Fly & photo: Paul Little


The Sherbrook realised a new lease of life when T.E. Pryce Tannatt published his superb little hand book, How to Dress Salmon Flies, (1914). Up until this time the Sherbrook was almost forgotten but now it was going to enjoy fame on the Dee and especially on the Breamar for summer fishing. Tannatt's dressing of this fly is more complicated than that of Kelson and the others. Pryce Tannatt had a fondness of further complicating regular or simpler patterns, and he did this also with the Sherbrook. He also continued to tie these flies on hooks furnished with an eye of traditional silk worm gut as opposed to the steel eyed irons that were making an impact on the flytying community.
Kelson lists a less complicated dressing in the Salmon Fly. Both dressings are listed below.

The Dressing: (Pryce-Tannatt)

Tag: Silver thread and lemon floss.
Tail: A Topping and Indian crow.
Butt: none.
Body: First third, pale orange floss, followed by pale blue floss silk.
Ribs: Oval silver tinsel.
Throat: A pale blue hackle.
Wings: Mixed Golden Peasant tippets in strands, married sections of yellow, white, orange, crimson and blue dyed Swan, Golden Pheasant tail, Florican, and Peacock wing; outside of this, married sections of Pintail and barred summer Duck; narrow sections of brown Mallard over and a topping.
Horns: Blue and yellow Macaw.
Head: Black.


The Dressing: (Kelson)

Tag: Silver twist and dark-yellow floss silk.
Tail: A Topping.
Butt: Black Ostrich Herl.
Body: One third, dark yellow floss, followed by light blue floss silk.
Ribs: Fine oval and flat silver tinsel.
Throat: A widgeon hackle.
Wings: Bustard, dark speckled Turkey, golden Pheasant tail and over this a topping.
Sides: none.
Cheeks: none.
Horns: Scarlet Ibis.
Head: Black.

Back to top