Parachute TMG

This is the parachute version of the TMG (Teal Macaw & Ginger)

Harry G. McClelland

This book is probably the most unusual book I own. And it’s not just the minute size of the book. 

Under the pseudonym 'Athenian' Harry G. McClelland, basically a teenager, wrote many articles on fly tying in the Fishing Gazette. After passing at just 21 years of age, his articles were bundled in this book with the very unusual title 'The Trout Fly Dresser's Cabinet of Sevices or How to Tie Flies for Trout and Grayling fishing'.

This book (first published in 1898!) was highly regarded by Theodore Gordon, Dettes and Harry Darbee. It's quite remarkable how much knowledge he had on fly tying. Many ideas, which got common many years later, that was considered new back then was already covered by McClelland: using stripped quill for segmented bodies, using rooster hackle for wrapping hackle and various wings. 

Art Flick who is credited with the Red Quill using a stripped Rhode Island rooster hackle feather, but Harry already wrote (page 38):

“Another kind of quill is that obtained by stripping a long hackle or saddle feather

of its plume on either side. It makes a very natural looking body, which, so to speak, tapers

itself automatically in the forming; the quill used being tapered, and so the joints of the body

becoming wider and thicker as the winding proceeds from tail to shoulder. A friend, to

whom my first acquaintance with this material was due, makes a very beautiful red spinner

of the shaft of the saddle feather of a dark red game cock.”

Due to the age of the book it seems to be free of copyright. This book can be downloaded here.

Betsy Cross

Betsy Cross, named as one of the ‘effective patterns’ by Reuben Cross in his book.

Making of the Dette fly frame (III)

Getting my Catskill dry flies tied by the Dette's framed is finally done!

André did a fabulous job. Thanks André!

Part I of the story

Part II of the story

Colors

Loving the colors of this March Brown!

Nordic Fly Fair 2022

Four years have past since my last visit to the Nordic Fly Fair. The whole pandemic seems to have played tricks with time. A while ago, bamboo rod maker Marc Aroner wrote these striking words in one of his newsletter: “It's amazing that we're almost to August. I'm not quite sure how living under quarantine can make the time go by fast and slow simultaneously, but it has.”

For many years the venue of the Nordic Fly Fair has been the wonderful Norwegian Forestry museum in Elverum. Just like in 2018, before the show started I took a look in the museum again. It's great to have the whole museum for yourself! 😀

The list of invited tiers again consist of tiers from Scandinavia, and me being the only non-Scandinavian tier. During the two days we were taken care of as well as one might hope with nice lunches and dinner (moose BBQ!) after the first day.

It was so nice to see my Scandinavian friends again and meet new friends. This time, the new cats at Roger's home and my cat allergie, I decided to stay at a cabin along the banks of the river Glomma at the local camp ground practically next to the museum with three other tiers. Waking up with the sun rising above the Glomma is priceless...

Here are a few impressions of the Nordic Fly Fair 2022 this past weekend.

Thanks all, it was amazing. Hope to be back in the near future again.

After the show I stayed a night at Roger's house because my flight back home was on monday afternoon. After a nice dinner we did some lawn casting with several vintage rods at the back yard. What a nice way to end a wonderful weekend!

Off to Norway

I'm away this weekend to attend the Nordic Fly Fair in Elverum, Norway. I was there back in 2018. Due to the pandemic it was cancelled the past two years. I'm glad it's back. The Nordic Fly Fair is a great fly fishing show with a very 'homey atmosphere'. I'll report back when I'm back.