Classic Bass and Lake Flies

A tribute to Mary Orvis Marbury

By Joseph D. Cornwall

More than a century ago, one hundred fourteen years at the time of this writing, Mary Orvis Marbury, daughter of Charles F. Orvis, published the book Favorite Flies and Their Histories. She undertook the formidable task of compiling and editing this book as a labor of love. In her own words; "To create history one should be a great general, an inventor, or an explorer, but to those of us who are not so fortunate as to be creators is permitted the more humble mission of recording what is accomplished by others." Marbury wrote to the most prominent anglers across the country, and collected more than two hundred responses detailing the flies and fishing techniques, then in use, in more than thirty-eight states.

The flies Mary documented were, invariably, ornate wet flies. They were, and are, the legacy of centuries of British salmon fly design spiced by the natural resources and original thinking available to their American interpreters. Unencumbered by the "coarse fish" versus "sport fish" British caste system, Yankee anglers adapted patterns and materials for maximum attraction to native North American sport fish such as black bass, crappie, walleye and white bass. Fished 'on the swing' in casts of two, three or more flies, these patterns accounted for generations of sport. They are as effective today as they were in the time of their creation.

Members of the Streamers@ list began discussing these beautiful flies well over a year ago. Through fits and starts this feature swap began to take shape. Deryn LaCombe graciously supplied the participants with original blind-eye model 3371 Mustad Sproat hooks in size 2, so all the patterns would have similar size and proportions. This allowed the natural beauty of the fly designs to shine through, unaffected by the vagaries of lighting and framing necessary with varying size.

The focus of the project was determined to be flies primarily created for that most American of game fishes, the black bass. Even more specifically, the group of tiers tried to select patterns created for use in the Midwest and East. The decision to snell or snood a particular fly was left to the individual tier. The results are the flies depicted here. The explosion of color and form delivered by even this small collection is almost mind boggling.

There are over 300 patterns described in Favorite Flies and Their Histories. There are hundreds more detailed in the dozens-upon-dozens of texts from this, the "Age of Enlightenment" of North American angling. It is my sincere hope that this article will inspire you to explore, tie and fish these productive patterns, both in their original form and in the contemporary dress these classics will undoubtedly don.

Cracker Tied by Hugh Ruane
	Tip: Silver Butt: Yellow Floss Tail: Blue and Yellow Goose w/ Peacock Sword Over Body: Blue Mohair Rib: Gold Tinsel Wing: White Tipped Turkey underwing with strips of Red and Blue Goose w/ Peacock Sword over all Hackle: A collar of two turns of brown followed by two turns of scarlet.
This pattern was created by Dr. George Trowbridge in 1888. It is described by Marbury as "A fly with a record, and evolved by most careful study and experiment. It is intended for the coast and river fishes of Florida, and is named after the natives of that State, the "pore whites".
Cassard Tied by Hugh Ruane
	Tag: Silver Tail: Red over Green Goose, topped w/ Golden Pheasant Crest Butt: Black Ostrich Herl or Peacock Herl Body: Red Wool palmered with Yellow Hackle Wing: Barred Woodduck w/ Red and Yellow Goose Strips and short Golden Pheasant Tipper Hackle: Claret
This fly was designed in 1886 by Mr. William J. Cassard, an influential New York angler, collector, writer and photographer. It is tied as described in a 1982 Fly Tier magazine article by J. Edson Leonard.
Bemis Tied by Chris Del Plato
	Tag: Oval Gold Tinsel Tail: Bronze Mallard Body: Claret Floss, Tapered Rib: Flat Gold Tinsel Palmer: Purple Saddle, front half of body Wing: Light Mottled Turkey Hackle: Purple Hackle: Red
This fly was likely named for Bemis Stream, which runs along the base of Bemis Mountain, at the south end of Lake Mooselukmeguntic in Maine's Rangeley Lakes region.
Indian Rock Tied by Chris Del Plato
	Tag: Flat Silver Tinsel Tail: Scarlet Goose Body: Tapered. Rear half oval stilver tinsel. Front half Peacock Herl Palmer: Scarlet, front half of body Wing: Bronze Mallard over Scarlet Goose Hackle: Collar of Scarlet Hackle Head: Red
This fly was probably named for a famed spot at the confluence of the Rangeley and Kennebago Rivers, and known during the mid to late 1800's to be the haunts of Brook Trout reaching legendary size ( 5 to 8+ lbs.). The Oquossoc Angling Association, one of the nation's oldest private fishing clubs, was formed during this era across from Indian Rock.
Frank Gray Tied by Deryn Lacombe
	Thread: Black Tag: Blue Silk Floss Body: Orange Silk Floss Rib: Blue Silk Floss, Doubled and twisted Wing: Matched Gadwall Flank Feathers Hackle: Claret hen tied as collar
The Frank Gray is the creation of Mr. Frank Gray, described by C.L. Valentine in Marbury's book as "the oldest fly-fisherman of this locality, and the one most successful." Deryn commented about this fly; "One of the reasons I picked it was that it was listed as a good fly for wall-eyed pike in M.O.M.'s book. First walleye fly I've ever heard of!"
Greenwood Lake Tied by Stanley Jakubaszek
	Tail: Wood Duck, Scarlet, and Peacock Herl Body: Peacock Herl, front half, Yellow Floss rear half w/ Gold rib Wing: Wood Duck, Yellow, Red, and Green Splits, Peacock Herl Topping
This fly is named for Greenwood Lake, one of the finger lakes of New York.
Henshall Tied by Joseph D. Cornwall
	Tag: Flat Gold Tinsel Tail: Peacock Sword, Long Body: Peacock Herl Wing: "Light Drab (dove)" is what Henshall specified. Chuckar Partridge wing coverts are used in the fly shown Hackle: "White Hairs from a Deer's Tail" Head: Red
"The Henshall was also made and named by Dr. Henshall, who reckons it among his favorite four flies for black bass." Dr. James Henshall was a native of Baltimore who moved to Cincinnati, where he practiced medicine. Henshall was President of the Ohio Fish and Game Commission and a special agent of the U.S. Fish and Game Commission. The pattern is based on the recipe Henshall gives in his Book of the Black Bass.
La Belle Tied by D. M. Talley
	Tip: Red Tail: Red and White Body: Pearly Blue Rib: Silver Twist Wing: Pure White Hackle: Blue Head: Red Wool
"This fly was the first made by C.F. Orvis in 1879, and when tried was found to be excellent in some waters for black bass." La Belle was named, as may be guessed, after the image of a pretty girl. Henshall specified the dressing as described above.
Lake Edward Tied by Bob Petti
	Tail: Golden Pheasant Crest Rib: Silver Tinsel Body: Claret Seal Wing: Black Crow topped w/ strips of Blue and Yellow Goose Hackle: Claret
According to Mr. Walter Greaves: "I made this fly in July, 1888, when at Lake Edward (on the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway, where the trout fishing is first-class), and found that it generally proved the most taking fly I used whilst there."
Lord Baltimore Tied by Bob Petti
	Tip: Flat Gold Tinsel Tail: Black Goose Body: Orange Floss Rib: Black Floss Wing: Black Goose Cheek: Jungle Cock Hackle: Black
Invented by Professor Mayer for fishing in the lakes of Maine, where it was used for black bass. Professor Mayer was the author of the book of sketches titled "Sport with Rod and Gun".
Matador (Version 1) Tied by Al Grombacher
	Tag: Gold Tinsel and Scarlet Floss Butt: Peacock Herl Tail: Black under Yellow Married Goose with a strip of Scarlet Goose on each side Body: Gold or Tan Floss or Wool Wing: Barred Woodduck Hackle: Olive and Brown Head: Red
Al Grombacher tied these flies on reworked Partridge JA1 hooks in size 2. The Matador was designed by William J. Cassard and named by Charles Orvis. "Its gay, rich dress reminds one of the picturesque matador of the Spanish bullfights, who is also the triumphant killer."
Matador (Version 2) Tied by Al Grombacher
	Tag: Gold Tinsel and Scarlet Floss Tail: Black under Yellow Married Goose w/ a strip of Red Goose on each side Butt: Peacock Herl Body: Gold or Tan Floss or Wool Wing: Barred Woodduck Hackle: Olive and Brown Head: Peacock
Mather Tied by Al Grombacher
	Tag: Gold Tinsel and Scarlet Floss Tail: Peacock Sword Body: Black Ostrich with a waist of Pale Green Floss Wing: Brown Speckled Hen, Partridge, or Pheasant Hackle: Brown Speckled Hen, Partridge, or Pheasant Head: Read
The Mather was created by Charles Orvis and named by his friend and fishing companion, Mr. A. N. Cheney. The fly itself was named after Fred Mather, fishing editor of "The Forest and Stream" magazine.
Oconomowoc Tied by Joseph D. Cornwall
	Tail: Ginger (Hen Cape used) Body: Creamy Yellow Wing: Cinnamon Woodcock (Ruffed Grouse secondaries used) Hackle: White and Dun Deer's Tail Head: Red
Henshall lived for a time in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where he was the city's first mayor. He created this fly in 1872 and named it after the city and lake, upon who's shores the city was founded. The pattern is based on the recipe Henshall gives in his Book of the Black Bass. Although Henshall doesn't mention a ribbing in his book, the plate in Favorite Flies and Their Histories shows a rib that matches the tail coloring and a red head. The fly shown is tied in the manner Henshall specified, sans rib.
Ondawa Tied by Deryn Lacombe
	Thread: Red Tag: Oval Gold Tinsel Tail: Black Goose Body: Read 2/3 Pale Green floss, front 1/3 Orange Seal Rib: Oval Gold Tinsel Wing: Matched Ringneck Pheasant Body Feathers Hackle: Brown Hen Collar
According to Marbury; "The Ondawa is a bass fly, to which has been given an old Indian name belonging to a little river in a valley of the Green Mountains."
Oriole Tied by Elmer Meiler
	Tail: Mixed Black and White Body: Black Floss or Wool Rib: Gold Tinsel Hackle: Large and Black Wing: Bright Yellow
Henshall gives the pattern of this fly in his seminal Book of the Black Bass, written in 1881.
Polka Tied by Stanley Jakubaszek
	Tail: Cream under Brown Goose Body: Red Floss Rib: Gold Tinsel Hackle: Red Wing: Natural Guinea Fowl
The Polka is another of Dr. James Henshall's flies, one which was almost certainly created during his time in Cincinnati and used for the Kentucky Spotted bass and Smallmouth bass so common on the Ohio River during Henshall's day. It was first tied in 1870 and remains relatively popular today. Writing in his book More About Black Bass, Henshall says "Each angler will soon adopt a few flies for his own fishing, none of which I may have mentioned, but he will nevertheless continue to use them, and swear by them on all occasions; and this is one of the glorious privileges of the art of angling."
Silver Lady Tied by Rich Connors
	Tag: Oval Silver Tinsel and Scarlet Floss Tail: Peacock Sword Butt: White Ostrich Herl Body: Flat Silver Tinsel Wing: Light Gray Goose Breast Shoulder: Jungle Cock and Peacock Sword Hackle: Brown Head: White Ostrich Herl
The Silver Lady was created by Mr. M. O. Lownsdale of Portland, Oregon. The fly was designed for the Pacific coast steelhead fishery. Of this fly, Lownsdale wrote; "Our flies are constructed somewhat like bass flies, imitating no insect, but suggesting approximately the appearance of a nondescript moth. We have three varieties which have been found to be extremely satisfactory. No. 1 is the Silver Lady, tied with silver body, brown hackles, slate colored wings, and often silver streamers for tails."
Tipperlin Tied by Rich Connors
	Tag: Oval Silver Tinsel and Scarlet Floss Tail: Yellow, Scarlet, and Black Goose Butt: Peacock Herl Body: White Floss Rib: Fine Oval Silver Tinsel and Scarlet Floss Wing: Guinea Fowl Flank Hackle: Black Head: Red Wood
Mary Marbury created this fly at Orvis. It was named for a close friend of the Orvis family, Ms. Mattie Williamson, who "was often beside the fly-table, embroidery in hand or reading aloud." Ms. Williamson requested that Marbury "make a fly unlike anything you have made before, for I have a name I want to give it." The name she gave this fly was that of her childhood home in Scotland; Tipperlin.

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