Sunday, February 28, 2016

Will the REAL Glenlivet please stand up?!

I apologize.  I totally screwed up in my blog post Dyeing Mohair and Tying the Glenlivet Salmon Fly.  I misinterpreted/misunderstood Bob Warren's comments to me about the fly prior to writing that post and want to set the record straight.  Here are the facts and the real Glenlivet (not my best tie; problems with trembling hands):  Bob designed the fly for his wife, Linda, soon after she took up salmon fishing.  She was doing well with his Cutty Sark, but he felt she should have her own fly, named, like the Cutty is after his favorite scotch, the Glenlivet, her favorite scotch.  The real Glenlivet:


Tag:       Oval Copper Tinsel
Butt:      Chartreuse Gordon Griffiths floss
Tail:      Red Golden Pheasant Breast feather
Body:    Mohair dyed emerald green
Rib:       Oval Copper tinsel
Throat:  Black hen
Wing:    Wood duck flank feather (tented)
Head:     Red

A bottle of Glenlivet bears a striking resemblance, eh?
 So what of the fly in the last post?


Well, we know its not a Glenlivet.  I described it to Bob over the phone and all he could figure was that it is some simplified Balmoral that he was experimenting with.  The body would certainly lead one to think so.  It's such a pretty fly that I tied a batch of them before my hands went south (saw neurologist the other day; it's Essential Tremor.  He gave me a drug for it. Hope it works)

Anyway, just wanted to set the record straight.  The history of flies is murky enough without me muddying things up further.  Now, I better go and re-work that other blog post.

Cheers,
Gary

11 comments:

  1. "Essential Tremor"? I got mine from Glenlivet. Hey, maybe a good name for a fly?

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    1. LOL, any Essential Tremor (thank you, great name for a fly, Wally) I tie would have to be on a 6/0 hook at the moment!

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  2. Is there also a Famous Grouse? If not, there ought to be...

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    1. Great question! I did create a famous grouse fly and blogged about it here: http://theriverscourse.blogspot.com/2011/11/famous-grouse-fly.html
      But you've inspired me to work up something a little more "salmon!" Thank you for that!!! It's my favorite of the blended scotches!

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  3. Nice fly. I like flies with green body. Sometime they are very effective

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  4. Thanks, Rafal, glad you like it. Fulsher and Krom in their book about hairwings called the Miramichi (where I fish) a green river, referring to color in flies. I find, for the most part, to be true. I really like the emerald green in the mohair I dyed.

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  5. what about an Oban that could be enjoyed by everyone?

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    Replies
    1. OH, my favorite single malt. Great idea! I'm on it!

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  6. Well then, you must have a Balvenie, not to mention a Macallan.:-)

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    Replies
    1. Eric, we could really have something going here, fly-wise!
      P.S. somehow you double posted, I deleted the second one thinking the whole thing would go away, but it looks like your name remains.

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    2. Serves me right. Size 12 hands on a size 5 phone keyboard.

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