Dunt

On this page Dunt, Durham Ranger, Dusty Miller and the Eagle Flies, please scroll down.

Dunt

Duntcomp

Vintage Dunt with portrait of William Brown as backdrop

Thedunt

I think the Dunt is one of the nicer Dee style flies, one night a few months ago I was reading back copies of the Fishing Gazette (I get to do this when I'm working in London as the club I stay at has an almost full set of the fishing gazette - a nice meal a large malt and settle down for a couple of hours - bliss!), there is a series of articles called "Famous Fisherman" from the 1880's this one written MAC - who I think may be William Murdoch, I quote the whole lot as you may find it interesting - however if you just want to know how the Dunt was named you only need to read the last paragraph!

The Dunt tied by Colin Simpson

Famous Fishermen – William Dawson, of Minonie – Fishing Gazette 1^st March 1890

“A good man can’t be a bad man too.” He is a good man, and so was his father before him. “A capital fisher, a hardy chap, and a straightforward honest fellow,” is the opinion of a brother fisherman of the subject of our present sketch, Mr. William Dawson, professional angler, Minonie, Bridge of Feugh, Banchory.

Dawson we have known for many years, and we say with the utmost candour that as an all-round man, in the capacity of gillie, there is no one we know that can excel him. Born and brought up on the banks of the Feugh, beside the famous old bridge and “pool,” hard by which he farms some acres of land, he has by turns since he grew to man’s estate been gillie, keeper, river watcher, and farmer. He is now about thirty-eight years of age, and though neither married – a sad mistake, which he himself admits – nor yet one of the old worthies, his long and varied experiences with the rod, which he wields with such consummate skill and with which he has achieved so many notable feats, nevertheless well entitles him to an early place on the roll of our “famous fishermen.”

Just now Dawson is at his best. In the full vigour of his manly prime, a muscular, well-knit fellow, standing 5ft. 9½in., dark, and with a keen eye and capital hands, he is in every line of sport for fish, fur or fowl which he takes part in a “don” hand. Always in grand health and grand condition, no effort tires him. Ever at outdoor sport, daily and all day long, he has a healthy bronzed appearance, and the geniality of his disposition and the evenness of his temper tell that he is a man never out of sorts. Though active he patient and plodding, when these qualities are called for, and safe it is to say that no man we know in his line has more firmness, more ready decision, more deferential though not servile courtesy, or a more honest desire to serve faithfully in every way those by whom he is employed. Thus known to be reliable and thoroughly good man in every way, proved over and over again, and by the expressed appreciation of many employers, it is no wonder that he has numerous applications for his services every year by gentlemen fishing the Dee about Banchory; and whoever is fortunate in securing him for fisherman is fully conscious that he has secured the pick of the non-proprietorial professional fishermen of the district.

All Dawson’s best takes of salmon (and many a grand day he has had) have been got with the fly, and on the Aberdeenshire Dee. That river he has fished almost continually from open to close time, the season through for the last thirteen years. Eight years ago, when acting as head fisherman on the Crathes water in autumn, he, along with his master, Mr. Knowles, banker, made the grand score, in one day, of thirteen fish, mostly heavy weights, and averaging almost 20lb. About that time there was a succession of splendid seasons, and many a grand record was obtained. Fish were not nearly so shy then; they were not frightened and put of the take by the natural minnow, the too great, the detrimental, and the annoying use of which he and other good men, anxious to a degree that heir masters should have the best sport obtainable, have only now too sadly to deplore.

Writing to us the other day he says: “I have been fishing constantly on the Dee every year now for the last thirteen years, I have been longest with Mr. Aitken, Mr. Knowles, and Mr. Barber. I am going back to Mr. Barber on the Inchmarlo water for the spring, and I hope that all the fish will not be past us by the 11^th; but I’m afraid there will be far too many of them past, as the river for along time has been just in the order that keeps them pushing on at a good pace for the upper waters. I know intimately all the Dee, from Potarch Bridge to Culter. On that twenty miles of the river the best pools to fish for the whole season – seeing that they yield fish in spring, in summer, and in autumn – are the Moral, Ferroch, Grey Mare, Cottage Streams, Fawn, and Roe’s Pot; and the best ones for purely autumn fishing are Kelpie, Floating Bank, Birkenbauds, Green Banks, Long Pool, House Pool, and Keith Pot. I know the Feugh wuite as well as I do the Dee. The best time for it is from the 15^th June to 15^th July, and the best fly-casts on it are ‘Meetins o’ Dye,’ Minister’s Pot, Powkessie, the Oaks, and Invery Pool.”

Dawson is one of those fishermen who content themselves with a limited number of flies. Of his own accord he would not incline for having more than a dozen patterns to fish with all the season through, from beginning to end. He justifies this with one or other of his favourites he can, whatever the conditions may be, get fish “to come,” if it’s possible at all to entice them. He is most particular as to size, which he varies according to the height or colour of the water, the temperature or the light. He considers the Glentanar, the Dunt, the Grey Heron, and the Akroyd the best flies for spring angling; the Logie, Jeanie, Green Peacock, and Silver Blue the best for summer angling; and the Gordon, Jock Scott, Silver Doctor, Dunt, and Caird the best form autumn angling. His fancy in the way of evening flies the Gordon, Grey Eagle and Yellow Eagle; and for low, clear waters, between May and September, he chooses the Silver Blue and Green Peacock on bright days, and the Jeannie and Logie on dark days.

Dawson’s best years on the river have been on the Crathes and Durris waters. In one year he has had as many as one hundred and eighty fish, and for the autumn alone over one hundred. “I’ve never yet,” he says, “got a terrible big fellow, but I’ve had and thirty nine and a half pounder, and twenty at least between that weight and 30lb. The longest time I ever took to land a fish was three quarters of an hour, and the longest distance I’ve ever been taken ‘down’ the river with one cannot, I think, be over a mile. I make sure of knowing how my tackle stands, and always keep well on to the fish, from the moment they are hooked. Mismanaging them at first is almost always the cause of their making a great ado, and often defeating the angler. Senseless haste and rashness is to be condemned; but loosing valuable time by foolishly temporising with the fish that’s on is the sheerest folly, especially when fish are on the take.

As a “caster” Dawson is excellent; specially at overhead and underhand he is splendid, but at switching he is also very good> He fishes the minnow or Phantom well; and at the worm, though he days, “I hate it,” he really is a dab hand. In a single day he has caught as many as thirty grilse and sea-trout in the Bridge Poll of the Feugh, below the old bridge, where old Dod Craven and his “boys” have had to many remarkable days’ angling with the “wurm.”

To watch Dawson fishing when the water is low and fish are dour is quite a treat. Then you see him displaying the masterly feat of casting a clean, a fine, and a far line; making the fly shoot out on the double and then curl over and light, with the lightness of a snow flake, at the distance of 38 yards, from his feet. This he can so with the gracefulest ease with his eighteen-footer. Albeit, wonderful as his long casting is, he does not go in for it unless on occasions when it is positively necessary. His motto is, “Neat and clean, and fish properly the line thrown.” Well and wisely he acts on this principle and never bungles or misses to hook when the fish rise meaning to take. Invariably he uses powerful rods for spring and autumn fishing, and his idea is that no makers turn out rods like Blacklaws and Duguid. “Theirs,” he says, “are the best, as for hard work they stand up so admirably.

In his own words we may now tell what he thinks of the various kinds of angling. He says, “Worm fishing, I hate it. Prawn, not much better. Devon, not much use on the Dee. Phantom, good at times. Natural minnow does pretty well, but it has played the d----l with sport, pot hunting and other angling abuses being indulged in by so many of its votaries. No lure all-round anything like approaches the fly for bringing sport. It is my favourite. It kills from the season’s start in the spring to the season’s finish in the autumn, and it is the Proper Dunt under much the greatest number of different conditions, beating everything else in this respect.”

At the end of the season Dawson is one that almost always receives tangible token that his services have been appreciated. But while he has been very fortunate, as he well deserves, in nearly always having had good masters, he nevertheless has once or twice had an experience of quite a different character. Once he had to charge from pool to pool at the gallop, minnow can in hand, with a regular racer of a “minnower,” who out of the depth of his generosity had the consideratness on one occasion to offer him a “baggit” fish, because forsooth he thought it would not sell. Scornfully Dawson took the “baggit” by the tail and pitched it across the water into the river as far as he could throw, saying, “If it is not good enough to sell, I’ll have none of it.”

Dawson is responsible for the invention of several flies. Seven years ago when he was fishing the Kineskie water we used of an evening to drop down to see him work, and have a chat with him in piscine and piscatorial matters. When we got down to the river we used to call out to him from the top of the bank, “Have you got anything, Dawson?” and invariably his reply was, “O ti.” “What did you get him with,” we then queried, and he used jocularly to reply. “The proper dunt.” This led us to invent a fly which we christened the “Dunt,” to perpetuate Dawson’s “Proper Dunt,” which means the “proper thing.” That the Dunt has proved the proper thing no one will deny. It is a particular favourite everywhere on the Dee, and in one day more fish have been killed with it by one and the same rod than any other rod has got with any other fly in one day on the Dee within the last seven years – to wit, nine fish by Lord Strathallan on the Cambus O’May water some years ago in the spring.. MAC.

DrawDunt

WM – 14^th Mar, 1885, Dee Salmon Flies for Spring, Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver thread and light blue floss.

Tail: A topping and spring of pintail.

Body: Orange shaded into fiery brown mohair – two fifths of the former, three fifths of the later – fairly picked out.

Ribbed: Broad flat silver tinsel and gold twists, five turns.

Hackle: Black heron, over the fiery brown only, and so wound on as to give 20 to 25 fibbers.

Shoulder: Teal, sparingly.

Wings: Brown turkey strips having a rich dark bar and white tip, with a sprig of teal between them on the top.

Cheeks: Jungle.

Head: Black.

Mr. George Smith, Tackle Merchant, Ballater, has a splendid stock of these patterns, most of which are proved killer on all reaches above, and a good many reached below, that place.

William Murdoch – 26^th Dec, 1885, “Salmon and Trout Fishing in the highlands of Scotland,” Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver thread and light blue floss silk.

Tail: A topping and a small quantity of pintail.

Body: Orange shaded into fiery brown mohair, and fairly picked out – a third of the former colour, the rest the latter.

Ribbed: Silver (flat) tinsel and gold twist in good long spirals.

Hackle: From centre of body to shoulder – a fair quantity of long black heron.

Shoulder: Teal.

Wings: Two strips of dark brown turkey feather with black bar and white tip. To extend flatwise outward from the top of iron, at an angle of from 15 to 20 degrees. On the top between the wings place a narrow strip of pintail.

Cheeks: Jungle

Head: Black and as small as possible.

Walbrans variation of the Dunt tied by Bob Frandsen

Walbran

Tag: Sliver thread and pale blue floss

Tail, a topping, green and red parrot, and fibres of pintail.

Body: Seal’s fur (well picked out), in six intermediate shades from light yellow to fiery brown inclusive, the colour shading into each other and deepening towards the head of the fly.

Ribbed: Broad flat tinsel and gold cord.

Hackle: Black heron’s of long fibre from a third of the way down the body, teal at the shoulder, with a broad strip of pintail on back of hook, below, and to show between wings. Cheeks: Jungle with two spots.

Wings: Two broad slips of dark brown turkey with large black bars and white tips, one at each side, extending from back of fly outward at angle from 20 degrees to 25 degrees.

Head: varnished.

Walbran quotes Murdoch “The Dunt kills on any river. It is the best all-round fly I ever invented.”

One of Mr. Murdoch’s Dee Patterns.

A prize winning modern Dunt by Timo Kontio

Kelson – The Salmon Fly, 1885

Tag: Silver twist and light blue silk.

Tail: A topping and teal.

Body: Yellow, orange, red-claret seal’s fur, in equal sections.

Ribs: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: Black heron, from claret fur.

Throat: Teal.

Wings: Two strips of plain brown turkey with black bars and white tips.

Sides: Jungle, short and drooping over throat hackle.

In spring of 1893 this pattern accounted from seven Salmon out of the nine caught in the Birnam water on the Tay.

Mr Murdoch writes: - “There is not a better all-round fly of the plain sort than the Dunt put upon the Dee in Spring or Autumn.” Kelson attributes the pattern to William Murdoch.

Kelson – Land & Water Cards c.1902

The ready and practical pen of Mr. W. Murdoch, to whom the angling public is indebted for this admirable Deeside pattern, has been familiar to one and all of us for many long years. Of all the fly inventions by this gentleman I willingly endorse the general opinion that the Dunt takes precedence. I have myself been lucky with it on other waters than the Dee, notably on the Spey, where, however, I shorten the wings a little so as to meet the exigencies of local characteristics:-

Tag: Silver twist and light blue silk.

Tail: A topping and teal.

Body: Yellow, orange, red-claret seal’s fur in equal sections.

Ribs: Silver lace, and silver tinsel (flat).

Hackle: Black heron from claret fur.

Throat: Teal.

Wings: Two strips of cinnamon turkey with black bars and white tips.

Sides: Jungle, short and dropping over throat hackle.

Vintage Dunts 9/0 down

Pryce-Tannatt - How to Dress Salmon Flies, 1914

Tag: Silver thread and light blue floss

Tail: A topping and a pair of jungle cock feathers (back to back).

Body: Yellow, orange and fiery brown seal’s fur in equal sections (dressed thin, but well picked out).

Ribs: Flat silver tinsel and twist.

Hackle: A black heron’s hackle from third turn of tinsel.

Throat: Teal.

Wings: A pair of brown turkey tail strips, with black bars and white tips (set flat). Cheeks: Jungle cock (drooping).

Hook: 1½ to 3 inches.

Hardy – Salmon Fishing, 1907

Tag: Silver tinsel and light blue floss.

Tail: A topping and teal.

Body: Yellow, orange, red-claret seal’s fur, in equal sections.

Ribs: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: Black heron.

Throat: Teal.

Wings: Two strips of plain brown turkey with black bars and white tips.

Sides: Jungle cock.

Head: Black

Durham Ranger

drcomp

A pair of vintage Durham Rangers

Kelson – Land & Water Cards c. 1885

The Durham Ranger was invented about twenty-one years ago by James Wright of Sprouston. The extent of resources in dealing with the conditions appertaining to bright and coloured water are to be equally applauded. For very clear water the composition is marked by high qualities - proportion, transparent brilliance, a power of attracting from a distance, the whole resting upon a basis of irreproachable technique.

For coloured water we have here a good pattern, although not nearly as effective as in clear water. The bars across the tippets and the black points of the body hackle show up wonderfully well, whilst “the blue-over-black” (a noted fly for dark water) is distinguishable at the throat and head end of the body. With all that it kills better in open than in shaded pools. It is dressed as follows:-

Tag: Silver twist and very dark yellow silk.

Tail: A topping and Indian crow.

Butt: Black herl.

Body: Two turns of dark orange silk, two turns dark red-orange seal’s fur; the rest, which is about half, black seal’s fur.

Ribbed: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: From orange seal’s fur a white coch-y-bonddu dyed orange.

Throat: Light blue hackle.

Wings: Four golden pheasant tippets overlapping, as illustrated, and enveloping two projecting jungle fowl feathers back to back and a topping.

Cheeks: Chatterer.

Horns: Blue macaw.

Head: Black Berlin wool.

Kelson – The Salmon Fly, 1885

Tag: Silver twist and yellow silk.

Tail: Topping and Indian crow.

Butt: Black herl.

Body: Two turns of orange silk, two turns of dark orange seal’s fur; the rest which is about half, of black seal’s fur.

Ribs: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: A white coch-a-bonddu dyed orange, running along the furs.

Throat: Light Blue hackle.

Wings: Four tippets over lapping (two on each side) and enveloping two projecting jungle (back to back), and a topping.

Cheeks: Chatterer.

Horns: Blue macaw.

Head: Black Berlin wool.

Rivers: - Tweed, Spey, Lochy, Tay, Don, Earn, etc., etc.

Pryce-Tannatt - How to Dress Salmon Flies, 1914

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: A topping and Indian crow.

Butt: Black herl.

Body: Lemon floss, orange, fiery brown, and black seal’s fur in equal sections.

Ribs: Flat silver tinsel and twist.

Hackle: A badger hackle dyed yellow.

Throat: A light blue hackle.

Wings: A pair of jungle cock feathers (back to back) covered for three quarters of their length by two pairs of tippets (back to back).

Sides: Jungle cock.

Cheeks: Blue chatterer; a topping over.

Horns: Blue and yellow macaw.

Hook: 1¼ to 2 inches.

Hardy – Salmon Fishing, 1907

Tag: Silver tinsel, yellow floss.

Tail: Topping and Indian crow.

Butt: Black herl.

Body: Two turns of orange floss, two turns of dark orange seal’s fur; the rest black seal’s fur.

Ribs: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: A white coch-a-bonddu dyed orange.

Throat: Light Blue hackle.

Wings: Four tippets over lapping (two on each side) and enveloping two projecting jungle (back to back), and a topping.

Cheeks: Chatterer.

Horns: Blue macaw.

Head: Black.

Dusty Miller

GHVintageDustyMiller

Vintage Dusty to early pattern (no orange on body) - but check out those GP crests! and here is the dressing that specifies how to tie it that way!

Maxwell – Fishing at Home and Abroad, 1913

"Tag: Silver wire.

Tail: A topping and Indian crow.

Butt: Black chenille.

Body: Two thirds embossed silver tinsel, one third gold floss.

Ribbed: Flat silver tinsel.

Hackle: Orange dyed hackle over the floss and gallina at shoulder.

Wing: Two slices of black turkey with white tip, fibres of bustard, argus pheasant and red, yellow and blue dyed swan over; two jungle-fowl feathers half the length of the wing, and two toppings tied in over all with the curve of the feather directed outwards and upward, instead of being set as usual to curve downwards.

The “Dusty Miller” has undergone a change in raiment since I made his acquaintance. The gold floss and orange hackle on the body are a modern innovation, and alter the grey, “dusty” appearance he used to present. However, he remains as good a killer as of old, and is reckoned specially so on the Tay when water and weather have warmed with advancing spring. Dressers are apt in this, and in many other flies, to put too many feathers in the wing. Should it be desired to lighten it before use, do not pull out the superfluous feathers, which is apt to loosen the whole tying, but snip them off neatly with curved scissors."

3dDustycomp

Another vintage Dusty Miller - showing the construction of the wings - very 3D !

Here is how the Dusty Miller was described

WM – 9^th Aug, 1884, “The Dee (Aberdeenshire) Grilse Flies (third article)”, Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver twist and yellow floss.

Tail: Small topping.

Butt: Black herl.

Body: Embossed silver tinsel.

Ribbed: Silver Flat worm.

Wings: Mixed white tipped turkey, pheasant’s tail, pintail, bustard, summer duck, blue, red, and yellow swan, topping all over.

Hackle: Guinea fowl, only at shoulder in small specimens.

Cheeks: Jungle fowl, small.

Head: Black.

Limericks, sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, double irons. In the smaller sizes, the silver flatworm and turkey to be omitted.

Than this fly, perhaps, no better specimen can be found wherewith to angle on the Dee on a clear day, especially if the water has a slightly brownish tinge. As a grilse lure, it is very deadly. It is equally suitable for Feugh and Dye [tributary streams of the river Dee].

WM describes this pattern as “an old Dee pattern”.

Eagle or “aigle”

The Eagle family is a favourite of many, here is a little bit about them.

From Francis Francis – A book on Angling, in the section "Mr. Browns patterns"

Some of the flies used [on the Dee], as the Eagle (local ‘aigle;’ and here I may say that the Aberdeenshire dialect is the worst and most non-understandable to a stranger of any in Scotland; for, though tolerably experienced, I never could understand half my gillies said when they were conversationally inclined during my visits there) - I say the ‘aigle’ is little more marvellous as a fly than the dialect is as a dialect, and if we might liken some flies to shrimps and prawns, and others to butterflies and dragon flies, the Eagle completely knocks all such possibilities on the head, as it is like nothing on, over, or under the earth.

The Eagle - There are two Eagles, the grey and the yellow. The yellow is simply the same feather as the grey, only died a bright canary yellow; indeed, I believe, in the evening, the ‘yellow aigle’ is the favourite, and is the more effective fly of the two.

The tail, body, &c., are precisely similar to those of the gled wing; a quantity of the down or fluffy part of the golden eagle’s feather - the part on and above the leg is, I fancy, the best - is then wound on like a hackle, till the fly looks like the but end of a largish eagle’s feather itself; on the shoulder is of course the invariable teal hackle; wings , two broadish strips of silver grey turkey; the large mottled or broad striped and banded feather being selected.

Brown Eagle

DrawBrownEagle

BobBrownEagle

Tied by Bob Fransden - using a vintage Eagle feather

William Murdoch - 3^rdApr, 1886, “Salmon and Trout Fishing in the Highlands of Scotland (XI),” Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver twist and light blue floss.

Tail: Green Parrot, summer duck, and fibres of tippet.

Butt: Black ostrich.

Body: Two turns light brown floss, remainder orange fur.

Ribbed: Gold tinsel (oval).

Hackle: Dark grey down of the golden eagle - from light brown floss.

Shoulder: Teal - sparingly.

Wings: Strips of dark brown turkey feather, with white tip extending flatwise outward from the top of the iron at an angle of 15 degrees.

Horns: Red macaw.

Head: Black wool.

The pattern of the excellent spring fly above described is dressed by Mr. Wm. Garden, fishing-tackle maker, 122½ Union Street, Aberdeen.

Grey Eagle

GreyEaglecomp

Tied by Colin Simpson

GHVintageGreyEagle2comp

Vintage - different wing material

GHVintageGreyEaglecomp

Vintage

WM - 23^rd Feb, 1884, “The Dee Aberdeenshire Flies (2^nd Article)”, Fishing Gazette.

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: Golden pheasant rump feather.

Body: Black mohair well picked out.

Ribbing: Broad silver tinsel.

Hackle: Grey eagle.

Shoulder: Teal.

Wing: Mottled turkey wing, brownish tinge.

Head: Black.

Tied by Timo Kontio to Murdoch's pattern from the Fishing Gazette Feb 1884

From Walbran's book British Angler 1889, One of Mr. Murdoch’s Dee patterns

Tag: silver thread.

Tail: Golden pheasant’s red rump feather.

Body: Two turns of yellow, three of turkey red, and four of light blue mohair, well picked out.

Ribbed: Broad flat tinsel and silver cord.

Hackle: Whitish grey eagle (dressed full) down from end of yellow to head, teal at shoulder.

Wings: Two broad slips of black and white mottled turkey with black bars and white tip, set outwards as in the Dunt.

Kelson – The Salmon Fly, 1885

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: Red breast feather of the golden pheasant.

Body: Yellow, light blue, and scarlet seal’s fur.

Ribs: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: Grey eagle, from blue fur.

Throat: Widgeon (teal for large patterns).

Wings: Two strips of brown mottled turkey, with black bars and white points.

A well-known dark water fly on the Dee. Kelson attributes the pattern to Jewhurst.

Pryce-Tannatt - How to Dress Salmon Flies, 1914

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: A topping and the tip of a golden pheasant’s breast feather.

Body: Light orange, deep orange, scarlet and pale blue seal’s fur in equal sections (dressed thin, but well picked out).

Ribs: Flat silver tinsel and twist.

Hackle: An eagle’s hackle (one side stripped) from third turn of tinsel.

Throat: Widgeon.

Wings: A pair of light, mottled grey turkey tail strips (set flat).

Hook: 2 to 3 inches.

Hardy – Salmon Fishing, 1907

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: Red breast feather of golden pheasant.

Body: Yellow, light blue and scarlet seal’s fur.

Ribs: Silver lace, silver tinsel.

Hackle: Grey eagle.

Throat: Widgeon.

Wings: Two strips of brown mottled turkey with white tips.

Red Eagle

eaglered

Vintage, from my collection - I'm calling this a Red Eagle, don't know if that is the correct name, the pattern taken from the fly is:

Tag: Silver wire

Tail: Golden pheasant rump.

Body: Red floss.

Rib: Silver embossed tinsel, broad.

Hackle: Red eagle and tippet in strands.

Wing: Red Swan and tippet.

Eagle, White

Tied by Bob Fransden

In a recently published book on salmon flies I have seen the Lady Mary described as the White Eagle - quite why I don't understand - anyway this is the correct dressing for the White Eagle.

WM – 23^rd Feb, 1884, “The Dee Aberdeenshire Flies (2^nd Article)”, Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: Golden pheasant rump feather.

Body: red and blue mohair in equal proportions – blue nearest head.

Ribbing: Silver tinsel, broad.

Hackle: White eagle down – a considerable quantity.

Shoulder: Teal.

Wings: Black and white turkey.

Head: black head.

Francis Francis By Lake and River an angler's rambles in northern England and Scotland - 1874

Tip: Two or three turns of broad silver tinsel
Tail: A red, gold-pheasant breast-feather
Body: one third dirty orange-yellow towards the tail, and the rest claret (inclining to purple) mohair;
Rib: broad silver tinsel.
Hackle: From head to tail is wound what is termed an eagle’s hackle, but it is the fluffy part of a golden eagle’s feather just over the leg. In fact, upon a cursory inspection the fly looks like the stump of some feather.
Shoulder: Decorated with the invariable teal’s hackle, without which seems no Dee fly would be perfect.
Wings: Slips of the silver grey barred turkey, with black tips.

A very monstrous-looking production is the result. Nevertheless, it kills well towards evening; and if dressed small, and with less of the eagle on it, it will kill well by day.

Yellow Eagle

GHVintageYellowEagleSilverBodycomp

Vintage Yellow Eagle - Silver Body

eaglecomp

Vintage

3eagles

3 vintage Eagles - complete with the quill protectors that they were sold with to stop them tangling up in the fly box

Chriseagle

Yellow Eagle tied by Aberdeenshire Chris Western - photograph does not do it justice!

A Yellow Eagle found in an old wallet that Mr Moth had paid a visit to

This is after it visited Dr Bobs Surgery in Australia ! Note that the body is yellow and blue - yet another pattern variation to find

By Lake and River, an anglers rambles in the north of England and Scotland, by Francis Francis - 1874

Tip: Two or three turns of broad silver tinsel
Tail: A red, gold-pheasant breast-feather
Body: one third dirty orange-yellow towards the tail, and the rest claret (inclining to purple) mohair;
Rib: broad silver tinsel.
Hackle: From head to tail is wound what is termed an eagle’s hackle dyed lemon yellow.
Shoulder: Decorated with the invariable teal’s hackle, without which seems no Dee fly would be perfect.
Wings: Slips of the silver grey barred turkey, with black tips.

I have heard many theories as to what the salmon mistakes the usual run of flies for; but for what he can possible mistake a “yaller aigle” (as it is called in those parts) passes my comprehensions utterly. There is nothing like it that I ever saw either in earth, air, or water. These flies are used large in spring and high water, and smaller when the water fines down.

WM – 23^rd Feb, 1884, “The Dee Aberdeenshire Flies (2^nd Article)”, Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: golden pheasant rump feather.

Body: Two turns blue mohair, and two turns claret mohair.

Ribbed: Silver tinsel and gold twist.

Hackle: A full deep yellow eagle hackle well down body.

Shoulder: Teal.

Wing: Turkey, black and white distinct bars.

Head: Black.

William Murdoch – 30^th Jan, 1886, “Salmon and Trout Fishing in the Highlands of Scotland IV,” Fishing Gazette.

Tag: Silver thread.

Tail: Sprigs of tippet, or the red rump feather of the golden pheasant.

Body: Scarlet seal’s fur, or yellow and scarlet seal’s fur in equal joints.

Ribbed: Silver tinsel and silver cord in good bold spirals.

Hackle: From third way down the body, down of the golden eagle dyed a pronounced yellow. The longer and fluffier the fibres are so much the better. Hackle sparse for some rivers, medium for others, but pretty full for most.

Wings: Silver spreckled strips of turkey, with black bar and white tip extending flatwise outward at an angle of from 15 to 20 degrees from the top of the iron.

Head: Varnished

Dressed on Limericks from 1/0 up to 10/0

Pattern from Mr. John Alexander Dunbar, The esplanade, Oban, Argyllshire, gun and fishing tackle maker.

I think these may be examples of the above version from Mr Dunbar - the body is all scarlet

Kelson – The Salmon Fly, 1885

Tag: Silver twist.

Tail: Red breast feather if the golden pheasant.

Body: Yellow, scarlet, and light blue seal’s fur.

Ribs: Silver lace and silver tinsel.

Hackle: Eagle dyed yellow, from scarlet fur.

Throat: Widgeon (teal, large patterns).

Wings: Two strips of grey mottled turkey having black bars and white points.

A well-known dark water fly on the Dee.

Pryce-Tannatt - How to Dress Salmon Flies, 1914

Tag: Silver tinsel.

Tail: A topping and the tip of a golden pheasant’s breast feather (best side under).

Body: Lemon, bright orange, scarlet and fiery brown seal’s fur in equal sections (dressed spare, but well picked out).

Ribs: Broad silver tinsel and twist.

Hackle: An eagle’s hackle (one side stripped) dyed yellow.

Throat: Widgeon.

Wings: A pair of light, mottled grey turkey tail strips (set flat).

Hook: 2 to 3 inches.

Eagle, Yellow – Halladale Pattern

BFHalladaleEaglea

Tied by Bob Frandsen

William Murdoch - 27^th Feb, 1886, “Salmon and Trout Fishing in the highlands of Scotland (VIII),” Fishing Gazette

Tag: Silver twist with yellow floss.

Tail: A topping, widgeon, and green and red parrot.

Butt: Black ostrich

Body: Three-fifths light yellow and two-fifths red orange fur, all well picked out.

Ribbed: Double oval tinsel (silver).

Hackle: Down of the Golden Eagle dyed a bright yellow – from red orange fur.

Throat: Guinea Fowl.

Wing: Two tippets extending to tag; red and yellow swan and pheasant’s tail; jungle on either side – full length of wing; gold colour mohair on top, and topping over all.

Cheeks: Jungle.

Head: Black wool, or varnished.

The Yellow Eagle is a fly widely and favourably known, as almost wherever it has been tried it has proved to be a “killer.” Cast on a discoloured or high running it is very effective on the best rivers in the far north, as also on the Spey, the Don, and the Aberdeenshire Dee. Pattern of the Halladale Eagle (above described) received from Mr. John Alexander Dunbar, gun and fishing tackle manufacturer, Oban, N.B.

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