Midnight Soft Hackle

[Roadkill]

Hook-Wholesale Fly Company Model 28 #16
Thread-UTC 70 Black
Body-Black Burch & Company Fur Dubbing from the 1950's blended with Starfire Trilobal Nylon
Bead- #15 Silver Lined Clear Glass
Hackle-Starling

RIMG2450 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

[Ron Eagle Elk]

That's really nice. I'm gonna steal this one for sure.

[letumgo]

No doubt a lethal pattern.

Can you tell us any more about the 1950 dubbing? Sound interesting.

[Roadkill]

"Can you tell us any more about the 1950 dubbing? Sound interesting."

Ray,

In August 1959 I was given a fly tying kit for my birthday. I had attempted to tie some flies on my own after getting my first fly rod 2 years earlier.

It was very similar to this vintage kit...
RIMG2455 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

and even included the same stamped out vise!

This complete kit shows the clear envelopes that the materials came packaged in and that deteriorated with sunlight and age.

My kit included the Burch Fur nondescript dubbing that I blended with Trilobal Nylon...
RIMG2458 by William Lovelace, on Flickr
the label that closed the dubbing package is at the top.

About December '59, I had 2 fly tying lessons from a fly fisherman who worked with my dad. I had flyfished with Henry and his brother Lester a few times after getting my rod. My first lesson was tying a simple fuzzy nymph in various fur colors and with different tinsels. The lesson concluded with trimming furs off the hide, blending them in water in a coffee can with a drop of dish soap, and pouring them out to dry on a screen. I was sent home with a good supply of fur scraps as well. That is why I have this old dubbing.

My next lesson was hackling a wet or dry fly and I was given a better vise by Henry.

In the '90s I built a dubbing dryer to sit on top of our heating boiler in the winter to simplify making my dubbing felts...
IMGP0022 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

It makes a nice quart sized Ziplock dubbing container to fit into my dubbing fur supply...
RIMG2460 by William Lovelace, on Flickr


Well over a decade ago I was given the NOLL Fly Tying kit by a retired doctor friend of mine, who I had known since I was about 5 years old. He taught me a thing or two about flyfishing and also gave me a plentiful supply of fur pieces later when he quit tying.

To bring this full circle, the Dr. was the person who taught Henry how to tie his own flies.

[Rscconrad]

That’s crazy and why I love this site. Too cool. I can only go back to the 80’s with my materials although some are already considered classics.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Bill, Great bit of history info. Gotta say though, that dryer for the fur felts is ingenious and a fine bit of wood working as well.

[Roadkill]

Ron,
I think you would enjoy some dubbing holders I made for Expo Tying as well. Any other dubbing fanatic like me should make some.
IMGP0383 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

[Roadkill]

Here is a Flymph version of the Midnight tied on a Dai Riki #070 Size 14 with Emperor Kimono Silk and a Starling tail.

RIMG2468 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

[DOUGSDEN]

Bill,
That is one delicious looking soft-hackle! That deep red (wine colored?) thread used as the body base is tempting to most of the fish in my area and much appreciated by me! Any pattern with starling intertwined holds a place of high honer with me! Your tying is spot on Bill! I appreciate that too!
Doug

[Mike62]

Here is a Flymph version of the Midnight tied on a Dai Riki #070 Size 14 with Emperor Kimono Silk and a Starling tail.

RIMG2468 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

Oh, yeah. I'm loving this fly. Nicely done!