Fly Tyer Gallery

Autumns on the Spey

Excerpts taken from the book AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY.

The following is a list of old Speyflies. To every fisherman on the river it will be sufficient to say that the descriptions are take from specimens tied by the accomplished artist, Shanks of Craigellachie, of whom Mr. Barney Maguire, if he had ever visited the Spey, might perhaps have sung:

There’s Mister Shanks too, upon the banks too.

Och that’s the fellow that can throw a loine

A clever boy too, he can tie a floy too,

For art and practice he does both combined

Old Spey Flies

N.B.-The dubbing or bodies- of all these flies is composed of Berlin wool.

The above dressing are copied from the book

Autumns on the Spey by A.E.Knox M.A, F.L,S.

Pages 67 and 68

Gold Speal

Is generally on a large hook. Body Black with two or three turns of very broad gold flat tinsel and with a single turn of fine silver beading between the bars of the tinsel. Red cock hackle, very soft, taken from the coverts of the bird. Wing mallard.

Silver Speal

Same as above, but the flat tinsel is silver and the beading between the bars of gold

Gold Reech

Body black with three bars of flat gold tinsel, between which are three rows of very fine gold beading. Tip of the tail sometimes finished with orange silk. Red cock hackle from the tail coverts- soft and fine – along the body of the fly. Shoulder hackle along the body of the fly instead of

Teal or guinea-fowl. Wing mallard.

Silver Reech

Same as above, except that silver tinsel and beading are used instead of gold, and gray cock hackle along the body of the fly instead of red cock hackle.

Gold-Green Reech

Body olive composed of a mixture of red, green, and purple fine Berlin wool. Red cock hackle from the neck. Tinsel and beading same as the gold reach. Shoulder hackle and wind ditto.

River Run Anglers 2004 - 2006