Activities Meeting – Ken Harfoot Featured Tyer

Casting is available in the Fly Fishing Training & Education Center (otherwise known as the gym).

Tying With Ken Harfoot

I am taking a step back in time for the March 1st tying session. I was inspired by an article in the Flyfisher magazine 2012 publication. The authors Terry and Roxanne Wilson pulled four patterns from the “Book of the Black Bass,” (1881) by Dr. James A. Henshall. The most iconic figure in the uniquely American sport of bass fishing is Dr. James A. Henshall. A physician and author of the “Book of the Black Bass” (1881) and other works, the good doctor abandoned his medical practice at the age of 49 to pursue his passion for the piscato-rial sciences.

Here are the patterns we will tie as time permits.

Henshall
Wing: light drab (dove)
Hackle: white
Body: peacock herl, gold tip
Tail: peacock sword

Polka
Wing: guinea
Hackle: scarlet
Body: scarlet floss, gold rib
Tail: brown and white fibers (goose wing)

Oconomowor
Wing: cinnamon woodcock
Hackle: white
Body: cream floss, gold rib
Tail: brown deer tail

Oriole
Wing: yellow goose
Hackle: black
Body: black floss, gold rib and tip
Tail: black and white

I was drawn to the poetic writings from a time all but forgotten. This was the closing epilogue:

But there are flies, and enough, to suit those of every taste, even should the angler be so fastidious and dainty as
“Ye Sunberry Fisher,” as described by Punch:
“Ye Sunberry fisher has flies of all feathers,
For all sorts of seasons, in all sorts of weathers.
Flies when ye Springtide is blustrie and showerie,
Flies when ye Summer is grassie and bowerie,
Flies when ye Autumn is golden and grainie,
For hot weather, cold weather, mistie, or rainie.
Red-spinner, palmer, black peacock and gray,
Yellow dun, golden dun, March brown, and May,
Sand-fly and stone-fly, and alder and gnat,
Black midge and marlow bug-all round his hat.”

For a printable copy of this visit the MFFC fly tying pattern library.

For a copy of the original book in all it’s glory, click here.