Fly Fishing Historical Trivia: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Trivia # 3:

What was the first fly tied specifically for PNW steelhead ? Its name, tyers name and dressing.

Answer:

Source: The Master and His Fish - R.H. Brown. edited by A. Haig Brown. 1981.

"The Evolution of a Steelhead Fly - 1976

Just fifty years ago (1926) I went into a tackle store on the Pacific Coast and asked if I could see some steelhead flies. The clerk shook his head in wonderment and perhaps stress. Then he hollared into the back of ths store: Say Al, guy here wants steelhead flies. We got any ?

Al came out obviously somewhat puzzled. Never had any call for them he said. What kind of flies would they be? Then he brightened . Wait a minute I think I got some back here. He disappeared briefly and came back with some enormous dusty cards to each of which was sewn a single enourmous fly. The hook size was about 2/0 as U reckall it, but the irones were heavy enough to hold a shark. The most prominenet pattern was a red ibis with a gleaming scarlet body at least three eighths of an inch thick and dyed swan wing almost large enough to lift the original owner. There was a coachman of similarly opulent proportions, a trout pattern Silver Doctor and probably a Royal Coachman, though I am not sure of this.

I bought them of course who could resist ? but I don't think I ever recall putting one in the water.

Trivia # 4:

What famous fly fisherman and author was also a CIA agent ?

AJ Mclane who was an army officer in WWII After WWII became a outdoor writer travelled to many foreign countries and upon his return would debrief CIA officers of what he learned travelling and fishing through out the country. Have to dig up my source on this one its in one of my old FF magazines.

After this first introduction I gave up asking about steelhead patterns and simply used standard Atlantic Salmon patterns quite successfully for summer fish, usually in sizes from No 2 to No 6 at the same time I noticed that summer fish were also likely to take ordinary trout patterns such as Teal and Silver and my own Silver Brwon on hooks as small as # 8 and 10. In those days I rarely fished with a fly for winter steelhead.

The first fly I ever saw that was specifically tied for steelhead was the General Money Special. It was an effective fly that I gave the dressing in my book The Western Angler as follows:

Body: Black Silk
Ribs and Tag: Gold tinsel
Wings: Red swan with or with out topping over
Hackle:Yellow

This was taken directly from a fly tied by the general himself. I have seen a good many variations since, adding a tail, substituting wood or seal's fur for silk inthe body or ribbing with silver instead of gold tinsel. General Money also showed me his Prawn Fly which I have found extremely good for winter fish. Again the original dressing is simple:

Ribs and Tag: Silver tinsel
Body: Orange or fiery orange wool
A long red hackle wound palmerwise along the body. In most winter conditions a No 1 or No 2 hook seemed about right.

At about this time somewhere in the early 1930s I began to learn of good steelhead patterns from the State of Washington through my friends Lethcher Lambuth and Enos Bradner. The Skykominish Sunrise and the Purple Peril wee among them and such California favorites as the Golden Demon.

I think it was not until some years later that I learned of other Oregon and California patterns - Hargers Orange, the Comet, Boss Fly the Umpqua Special and the truly remarkable Skunk Fly, among others."

Also see the T. Coombs Steelhead Fly Fishing book page 84 and 85 for a detailed history of General Money. Describes the same flys but no mention of them being the first true steelhead flys.

Also in T. Coombs book Steelhead fly fishing page 38 and 39 he talks of a Mr. Jim Benn in the 1890s who was an CA Eeel River angler from Scotland. He introduced some new patterns involving the Coachman and gave it an eastern dress and western legacy by adding a Red Wing beteeen the tow of white very much a Parmacheene Belle wing. The pattern became known as Been's Coachman, the first local dressing for steelhead that visiting anglers could find confidence in using. John Beens contribution to steelheading is still shrouded in the legends of that recent past, but perhaps almost singularly he established our first steelhead fly heritage.. I am postive that late in Benn's life the Benn's Coachman was an established Eeel River Pattern known to most visting anglers".

Never the less I am going with R.H. Browns memory as the correct answer unless some one presents more conclusive evidence.

BG

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"The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool."

Jane Wagner

Edited by Black_Ghost (11/21/03 07:23 AM)