F l y F i s h i n g T r i c k s . c o m

Fly Fishing Flies

SOMETHING ABOUT FRAUDULENT FEATHERS EVOLUTION

THE early history of trout flies has been touched upon in another chapter. Possibly the first fly used for bass fishing was the "bob" mentioned in a previous chapter - if you call that a fly. The flies used by the early Kentucky bass fishermen were either large trout flies or bass flies of their own tying. It is a curious fact that of all the favorite bass

flies now in use, none of them trace their lineage back to these first bass fly fishers - especially remarkable as they were men of unusual mechanical and artistic abilities and most expert and studious anglers. It is equally true that none of the bass flies recommended by the early American angling writers are now in favor. We have already described Dr. Bethune's pattern, and Frank Forrester in his " Fish and Fishing " gives the formulae for several patterns none of which are now used. Many of our most successful bass patterns are merely trout flies somewhat enlarged.

HOOKS

The principal part of any fly is the hook. I do not intend to go into a lengthy discussion on angles of draft or other technicalities of fish hooks as good flies nowadays are always tied on suitable hooks and fly fishers should use nothing but good flies as their quarry is a hard fighter and his mouth is exceedingly tough, requiring a sharp point to hook him and an honestly made hook to hold him. My preference is for the round bend hooks like the O'Shaughnessey or Sproat in the larger sizes and the Model Perfect, Limerick or Sproat in the smaller ones although if the hook is of good quality I will not reject a well-tied fly if on a hook with a side bend like the Sneck - and I don't believe a fish would either.

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