Montreal Variation

[tie2fish]

While looking around for something to vary my tying routine, I came across a classic winged wet fly called "Montreal" (or "Dark Montreal") that struck my fancy. I dug around in my materials stash looking for all of the components, but was not able to find any of the magenta (or claret) schlappen feathers historically used for the beard. Tied a couple using some claret marabou, but it didn't have the clean look that I like on classic wets. Then, while searching again for the proper hackle, I found some dyed-red guinea hen dyed that I picked up on a whim someplace and decided to give it a shot. Here's the result ...

Montreal Variation.jpg (86.49 KiB) Viewed 7649 times

[Johnno]

Excellent!!!

[UC Steve]

Bill, the guinea hackle may be an improvement. Looks great. This was a popular pattern in northern New England when I was a kid, & I understand it is still a standard bait in Quebec & the Maritimes, where you often see it hackled Atantic salmon style, in-the-round, in front of the wing -- & the guinea, I think, would look killer that way as well.

[Ruard]

Hi Bill,

Very nice fly and a very nice tie.

Like it,

greeting

Ruard

[Ruard]

Hi Bill,

Very nice fly and a very nice tie.

Like it,

greeting

Ruard

Hi Bill,

You like the color of the saddle?

See the picture.




greeting

Ruard

[tie2fish]

Thanks guys. That's a nice looking saddle, Ruard, with colors that could make some very interesting hackles.

[tjd]

Hi Bill,

That's a nice looking Montreal! Very clean tie, as always.

I like the pattern, and I tie them big for night fishing. I usually use claret seal for the bodies, on size 4 and 6 hooks.

Best,

Tim

[letumgo]

Have you shown this to Don Bastion? He would flip over this fly. Nice clean lines, especially on the body. So nice!

[Smuggler]

Great brookie pattern! Fantastic Bill. I've always wanted to hike into the Adirondacks with a box full of these for pond brookies.

[redietz]

The guinea hen looks great on it.