Fly & photo...Paul Little, UK.

Here we have one of my absolute favourite Irish Classics that has been tied to perfection by Paul Little of Cumbria, UK. This little beauty is to be found in several of the old classic books including Kelson, Hale, Pryce Tannatt and also in Ted Malone's superb book on Irish flies, "Irish Trout & Salmon Flies," (1993 revised edition). Once again the pattern descriptions in Hale and Kelson are identical (not surprising), but these differ quite a bit from the versions given in both Pryce Tannatt and Malone. However, in "Irish Trout & Salmon Flies" Malone mentions an even older dressing that has a body of Orange seal's fur, Violet floss, and black floss in equal parts. It is therefore quite possible that this older dressing in Malone is the same pattern that Kelson gives, and thus this fly may be the original "Fenian." Pryce Tannatt's is the only pattern that calls for a black herl head.
Of the fishing qualities of the Fenian, Kelson adds that, "it is a good fly on most rivers when used in sizes up to 2/0." I imagine that it would work very well in some of Canada's green-tinged rivers like the York and Miramichi. From personal experience I have found that green-bodied flies work quite well in another of Québec's beautiful rivers, the majestic Matane. During a very hot spell in the summer of 1998, I took two fine salmon from the Cliff pool (La Falaise), on a green bodied hair wing fly called "La Ri" (this was on the same weekend). This was quite surprising as the water temperature was a stifling 72 deg, and few if any fish were being caught along the river system.


The Dressing: (Pryce Tannatt)

Tag: Silver tinsel.
Tail: A Topping, and Blue Chatterer.
Body: First quarter, bright orange Seal's fur; remainder, bright green Seal's fur.
Ribs: Oval gold tinsel.
Hackle: A golden olive hackle over the green Seal's fur.
Throat: Blue Jay (Guinea dyed blue on larger patterns)
Wings: Mixed - Tippet in strands; "married" strands of green, yellow, and orange Swan, Florican, and Golden Pheasant tail; "married" strands of Pintail and Barred Summer Duck; brown Mallard strips over.
Head: Black herl.


The Dressing: (Kelson)

Tag: Silver twist and gold twist respectively.
Tail: A Topping , powdered blue Macaw, and Teal.
Butt: Black herl.
Body: Orange Seal's fur, violet silk and black silk, equally divided.
Ribs: Silver tinsel (oval) and gold lace.
Hackle: From violet silk; one side of a red-claret and one side of a light blue hackle, forming one.
Throat: Blue Jay.
Wings: Golden Pheasant tail and tippet strands; Teal, Mallard, and a topping.
Sides: Ibis and powdered blue Macaw (married).
Horns: Blue Macaw.
Head: Black wool.


The Dressing: (Malone)

Tag: Silver.
Tail: A Topping , tippets, and Blue Peacock.
Body:
Rear Quarter: Orange Pig's wool;
Front Three Quarters: Emerald green Pig's wool.
Ribs: Oval Gold.
Hackle: Yellow cock (over green Pig's wool).
Throat: Blue Jay.
Wings: Golden Pheasant Tippets and Golden Pheasant tail ; Green, yellow, and red Swan, Bustard, Teal, and bronze Mallard over.
Head: Black.