The Gaudy Fly

          The “Gaudy” is one of five salmon flies featured in the first colour illustrations of salmon flies.  The illustration is to be found in George C. Bainbridge’s Book, “The Fly Fisher’s Guide,” published  in 1816.  The fly is of great historical importance, not only because of its appearance in one of the first colour illustrations of salmon flies, but also because it is one of the very first salmon flies which were truly colorful.  Of these it is best documented.

Head:                Black

Tail:                  Strips of Peacock tail

Body:                 Dyed Ostrich herl to correspond with the red feather in the wing

Hackle:              Bright yellow over body

Throat:                          The green feather which forms the eye of the Peacock’s tail, fastened at the head and left hanging down so as to cover the body nearly half an inch, beard style                      

Wing:                            Pair of blood red feathers, back to back, extending to the hook bend, covered by a pair of Guinea feathers, extending to the barb of hook