The Grey Duster is one of the great stiff hackle flies that is so good it made author/angler Courtney Williams almost a "one pattern" angler!
Williams refers to it as a "dry fly" and he came across it while fishing a tributary of the Dee in Wales. The many internet sources credit the pattern as being Welsh and old - but I cannot confirm that. It is a pattern that shares much with so many UK patterns that whether termed wet or dry are rooster hackled flies.
Most agree that the tail-less version rides butt down and so mimics emergers, but also failed emergers, casualties, spinners, etc. The body in the film is the trigger. Two key variations on the pattern are two different approaches to ensuring the butt rides in the film. Those I will tie and they are:
Wired Butt Grey Duster - Peter Hayes and Don Stazicker
Same as the original but 6-8 wraps of wire at the butt.
Dirty Duster - Bob Wyatt
Curved or grub hook shape and then the hackle is clipped on the bottom to ensure the fly rides hackle up and curved body in the film.
Enjoy!
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