Peacock quill

[Premerger]

I have been playing around with quill bodied flies recently and came up with these.


Woodcock and quill.

Again, with a slight variation



Robert Smith tells me that peacock quill isn't part of the North Country tradition as far as he knows.
I am wondering, when and where did it become popular in tying trout flies?

[tie2fish]

As I have noted elsewhere, these are simply excellent ties, Tim. Re: stripped peacock herl being used as quill, my first exposure to it was on Catskill dries, but then I am historically challenged.

[letumgo]

Ooo! I love those! Nice and buggy fishing flies. (Sincere compliment)

Can you give us the recipe? I'd like to know what hook model and size you used, along with the dubbing material. Did you wrap the quill over a dubbed underbody?

[Smuggler]

That's a great tie. I've toyed around with this same set up many times but never really put the flies through testing. Thanks for sharing these Tim.

You bring up a good point about the origins of peacock quill being imparted into NC flies. I don't have an answer for you sadly. It could be a Scottish thing, Clyde River Valley.

[Jerry G]

I would have to believe these softies would fish very well. I have been using the stripped peacock body for a few years now with mallard or starling quill wing and dun hen hackle for a sparse collar and tail to suggest some of the smaller mayfly. This I tie with the wing split and slated back at perhaps a forty five degree angle. A touch of floatant allows the fly to be fished dry. A down stream dead drift in broken water eventually sinks the fly at which time I give a few twitches and continue a down stream drift. Now I need to get busy and incorporate some wingless ties into the mix as well.

Regards, Jerry

[Premerger]

As I have noted elsewhere, these are simply excellent ties, Tim. Re: stripped peacock herl being used as quill, my first exposure to it was on Catskill dries, but then I am historically challenged.

Am sure you have a very good grasp of tying history Bill.
I'm hoping that John Shaner may be able to help.

[Premerger]

Ooo! I love those! Nice and buggy fishing flies. (Sincere compliment)

Can you give us the recipe? I'd like to know what hook model and size you used, along with the dubbing material. Did you wrap the quill over a dubbed underbody?

Ray, I've been working with a few similar patterns this season, to get here.
The pattern has proven itself well on local brown trout.

Hook is Kamasan B130.
The woodcock hackle is tied in tip first, to begin the tie.
Super glue is applied to the shank with a toothpick to make sure it is a very small amount.
Peacock eyes were prepared some time ago using the bleach method.
The herl is tied in butt first, around the bend. An idea I got from Davie McPhail.
The thorax is washed hare's mask, tied in a split thread.
Finally the head is whip finished with the smallest hare dubbing noodle.
Thanks to Paul Slaney for that tip.

[Premerger]

I would have to believe these softies would fish very well. I have been using the stripped peacock body for a few years now with mallard or starling quill wing and dun hen hackle for a sparse collar and tail to suggest some of the smaller mayfly. This I tie with the wing split and slated back at perhaps a forty five degree angle. A touch of floatant allows the fly to be fished dry. A down stream dead drift in broken water eventually sinks the fly at which time I give a few twitches and continue a down stream drift. Now I need to get busy and incorporate some wingless ties into the mix as well.

Regards, Jerry

You've whet my appetite there.
Any chance of posting photos of your flies?

[Mataura mayfly]

That is a sweet looking pattern for most all NZ trout conditions.
Bit of work involved in what at first glance seems a simple pattern. Super glue is a good idea with quill bodies- otherwise they tend to last but one fish per fly. Split thread probably gives a finer thorax with less bulk and more fibres at right angles to the shank than noodle dubbing and the dubbing head all lead to a very nice looking end product.
Have been looking at the B130's for some time, this might just have twisted my arm far enough.

[letumgo]

Thanks Tim. Nice description of the recipe. Very thoughtful construction and beautifully done.