DarrellP 0 Report post Posted November 22, 2020 I think the term "Spey" has been bastardized to mean any fly with long, flowing hackles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydub 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 If you really want to know what a Spey Fly is from a historical perspective, listen to April Vokey's podcast with John Shewey: https://anchoredoutdoors.com/anchored-podcast-ep-21-john-shewey-on-spey-flies-and-their-history/ Put it on in the background while your tying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 Spey flies typically are works of art as well as reliable attractor patterns that are mostly used on salmon and migratory trout. They imitate nothing in nature and rely on color blends often using exotic materials, hints of flash, and sparse, balanced, construction designed to move through and cross currents as if alive. They are mostly delivered on two handed rods and swung down and across. Done right, tying them is time consuming; often expensive -- as only the finest and often hard to find materials pass muster; demanding in the use of materials; and a serious test of anyone's mastery of tying techniques. They are not to be confused with fully functional salmon or steelhead flies that you can knock out assembly line style by the dozen in an evening . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarrellP 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 Rocco summed it up well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 On 11/21/2020 at 3:28 PM, chugbug27 said: A stupid question... What do modern tyers use for spey hackle? And a rude question, it turns out -- I just read the article you posted @Sandan, great stuff there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 4 hours ago, chugbug27 said: And a rude question, it turns out -- I just read the article you posted @Sandan, great stuff there. @chugbug27Not rude at all, IMHO. Mr. Lucas sure does know his s###. Glad it was of use. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 I'm liking the Eric Austin articles too... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 1 hour ago, chugbug27 said: I'm liking the Eric Austin articles too... Thanks for that head's up. Great site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 15 hours ago, Rocco said: Spey flies typically are works of art as well as reliable attractor patterns that are mostly used on salmon and migratory trout. They imitate nothing in nature and rely on color blends often using exotic materials, hints of flash, and sparse, balanced, construction designed to move through and cross currents as if alive. They are mostly delivered on two handed rods and swung down and across. Done right, tying them is time consuming; often expensive -- as only the finest and often hard to find materials pass muster; demanding in the use of materials; and a serious test of anyone's mastery of tying techniques. They are not to be confused with fully functional salmon or steelhead flies that you can knock out assembly line style by the dozen in an evening . So are the classic Victorian salmon flies we see in "Artistic & Classic Salmon Flies" and spey flies all one and the same? Or are spey flies different? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Noahguide 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/atlantic/spey-dee/lesson3.php The Speys were introduced in the 1800's for fishing the River Spey In Scotland. The Dees were introduced on the River Dee in Scotland. Both styles are similar yet, different. The one big difference is in the wing style. The Spey typically sports a Bronze Mallard wing that sits low along the hook shank while the Dee wing is split and somewhat drooping along the hook shank and, is generally of Turkey. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 If you speak of the entire range of classic, traditional, Atlantic salmon patterns within which you find the Spey and Dee flies, you probably should also mention similar but distinct styles and patterns from Irish, Scandinavian, and other European and even North American salmon fisheries. Like the Spey and Dee styles I would guess there are river specific patterns and variants in those regions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydub 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 19 hours ago, Jaydub said: If you really want to know what a Spey Fly is from a historical perspective, listen to April Vokey's podcast with John Shewey: https://anchoredoutdoors.com/anchored-podcast-ep-21-john-shewey-on-spey-flies-and-their-history/ Put it on in the background while your tying. 2 hours ago, Mark Knapp said: So are the classic Victorian salmon flies we see in "Artistic & Classic Salmon Flies" and spey flies all one and the same? Or are spey flies different? Listen to the podcast. There's a lot in there you probably don't need to know, but Shewey explains definatively what is and isn't a Spey Fly. A lot of what we label "Spey Flies" really aren't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2020 13 minutes ago, Jaydub said: Listen to the podcast. There's a lot in there you probably don't need to know, but Shewey explains definatively what is and isn't a Spey Fly. A lot of what we label "Spey Flies" really aren't. 14 minutes ago, Rocco said: If you speak of the entire range of classic, traditional, Atlantic salmon patterns within which you find the Spey and Dee flies, you probably should also mention similar but distinct styles and patterns from Irish, Scandinavian, and other European and even North American salmon fisheries. Like the Spey and Dee styles I would guess there are river specific patterns and variants in those regions. OK, Thank you guys, I'm beginning to get it all straightened in my mind now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2020 As interesting and informative as this thread is, WHERE'S THE PICTURES? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites