Brown Shiner

[tie2fish]

Roger Fogg asserts that this pattern appears in John Thurston's The Angler's Manual (1836) without making any claims about who actually created it. Thurston recommended it as a fly for August
(fall caddis?), but it reportedly will take fish throughout the season as a stonefly imitation and/or general attractor.

Hook: Size 16-14 (Daiichi 1640, # 14)
Thread: Light orange tying silk (Pearsall's Gossamer #6a)
Hackle: Light brown mottled grouse feather from the base of the neck
Body: Waxed thread wraps
Thorax: Peacock herl (bronzed)
Optional head: Peacock herl (I opted out)

[letumgo]

Exquisite. Your photo captures the fine details. I love the dark hackle tips.

[willowhead]

Wow, that's very special Bill.....if you get around to it.....i'd really like to see one with the peacock herl head. i take it you did not twist the thread for the abdomen?

[hankaye]

t2f, Howdy;

x2, of what Ray & Mark R. both said.
Would also be courious to see the other Variation.

Thanks,

hank

[CreationBear]

Ah, here we go. That grouse feather is a revelation: I'm really looking forward to tracking down a whole skin soon.

[tie2fish]

Wow, that's very special Bill.....if you get around to it.....i'd really like to see one with the peacock herl head. i take it you did not twist the thread for the abdomen?

Actually, I flattened the thread going back to the barb by spinning the bobbin counterclockwise and then tightened up the twist for the body wraps by spinning it the other way before coming back up to the thorax area. Keep in mind that Pearsall's silks are wound the opposite direction from brands you may have worked with previously.

[willowhead]

Ok, that's why it looks so smooth........you flattened the initial layer. i'd like to have ONE Penny for every single time i've ever spun counter-clockwise to flatten thread..............PARRRTEEE TIME! It'd prolly cover my gas to get up to Manhattan anyway.......... ............let's see.....say 4 tanks, at $75 a tank.......$300. How many pennies is that?...........30,000..........yup, no problem.

[DNicolson]

That is a small coincidence, I have just recently added a section on 'hackles' from
John Turton's book, I have a copy of Fogg's latest, but I have not given it a thorough study.
The article is on http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page472.html
I have selected the 'hackle' or should I say, wingless recipes. I have tried to list the recipes with modern materials.
Although I have Fogg's latest, I have been re-reading his 'Handbook of North Country Trout Flies'. I really maybe have not given the new book a fair go, but I am coming to the conclusion that the 'Handbook' is his best book.
You can read Turton's book on the Book Archive.

Oh! By the way, a very nicely dressed fly.
And your picture is better than Fogg's.

[DNicolson]

It is intended to be a stone fly.

[tie2fish]

That's a great listing, Donald. Thank you for the link. Are there references in the literature as to what size hooks should be used for such recipes?