tue May 19, 2009 2:55 pm

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
scotfly
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:12 pm

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by scotfly » Tue May 19, 2009 4:29 pm

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! :oops:
I'll do a photo of the Fieldfare skin tomorrow and post it for you to see.
scotfly
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:12 pm

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by scotfly » Fri May 22, 2009 4:30 pm

This is the Fieldfare skin I have.

Image

And a few close ups...

Image

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
tie2fish
Posts: 5072
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:11 am
Location: Harford County, MD

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by tie2fish » Sat May 23, 2009 7:15 am

Mmmm! Those close-up shots make my mouth water.
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
User avatar
Ron Eagle Elk
Posts: 2821
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:33 am
Location: Carmel, Maine

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Sat May 23, 2009 3:26 pm

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
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
User avatar
tie2fish
Posts: 5072
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:11 am
Location: Harford County, MD

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by tie2fish » Sun May 24, 2009 7:17 am

Cookshill sells these?
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
User avatar
Ron Eagle Elk
Posts: 2821
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:33 am
Location: Carmel, Maine

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Sun May 24, 2009 12:48 pm

After looking at the Cookshill site, I could find no Fieldfare listed.
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
User avatar
DNicolson
Posts: 669
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Scotland
Contact:

Re: Fieldfare and..

Post by DNicolson » Sun May 24, 2009 1:17 pm

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
Post Reply