More Rube Cross

[Updtate]

Another Rube Cross tied fly the Bi -visible that shows his talent. Notice that this fly is correctly tied with no head. Tied front to back and whip finished at the bend. More difficult to tie this way but it is correct in its dressing. I judge this fly to be about 90 to 100 years old! Rube is considered by many to be the father of Catskill style fly tying . This style is incorrectly portrayed by many on social media today!
Tom.

original_ea4115bc-f602-4d9e-9b7d-905a6454c5b3_P_20221013_165506.jpg (321.48 KiB) Viewed 4274 times

[letumgo]

What size hook do you think this is tyed on? I am trying to get a sense of the size of the fly. Is this around a size 12? It looks bigger, but that may just be my perception.

Thank you for sharing a bit of history.

[FlyFisherMann1955]

Tom,

Any ideas on why he didn't just tie this fly from back-to-front (tail, brown hackle, white hackle, head)? What are the advantages of what seems like a more difficult approach and ending with a whip finish at the rear?

Thanks- Ken

[Updtate]

The fly is tied on what appears to me to be a Allcocks Model Perfect size 12.
When Hewitt came out with the Bi visible he tied them this way and with tails. Some times the tail was Hackle tips. My own opinion is that a head on a fly a useless waste of space other than binding down materials .Also, if one tied up to the hook eye and then has to deal with a down eyed bend the head becomes huge. This is one reason you see the gap at the eye of the hook . Prevelant thinking is that it was there for a turle knot. But I totally disagree with this as you do not see this gap on period wet flies! It is there for other reasons.

Tom

[Variant]

Great example of a classic Catskill fly pattern !
I was told by my uncle that the gap behind the eye on a Catskill dry fly was for balance on the water when tied to the the leader.

Lou

[Updtate]

Lou you are 100% correct!
Tom

[wsbailey]

Article about Reuben Cross:

http://www.amff.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... No1web.pdf

[dj1212]

Beautiful fly! Thanks for posting. And to think it was tied in reverse. One of the first books I read on fly tying was a Rube Cross book.

Doug J.

[letumgo]

Thanks for the article link Bill. I will download this to my iPad.