A Surprising Line-Up
Who The Heck Is A.J. McClane?
Among the many books penned by McClane, one, especially, stands out.
Arnold Gingrich, publisher and founding editor of Esquire magazine, called this one the,... "most comprehensive and useful single volume on all forms of freshwater fly fishing."
It is McClane's first book, "The Practical Fly Fisherman," first published in 1953.
In it, he covers topics ranging from the rod, to the leader, from the various flies to the many fishes one might catch. It truly is comprehensive.
The first letdown you will meet is that the book is not actually a tutorial work on tying flies.
Step-by-step tying instructions?
Glossy, full color, macro-foto's of each thread wrap?
Shopping lists of materials and tools?
Sorry, not there.
Like many writers of the period, McClane is fairly sparing of such details. There are almost no pictures, for example.
He covers a lot of ground, to be sure, but much about the flies is either left to ones imagination, or was assumed you already know about such things. It is the rare fly tyer that can use these old books, today, to actually tie good flies.
Second thing, a large part of the work is devoted to fishing stories.
These tales are factual accounts of where and when the flies were put to use, and they are a good read. They fill the mind with images of glorious fish, manly men in wool shirts, and the great, Great, GREAT OUTDOORS!
This came from a time when people read books for entertainment, and there were no TV channels... because there were no TV's.
So, if you're accustomed to being entertained by YouTube vids, this may challenge your attention span.
Last, but not least, many of McClanes flies will be unfamiliar to us.
There are no Game Changers, no Clousers, Buggers, or Puglisi flies.... the co-called 'bass fly's' that fill the pages of modern magazines and internet pages are conspicuously absent.
Plainly put, most of today's "must-have" bass flies weren't around when McClane wrote his book.
The Pay Off
That's how it goes when you first discover the traditional flies, as presented by the traditional people.
These things are starkly different, because, well, they are traditional.... and that usually means forgotten to current generations. So, if you study these older patterns, it sometimes requires you to put aside your expectations.
Is all this worth the trouble, when we have perfectly good modern patterns? In a word, yes.
If you take the information seriously, a reward eventually surfaces during this dive into the vintage and arcane.
The reward is this:
Your local bass probably haven't seen anything like these patterns.
Ever.
I. THE WET FLIES
The first flies discussed in McClanes's book are what we would call, “trout wet flies.”
McClane and others of the day were used to this type of fly; they had been around for many decades by 1953. It really was no stretch to put them to uses other than just trout fishing.
This fly originated in 1894 and is basically a wet fly version of the later, Mickey Finn. According to another famous man in American angling, Mr. George L. Herter, it was... “a good small mouth fly with a spinner ahead of it... a better than average steelhead fly, a poor trout fly, and a fair bream and crappie fly.” (1)
The streamer pattern has been described as:
Tail: Black quill slip
Body: Gold tinsel
Rib: Gold oval tinsel
Hackle: Yellow
Wing: Bright yellow saddle, with an outer wing or shoulder of scarlet.
2. The Lord Baltimore
Next mentioned is a design by Alfred Mayer of Hoboken N.J., from 1883. Herter says Meyer was a champion ”minnow caster” (as baitcasting was called back then), more than he was a fly angler.
He describes the Lord Baltimore fly as a...”fair to poor bass fly, but a VERY poor trout or panfish fly.” (1)
Tail: Black
Ribbing: Black thread
Body: Orange Floss
Wing: Black with jungle cock cheeks
Next, we come to flies that are a little less obscure, maybe even known at least by name.
3. The Yellow Sally
The Yellow Sally wet fly has been around a long time. It is found in Ray Bergmans, “Trout,” in Mary Orvis Marbury's 1892, “Favorite Flies and Their Histories,” and others.
However, none seem to give much account of the fly's background. Even the outspoken Herter offers nothing. About all we get is that it may mimic a yellow stone fly. I don't see it, but, hey... I'm not judging.
Nevertheless, this all-yellow fly is an all around fish catcher.
Tail: Yellow hackle
David Hutton, 2018
Who The Heck Is A.J. McClane?
In the annals of fishing lore, few men have spoken to the fisherman like A. J. McClane. He was a sport fisherman, champion distance and exhibition caster, an ichthyologist, a fly-tier, artist, photographer, explorer, world-class chef... a real-life Renaissance Man.
He almost single-handedly popularized spinning tackle, too.
Millions of everyday anglers owe him an unknown debt of gratitude for that.
He almost single-handedly popularized spinning tackle, too.
Millions of everyday anglers owe him an unknown debt of gratitude for that.
From the 1940's through the 1980's, McClane was one of the most familiar, beloved, and respected bylines in angling literature.
The longtime fishing editor of Field & Stream magazine, he filled it's pages with compelling and insightful articles.
He also wrote more than 20 books, all of which sold widely as standards in their field.
The longtime fishing editor of Field & Stream magazine, he filled it's pages with compelling and insightful articles.
He also wrote more than 20 books, all of which sold widely as standards in their field.
Among the many books penned by McClane, one, especially, stands out.
Arnold Gingrich, publisher and founding editor of Esquire magazine, called this one the,... "most comprehensive and useful single volume on all forms of freshwater fly fishing."
It is McClane's first book, "The Practical Fly Fisherman," first published in 1953.
In it, he covers topics ranging from the rod, to the leader, from the various flies to the many fishes one might catch. It truly is comprehensive.
And at a time when fly fishing for bass was considered a second best activity, he devoted a visionary chapter to flies and fly fishing for both large-, and smallmouth bass.
It is to this chapter that I turn our attention.
Well, yes, and... no.
The Bass Flies of A.J. McClane... Well, Kinda Sorta
Since 'The Practical Fly Fisherman' is a fly fishing book, we'd expect to actually SEE the flies that McClane and others used to catch bass back in the 1940's and 50's. Right?Well, yes, and... no.
The first letdown you will meet is that the book is not actually a tutorial work on tying flies.
Step-by-step tying instructions?
Glossy, full color, macro-foto's of each thread wrap?
Shopping lists of materials and tools?
Sorry, not there.
Like many writers of the period, McClane is fairly sparing of such details. There are almost no pictures, for example.
He covers a lot of ground, to be sure, but much about the flies is either left to ones imagination, or was assumed you already know about such things. It is the rare fly tyer that can use these old books, today, to actually tie good flies.
Second thing, a large part of the work is devoted to fishing stories.
These tales are factual accounts of where and when the flies were put to use, and they are a good read. They fill the mind with images of glorious fish, manly men in wool shirts, and the great, Great, GREAT OUTDOORS!
This came from a time when people read books for entertainment, and there were no TV channels... because there were no TV's.
So, if you're accustomed to being entertained by YouTube vids, this may challenge your attention span.
Last, but not least, many of McClanes flies will be unfamiliar to us.
There are no Game Changers, no Clousers, Buggers, or Puglisi flies.... the co-called 'bass fly's' that fill the pages of modern magazines and internet pages are conspicuously absent.
Plainly put, most of today's "must-have" bass flies weren't around when McClane wrote his book.
The Pay Off
That's how it goes when you first discover the traditional flies, as presented by the traditional people.
These things are starkly different, because, well, they are traditional.... and that usually means forgotten to current generations. So, if you study these older patterns, it sometimes requires you to put aside your expectations.
Is all this worth the trouble, when we have perfectly good modern patterns? In a word, yes.
If you take the information seriously, a reward eventually surfaces during this dive into the vintage and arcane.
The reward is this:
Your local bass probably haven't seen anything like these patterns.
Ever.
Forget the satisfaction of being the only dude for miles to even try these flies for bass. That's cool enough, but most people could care less.
Instead, cast one of these near a modern bass, a fish that yawns at Wal-Mart buzzbaits..., and don't be surprised if it pounces on your fake with a vengeance.
So, give these venerable old patterns a chance. They may be more useful than you imagine.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
I. THE WET FLIES
The first flies discussed in McClanes's book are what we would call, “trout wet flies.”
McClane and others of the day were used to this type of fly; they had been around for many decades by 1953. It really was no stretch to put them to uses other than just trout fishing.
The specific wet fly patterns McClane will suggest were often referred to as “dazzle” flies in their day(4). They got this name from their eye-popping colors - they were anything but subdued by aquatic standards.
These flies are what could rightly be called “attractor” patterns!
These flies are what could rightly be called “attractor” patterns!
Resembling a circus act more than any living thing, they were also tied pretty large to accommodate the bass's willingness to attack bigger prey. Anything between #10 and #2 would be appropriate, with #6 being the happy medium.
1. The Colonel Fuller
This one comes in two versions – a wet fly and a feathered streamer
1. The Colonel Fuller
This one comes in two versions – a wet fly and a feathered streamer
- Colonel Fuller Wet Fly
Tail - Black quill slip
Body Yellow Floss
Rib - Gold tinsel
Hackle - yellow
Wing - Dyed goose, married yellow-red-yellow
- Colonel Fuller Streamer
 |
| Colonel Fuller Streamer foto courtesy of FAOL (3) |
Tail: Black quill slip
Body: Gold tinsel
Rib: Gold oval tinsel
Hackle: Yellow
Wing: Bright yellow saddle, with an outer wing or shoulder of scarlet.
2. The Lord Baltimore
Lord Baltimore
foto courtesy of FAOL (3)
Next mentioned is a design by Alfred Mayer of Hoboken N.J., from 1883. Herter says Meyer was a champion ”minnow caster” (as baitcasting was called back then), more than he was a fly angler.
He describes the Lord Baltimore fly as a...”fair to poor bass fly, but a VERY poor trout or panfish fly.” (1)
Tail: Black
Ribbing: Black thread
Body: Orange Floss
Wing: Black with jungle cock cheeks
Next, we come to flies that are a little less obscure, maybe even known at least by name.
3. The Yellow Sally
The Yellow Sally wet fly has been around a long time. It is found in Ray Bergmans, “Trout,” in Mary Orvis Marbury's 1892, “Favorite Flies and Their Histories,” and others.
However, none seem to give much account of the fly's background. Even the outspoken Herter offers nothing. About all we get is that it may mimic a yellow stone fly. I don't see it, but, hey... I'm not judging.
Nevertheless, this all-yellow fly is an all around fish catcher.
 |
| Yellow Sally foto courtesy of FAOL (3) |
Rib: Gold tinsel
Body: Yellow floss
Hackle: Yellow
Wing: Yellow quill
4. The Scarlet Ibis
An early American pattern, this is all-red, in the same manner as the Yellow Sally is yellow.
In the old days, there were few restrictions on feathers, fur, etc., and the Scarlet Ibis was originally tied with feathers from the tropical bird of that same name. Today, these birds are protected and trade in their feathers is illegal, so we substitute dyed duck or goose.
The color, 'scarlet,' is actually an orange-red color, and is hard to reproduce exactly, so red stands in.
The name, “Crimson Ibis” would probably be more appropriate, I suppose, but we'll stick to the original.
5. Parmachene Belle
Created in 1876 by attorney Henry P. Wells, this one is named after Parmacheene Lake in Maine. Supposedly, the fly imitates the fin of a brook trout, which must be some kind of long lost joke... with a forgotten punchline.
According to Herter, the fly is...”an average pattern for rainbow, steelhead, brook trout and small mouth bass.” (2)
Parmachene Belle
6. Black Gnat
This is a very old English pattern that has stood the test of time, but also with little background information. We should probably accept that it goes back a long way, in one form or another, and leave it at that.
It's yet another among the many attractor patterns we've already seen, in that it doesn't represent anything in particular, but still looks eatable to a fish.
Black is sometimes the one color that fish seem to see, especially in stained, muddy, or low light conditions. We could probably add the Leadwing Coachman in this section and also call it good.
Body: Yellow floss
Hackle: Yellow
Wing: Yellow quill
4. The Scarlet Ibis
An early American pattern, this is all-red, in the same manner as the Yellow Sally is yellow.
In the old days, there were few restrictions on feathers, fur, etc., and the Scarlet Ibis was originally tied with feathers from the tropical bird of that same name. Today, these birds are protected and trade in their feathers is illegal, so we substitute dyed duck or goose.
The color, 'scarlet,' is actually an orange-red color, and is hard to reproduce exactly, so red stands in.
The name, “Crimson Ibis” would probably be more appropriate, I suppose, but we'll stick to the original.
 |
| Scarlet Ibis foto courtesy of FAOL (3)
Tail - Red quill slip
Body - Red floss
Rib - Gold tinsel
Hackle - Red
Wing - Dyed goose or duck, red
|
Created in 1876 by attorney Henry P. Wells, this one is named after Parmacheene Lake in Maine. Supposedly, the fly imitates the fin of a brook trout, which must be some kind of long lost joke... with a forgotten punchline.
According to Herter, the fly is...”an average pattern for rainbow, steelhead, brook trout and small mouth bass.” (2)
Parmachene Belle
Tail - Red and white hackle, mixed
Butt - Peacock herl
Body - Yellow floss
Rib - Silver oval tinsel
Hackle - as for tail
Wing - Goose quill slip, white-red-white, married
6. Black Gnat
This is a very old English pattern that has stood the test of time, but also with little background information. We should probably accept that it goes back a long way, in one form or another, and leave it at that.
It's yet another among the many attractor patterns we've already seen, in that it doesn't represent anything in particular, but still looks eatable to a fish.
Black is sometimes the one color that fish seem to see, especially in stained, muddy, or low light conditions. We could probably add the Leadwing Coachman in this section and also call it good.
Tail - Black Hackle
Body - Black, scruffy wool
Hackle - Black, as for tail
Wing - Black quill slip
So there you go, wet flies for trout, tied really large...and fished for bass.
Have you got the curiosity, the courage, to try them in this role?
So there you go, wet flies for trout, tied really large...and fished for bass.
Have you got the curiosity, the courage, to try them in this role?
Installment 2 will have us diving into more wet flies, like the Woolly Worm, some fur nymphs, and a couple of flies that use a unique material.
Click on this link to go to Part Two: Bass Flies Of A. J. McClane, Part 2
Click on this link to go to Part Two: Bass Flies Of A. J. McClane, Part 2
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As always, I hope you learned something and will like this enough to share with your friends.
Tight Lines and Thanks For Reading,
David
David
Palmetto Fly N' Fish, © 2018
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Dont forget to subscribe via email, and visit us on facebook at
References
- “The Practical Fly Fisherman,” Albert Jules, “A.J.” McClane, 2nd Edition, 1975, Prentice Hall
- “Professional Fly Tying, Spinning and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturers Guide,” George L. Herter, 17th Edition, 1968, Herters, Inc.
- Fly Anglers Online – www.flyanglersonline.com
- “Black Bass Lore,” Wallace Gallagher, 1937, Van Rees Press
