The Silver Test
Fly & photo...Peter Dunne


The Silver Test is probably not the best known classic, but is in my opinion a spectacularly beautiful and simple pattern when well-tied. I have taken this dressing from Kelson's great tome, "The Salmon Fly". Kelson relates that it was one of his standard patterns and was well-known in the northern parts of Great Britain. He said that it was one of the very best flies for the Scottish river Test and this is probably how it got it's name after having once been an un-named local tying with a silver body.
The Silver Test is one of Basil Field's salmon fly patterns, and he is responsible for another pattern that Kelson used, called the Kendle. Of these two, Kelson preferred to fish with the Kendle.
The Silver Test is also mentioned in "Salmon Fishing" which was written by Mr. W. Earl Hodgson in 1906. His fly differs little from Kelson's tying and was tied by Malloch. The tail on Malloch's pattern lacks the dark Impeyan topping and has instead a small red-orange Toucan feather. His ribbing is oval gold instead of lace and he finishes off his head with the black tying silk.






The Dressing: (Kelson)

Tag: Silver twist.
Tail: A topping, and a dark topping from the Impeyan pheasant.
Butt: Black Ostrich herl.
Body: Silver tinsel.
Ribs: Fine Gold lace.
Throat: Red toucan (undertail) and Gallina dyed blue.
Wings: Two strips of tippet, two strips of Golden Pheasant tail, Teal, Mallard and topping.
Cheeks: Chatterer.
Head: Black Ostrich herl.

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