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Highlander

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:23 pm
by Smuggler
When Ray decided on the historic swap a little while ago, I knew I wanted to do a Clyde style fly. Ray didn't mind despite the wing :P .
I didn't know which pattern to choose from and as some of you know, the Clyde and it's style of dressings doesn't have too many publications. Browsing through what books I have I found some pattern's that caught my eye, Murray Bluebottle, Cran Swallow, the Buss Brown.

After doing a bit of digging to get a bit of a background on these, I came across Alan Goodwin's little nook in the internet (and I'm glad I did). If you haven't been to his site www.thehighlanderway.com please do so, it's full of goodies. Anyhow, I wanted to know more about the Clyde, the area mainly. Through emails, Alan gave me the scoop on a lot of things "Clyde". We exchanged photos to be better acquainted and Alan wanted to send me a sample of flies so I could get a good look at proportions, materials etc. This was on Apr. 24th, a week passed with no package, Alan emailed me to see if I had received it and was disappointed that I hadn't. We assumed that it was lost to customs, or somewhere in the postal limbo. :(

Yesterday I got a small little package in the mail and it was addressed from Scotland. I couldn't believe it, I knew what it was right away without looking who it was addressed from! This is what was inside: Image
A handful of small Clyde style flies and some slightly larger patterns for loch fishing. All are gorgeous but there were a couple that stuck out to me.Image Image Image Image Image

What a lovely gesture, I told him I may have to get that Cran Swallow a bit wet :D. I probably won't though, these I'll keep a hold of!
Alan is a complete gentleman, he didn't have to do that at all.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:52 pm
by letumgo
Beautiful flies Eric. You should think about getting them framed. It would make a lovely display near your tying desk.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:44 pm
by Smuggler
Probably not a bad idea Ray, I think I'll do that.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:56 am
by Premerger
Very nice!
If they mistakenly got to my mailbox, you'd have struggled to get them back :mrgreen:
It's excellent that they have arrived in the right place and I'm looking forward to tying up my own Blae and Harelug.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:52 pm
by gingerdun
Thanks for reaching out to Mr Goodwin, and for sharing his flies with us. Definitely a kindred spirit, wings or no wings.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:13 am
by Ron Eagle Elk
Alan is, indeed, a kindred spirit and dresser of beautiful highland flies.

If there is an interest in Clyde style flies I can suggest Clyde Style Flies and their dressings by John Reid as an excellent reference work.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:45 am
by Smuggler
Thanks Ron. I have a copy and it's a great read.

Re: Highlander

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 2:20 pm
by Kelly L.
Wow those flies are sweet. Definitely frame worthy! Congrats, you have a lovely collection there.