No, it's not a click-bait. Flyfishing and flytying is an ancient tradition, reaching far back in time, with the earliest literal reference dating back to around 200 AD. We are not to travel this far back in history right now, but I would still like to take you back to a time of enlightenment, colonization, and Baroque music. While a great part of the Western world made good business on human trafficking to the West-Indies, the french were in the upraise of revolution, and in the States they were signing the Declaration of Independence, while we here in Norway was getting ready to break union with the Danish. - Let's go to the 18th century!
Probably the most famous of literature on the topic of flytying from the 18th century is a book titled The Art Of Angling, by Richard Brookes and Charles Bowlker that has been published and revised several times throughout the 18th-, and 19th century. The Art of Angling was first time published in 1740 by R. Brookes, then the Charles Bowlker edition came seven years later, in 1747. This is actually a magnificent source of fly patterns for those who seek the more rustic fly recipes. I believe rustic is the perfect definition to describe these patters today; yet, several of the Bowlker flies are quite innovative and complex compared to earlier descriptions and fly patterns.
One of these patterns that stood out to me was fly number 14 in the book; Yellow Mayfly or Cadow. It's pretty clear, even if it wasn't named, that this is an imitation of the Ephemera danica; and the resemblance is much striking! Although it is called for some pretty strange materials, like whisks from a Sable Muff. It is also called for yellow rams wool for the body, and I believe that this means natural, urine stained rams wool, as there are no mentioning of dye in the description for the body. Also on the pattern listed in this book, it has a pretty loose description of ribbing; either pale yellow and green silk wound next to each other, or the feather of a heron or bittern - "to imitate the legs and joints of the flys body. (...) From the green stripes on its body, it is sometimes called the Green Drake." The author write.
In a much more recent work, titled The History and Evolution of the Trout Fly - part 1* written by Andrew Marshall, on this very pattern, it only says dark brown as a ribbing, so what this means of material I can't say for sure. In his lists of sources for this pattern he names both Bowlker and Kirby**. It is to believe that Mr. Marshall has based the ribbing on his No. 14: Yellow Mayfly or Cadow on the Kirby description. It could be a dark brown thread or silk, or maybe even a palmered hackle, as the author Andrew Marshall notes in his book.
Yellow Mayfly or Cadow Bowlker - No. 14 from The Art of Angling (1747)
Hook: No. 6 (in today's standard this would mean a 2x long size 10) Tail: Three dark whisks, from a Sable Muff, or the whiskers of a black cat Body: Yellow rams wool (dyed, or urine stained?)
Ribbing: Green and pale yellow silk thread / dark brown or the feather of a heron or bittern (hackle?)
Wings: Grey mallard dyed yellow Hackle/legs: Bittern hackle (woodcock for substitution) Head: Mr. Marshall has listed peacock herl as a head, there is no mentioning of this in the Bowlker recipe, but on the plate in the book one can clearly see a herl head.
Now, if you are left with more questions after reading the pattern than you were before you clicked on this article, don't worry. I will list a modern interpretation of this fly below, but first I want to address a few things about this pattern that might be worth knowing.
The hook listed here as a No. 6 is not an exact match to todays standard hook scale. Andrew Marshall suggestion for a "modern" hook to be a 2x long size 10; after all, the E.danica is a bug of superior size. For the tail/whisks, it does mentions a few curious materials, and for a modern take on this fly, a few strands of dark squirrel tail would make a valid substitution.
The body is first described only as yellow. It then continue to list yellow rams wool, but both seal's fur or amber-coloured mohair mixed with fox-down or hog's wool are also mentioned as options; at least in the revised edtition of The Art of Angling from 1854. As previously mentioned, I believe that the yellow color that is asked for in the rams wool, should be natural, but urine stained rather than dyed. This is only speculations from my side, as I see the creme-yellow color of the urine stained wool to be a better match to the underside of the abdomen on the E. danica, rather than the more intense dyed yellow wool. However, one is free to interpret the description and colors asked for, whether they should be dyed or natural. It's also worth noting that back in the 18th century, they had different dying methods than today. In Art of Angling there is listed how one is to dye the mallard feathers for the wing using bark of a barberry tree and alum.
The wings are described very straight forward; grey mallard dyed yellow, "stand upright, like the wings of a butterfly" the author writes.
The peacock herl head is a very nice addition, and whether the authors of The Art of Angling forgot to mention this or if it should be left out on the original pattern, I can't say for sure. But, I can say that I find this detail to be worth adding, as it's natural model has a very dark thorax. And, as the plate below displays; there's clearly something on the head of the Yellow Mayfly that seems to be a bronze peacock herl.
A Modern 18th century Yellow Mayfly Based on Bowlker - No. 14 from The Art of Angling (1747)
Hook: A dryfly hook, 2x long size 10 Tail: Three dark whisks from a dark, or black squirrel tail Body: A very creamy wool, slightly yellow'ish / or light cahill mixed with a little amber
Ribbing: Green and pale yellow thread or dark brown
Wings: Grey mallard dyed yellow Hackle/legs: Woodcock Head: A bronze peacock herl, could also be tied over the entire thorax.
*This book has been a great source of information on this article. I am lucky enough to own a limited edition copy of The History and Evolution of the Trout Fly - part 1, signed to me personally by the author himself. This was gifted to me by a very dear friend, and fellow fly-tier. This beautiful piece of literature is without doubt the centerpiece of my humble (sadly not an understatement) book collection. I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in the topic, and the origins of flyfishing and flytying!
**John Kirby was an author who in 1784 published The Anglers Museum, or the Whole art of Float and Fly Fishing, an early book dedicated only to dryfly fishing.
ALSO: A huge shout-out to Roy-Tore Gjertsen. Without him, this article would probably never been made. Thanks a lot pal!
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All photos are taken by me and shall not be used without permission.
Artworks or facsimiles are of public domain.