Well thank you Jim! I'm going to text you soon- Lisa and I are going to plan out our vacation weeks this weekend and I'm hoping to pick a week you'll be around to meet up in GA, TN or NC. :-)
I remember when was very young watching my grandfather tying flies and he used things just lying around on his bench. I guess that's what they did back then. Great vid Matt thanks.
I say ditto to all the other commentors. Always enjoy your videos. Am still unable to tie due to eye surgeries, so watching yours and others tie is my therapy..
Thank you for the video Matt. it is always interesting to see the finished fly when working from a brief written description only. Have a great day and be safe.
G’morning Matt. Playing catch up in my notifications again. I like when you dig up an oldie with just written tying instructions. It reminds me of my start at the craft 30 some years ago with books containing black and white pictures - if any - some instructional steps and a vague materials list. We’ve come a long way! Stay warm.
You've got that right Tom! As far as getting behind in your notifications, I feel you! I'm a few videos behind in answering comments and emails too. :-)
Good morning Matt. ☕️. Little rain on the desert here this morning. I have some of those older books with the hand drawn diagrams. I didn’t really care much for them but you’ve given me a different perspective to them. Nice older pattern. Hope you’re having a good weekend. Take care.
Thanks John! We've had our coldest snap in a few years this past week, but it's warming up now. As for these old books, yeah sometimes it's a crapshoot, but can make for a fun experiment! Hope you're doing well my friend!
Another good one Matt. I have an old book from Herter's and it is very difficult to tie from just written descriptions, but if you're not sure do what you think is best. It's fly tying, there are no rules. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.
Hey Dee; thanks for the note! I've never tried dying it but you might be able to try this stuff and see it it takes. I imagine it might turn out okay. www.jsflyfishing.com/products/flex-floss
Morning Matt. Nicely done. Trying those patterns is fun. You really don't know what you are going to end up with. I mean you have any idea but you don't. Thanks for the share.
Another awesome find Matt. I chuckled when I heard the name, I'll I could think of was Morocco Mole from the 60's cartoon. 😅 But no mole fur in the recipe. Maybe it's a reference to the embedded spies during the war. The fish take it for the real thing but it's not. That asterisk under the recipe for a March Brown wing made from an English Pheasant sounded interesting, but what's an English Pheasant? More mystery to decipher. Stay warm and dry Matt, it's winter up here with a January thaw coming.
Oh man Joe, you're making me go to the Google to look up Morocco Mole! I'd never heard of him but he's one cool looking cartoon. :-) "He wears a red fez, a yellow bandana scarf, a green smoking jacket, and large black glasses." Funny stuff here. hanna-barbera.fandom.com/wiki/Morocco_Mole As for no mole fur in this one, yeah I was surprised too. Hope you're doing well my friend!
Well done, Matt. Those "tying" books from the pre-color photo era certainly leave a lot to imagination. I am surprised with the name "Mole' it didn't call specifically for mole fur.
I love the patterns you find old books and share with us. It makes my day to watch these videos. As always, thank you. Off subject but do you do a TJ hooker streamer/nymph? I've recently heard they are a good pattern for winter. Take care.
Well thank you for this kind comment my friend! I've never tied a TJ Hooker but I just checked it out and it looks interesting! I might have to add this to my to-do list. Thanks for the inspiration. :-)
The original Mole fly (named after the River Mole in (Sussex and Surrey, England). The distinguishing feature was an "advanced" wing, meaning it stuck out over the eye. It was essentially an emerger. It looks like Surgis only looked at the material list and missed the "advanced" part. The book "A Dictionary of Trout Flies" by A Coutney Williams has a good history of the fly and lists several variants (all have the advanced wing.)
Great note; thank you! I have this book and just read the section on it. (It was hard to find as this pattern wasn't in the index though.) And you're 100% right that it does appear the original has the advanced wing. I found it interesting also that some fishermen considered this a caddis, but I guess I can see that as well. And that it may be considered more of a French fly (as of the 1940s anyway). And the wings were mottled pheasant hen. So I definitely missed that part going off Sturgis's scant recipe. But thank you again for the education!
@@SavageFlies The French at that time seemed to be more receptive of advanced wing flies. Check out the Pont d'Audumer -- it's a killer sulfur emerger pattern. (Modern versions use a yellow floss body instead of raffia and skip the rib.)
Hope your new year has been swell for ya Matt!I Gotta admit to somthing embarrassing. I tie the patterns and have not once had a nibble since I started fly fishing. I love the outdoors but no fish makes me not want to go. Lots of ice and snow now, so what is best?Dry fly or nimphing better for these conditions? By the way love this pattern of fly. Just love the look of dry flies in general. Only if I can get them to work. Hehe. Any suggestions anybody? .... Thanks Matt for teaching me how to tie! Have a wonderful Sunday!
Thanks for the note Casey! I was fly fishing for a couple years before I caught my first trout on a fly so don't worry a bit about that. And winter fishing is tough! Streamers and nymphs are usually the way to go, and fished deep, but the fish are still sluggish and may only hit anything if it comes within a couple inches of their mouth. But... our winters here in Maryland are usually mild and if it gets in the mid-40s or up mid-day, you can sometimes have luck with dry flies. But still, December through February, I usually get skunked more often than not. On these outings, I call a one fish day a win. :-)
When I was 16, it took me just under two years learning to drift fish for steelhead in SW Washington State before I hooked my first steelhead but it was 40” and 14-1/2 pounds. I actually dropped to my knees & kissed him on the lips. 🤣😅😂
I was surprised to see that book and in the condition it’s in compared to my copy… that looks as if it was found in the sands of Egypt in the tomb of Tutankhamen.
Hahaha! I find a lot of these old books on Ebay or used on Amazon. The book itself is in decent shape, just the dust jacket is a little shaggy. But... I was lucky to find one with a dust jacket at all!
@@SavageFlies The authors writings are pretty stern in the art of tying. I can’t imagine going back to that time and being put to the test of trying to tie flies with this crisp information, one would have to find a mentor or club in order to get just an once of knowledge. We live in a wonderful time ,for the amount of information we can lean into for learning old and new fly patterns. Thanks for the channel you provide.
Love the historical flies. Thank you
Well thank you! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
Nice work Matt, you do make it look easy. I have improved my tieing by watching you. Thanks. Enjoyed watching. 👍
Well thank you Jim! I appreciate the kind words my friend. :-)
Good morning, another nice one Matt. A little buggy but that’ll fish. Have a blessed day my friend.
Well thank you my friend! I always appreciate the comments. :-)
Good Morning Sir Matt, I love the oldies but goodies, the flies from the pass are awesome 😊 Thank You Sir.
You're most welcome Edward! I hope you're doing well my friend. :-)
Yay!! Another historic fly! Thank you for the video, Matt! I appreciate the deep history! Tight lines! 😎🎣
You're most welcome my friend! I'm planning on mixing in some classic flies with some beginner ties through January and February.
Good morning Matt☕️☕️
You are well read nice little bug😉you just amaze me👍
Well thank you Jim! I'm going to text you soon- Lisa and I are going to plan out our vacation weeks this weekend and I'm hoping to pick a week you'll be around to meet up in GA, TN or NC. :-)
@@SavageFlies sweet let us know 👍
This is one of those flies I've been tying for years in various colors without having a name for it. Pretty cool.
Very cool to hear! Thanks for the comment my friend. :-)
I remember when was very young watching my grandfather tying flies and he used things just lying around on his bench. I guess that's what they did back then. Great vid Matt thanks.
Cool memory Rich! Tying these old patterns does bring us back to our forefathers doesn't it? One of the great things about the sport. :-)
I say ditto to all the other commentors. Always enjoy your videos. Am still unable to tie due to eye surgeries, so watching yours and others tie is my therapy..
Well thank you Glenn! I'll keep you in my thoughts for a speedy recovery!
Tks matt for another oldie luv your patterns from yesteryear 😊
Thanks Burt! I'm mixing in some beginner ties for January and February, but will still try to keep some oldies in the rotation. :-)
This just screams trout fly to me. It's a nice pattern. And that was a beautiful palmer feather, it was so even in thickness. Thank you!
Well thank you Tom! I hope you're doing well my friend. :-)
I love tying from recipes alone and see the result. At least my result. 😆. Thx Matt.
Hahaha! You got that right Clyde. Hope you're doing well my friend. :-)
Thank you for the video Matt. it is always interesting to see the finished fly when working from a brief written description only. Have a great day and be safe.
Well thank you Mike! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
G’morning Matt. Playing catch up in my notifications again. I like when you dig up an oldie with just written tying instructions. It reminds me of my start at the craft 30 some years ago with books containing black and white pictures - if any - some instructional steps and a vague materials list. We’ve come a long way! Stay warm.
You've got that right Tom! As far as getting behind in your notifications, I feel you! I'm a few videos behind in answering comments and emails too. :-)
@@SavageFlies well I know we all appreciate what you’ve doing and realize it’s a lot of work too. And it’s worthwhile and fun!
Good morning Matt. ☕️. Little rain on the desert here this morning. I have some of those older books with the hand drawn diagrams. I didn’t really care much for them but you’ve given me a different perspective to them. Nice older pattern. Hope you’re having a good weekend. Take care.
Thanks John! We've had our coldest snap in a few years this past week, but it's warming up now. As for these old books, yeah sometimes it's a crapshoot, but can make for a fun experiment! Hope you're doing well my friend!
Very interesting use of materials. Cool fly . Thanks for sharing
Thanks David! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)
Gidday Matt. Nice work. Thankyou.
Appreciate it Ken! Hope you're doing well my friend. :-)
Cool looking fly, Matt
Love the history lesson on this fly
Definitely need to tie up some of these. Thanks for the video, Matt
Appreciate it Dave! Hope you're doing well my friend. :-)
@SavageFlies doing good, my friend
Nice fly pattern. Really like your sweater!
Hahaha! Well thank you. It was a nice Christmas present. :-)
Great video Matt!!! You tying is impressive & informative as always. Mega Thx !!!
Well thank you!! I appreciate the kind words my friend. :-)
This book is what I used as a beginner some 60 years ago. I use the steelhead chapter and still use those old school flies for steelies
Wow, what a great comment! Cool to hear I'm not the only one who has used this book. :-)
Thanks! Sure put a crimp in my fly tying an fishing. The 31st will be my 10th eye surgery in 22 montha, but I can still see your videos.
Oh wow, that's a lot of surgery! All I can say is I hope it all works out in the end!
Hi Love your videos. I like this MOLE. Cool looking and definitely a floater.
Well thank you! I appreciate the kind words my friend. :-)
Boy, great job!!! That's a fish catcher!!
Well thank you Bob! I think it will be too. :-)
Another good one Matt. I have an old book from Herter's and it is very difficult to tie from just written descriptions, but if you're not sure do what you think is best. It's fly tying, there are no rules. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.
Absolutely Dave! And one cool thing about tying from old books is that if you mess it up, nobody cares! It'll probably still work. :-)
Why does this one speak to me!?! I really like it. Time to hit the tying desk and give it a go.
Outstanding Hank! Go for it my friend and just have fun. :-)
Hi I’ve been following you for a while now but I have a question. Where would I be able to get raw flexi floss as I want to dye it myself
Hey Dee; thanks for the note! I've never tried dying it but you might be able to try this stuff and see it it takes. I imagine it might turn out okay. www.jsflyfishing.com/products/flex-floss
Morning Matt. Nicely done. Trying those patterns is fun. You really don't know what you are going to end up with. I mean you have any idea but you don't. Thanks for the share.
Exactly right Nich! It's always an adventure. :-)
Another awesome find Matt. I chuckled when I heard the name, I'll I could think of was Morocco Mole from the 60's cartoon. 😅 But no mole fur in the recipe. Maybe it's a reference to the embedded spies during the war. The fish take it for the real thing but it's not. That asterisk under the recipe for a March Brown wing made from an English Pheasant sounded interesting, but what's an English Pheasant? More mystery to decipher. Stay warm and dry Matt, it's winter up here with a January thaw coming.
Oh man Joe, you're making me go to the Google to look up Morocco Mole! I'd never heard of him but he's one cool looking cartoon. :-) "He wears a red fez, a yellow bandana scarf, a green smoking jacket, and large black glasses." Funny stuff here. hanna-barbera.fandom.com/wiki/Morocco_Mole As for no mole fur in this one, yeah I was surprised too. Hope you're doing well my friend!
@@SavageFlies yeah, think Casablanca 🤔 . Great movie.
Well done, Matt. Those "tying" books from the pre-color photo era certainly leave a lot to imagination. I am surprised with the name "Mole' it didn't call specifically for mole fur.
No kidding Jim! I was expecting to see some mole fur in it too. :-)
I love the patterns you find old books and share with us. It makes my day to watch these videos. As always, thank you.
Off subject but do you do a TJ hooker streamer/nymph? I've recently heard they are a good pattern for winter. Take care.
Well thank you for this kind comment my friend! I've never tied a TJ Hooker but I just checked it out and it looks interesting! I might have to add this to my to-do list. Thanks for the inspiration. :-)
The original Mole fly (named after the River Mole in (Sussex and Surrey, England). The distinguishing feature was an "advanced" wing, meaning it stuck out over the eye. It was essentially an emerger. It looks like Surgis only looked at the material list and missed the "advanced" part. The book "A Dictionary of Trout Flies" by A Coutney Williams has a good history of the fly and lists several variants (all have the advanced wing.)
Great note; thank you! I have this book and just read the section on it. (It was hard to find as this pattern wasn't in the index though.) And you're 100% right that it does appear the original has the advanced wing. I found it interesting also that some fishermen considered this a caddis, but I guess I can see that as well. And that it may be considered more of a French fly (as of the 1940s anyway). And the wings were mottled pheasant hen. So I definitely missed that part going off Sturgis's scant recipe. But thank you again for the education!
@@SavageFlies The French at that time seemed to be more receptive of advanced wing flies. Check out the Pont d'Audumer -- it's a killer sulfur emerger pattern. (Modern versions use a yellow floss body instead of raffia and skip the rib.)
Hope your new year has been swell for ya Matt!I Gotta admit to somthing embarrassing. I tie the patterns and have not once had a nibble since I started fly fishing. I love the outdoors but no fish makes me not want to go. Lots of ice and snow now, so what is best?Dry fly or nimphing better for these conditions? By the way love this pattern of fly. Just love the look of dry flies in general. Only if I can get them to work. Hehe. Any suggestions anybody? .... Thanks Matt for teaching me how to tie! Have a wonderful Sunday!
Thanks for the note Casey! I was fly fishing for a couple years before I caught my first trout on a fly so don't worry a bit about that. And winter fishing is tough! Streamers and nymphs are usually the way to go, and fished deep, but the fish are still sluggish and may only hit anything if it comes within a couple inches of their mouth. But... our winters here in Maryland are usually mild and if it gets in the mid-40s or up mid-day, you can sometimes have luck with dry flies. But still, December through February, I usually get skunked more often than not. On these outings, I call a one fish day a win. :-)
When I was 16, it took me just under two years learning to drift fish for steelhead in SW Washington State before I hooked my first steelhead but it was 40” and 14-1/2 pounds. I actually dropped to my knees & kissed him on the lips. 🤣😅😂
@@hirkojs So this is my initiation to the sport. This is a game of patience and commitment. A kiss of success! Makes sense. Thanks for sharing.
Love to get that book by G
Ordon
I was surprised to see that book and in the condition it’s in compared to my copy… that looks as if it was found in the sands of Egypt in the tomb of Tutankhamen.
Hahaha! I find a lot of these old books on Ebay or used on Amazon. The book itself is in decent shape, just the dust jacket is a little shaggy. But... I was lucky to find one with a dust jacket at all!
@@SavageFlies The authors writings are pretty stern in the art of tying. I can’t imagine going back to that time and being put to the test of trying to tie flies with this crisp information, one would have to find a mentor or club in order to get just an once of knowledge.
We live in a wonderful time ,for the amount of information we can lean into for learning old and new fly patterns.
Thanks for the channel you provide.
Think the "mole" refers to mole fur, which is brown
That could very well be Gene! I did see this pattern in another book but it didn't make mention on why it's this color.
Not a beautiful fly but hopefully a fish catcher
I hope so my friend! Thanks for the note. :-)
Why he got dead animals on his wall?? This guy's a nutter
Hahaha! Mostly just roadkill tails. :-)