by Matt O'Neal of Savage Flies: Find him on his YouTube channel at Savage Flies
Many tiers will be familiar with the Silver Doctor, a classic salmon pattern that can trace its roots back to the mid-1800s. A beautiful, old school pattern with 24 distinct materials that few of us will have ever attempted to tie. That’s likely the case today and interestingly enough, was also the case back in the early 1900s.
History of the Local Silver Doctor Fly Pattern
Roderick Haig-Brown, the British Columbia fly dresser of some renown wrote about this as far back as the 1920s, stating that as beautiful of a fly as it was, it was generally too expensive to either buy or tie for the common fisherman of the day. Haig-Brown relays the story of a fisherman named Brian Williams who in 1935 wrote about a “Local” Silver Doctor that became a much more useful pattern. This “stripped down” version only used eight materials, all more commonly available at the time.
Tying the Local Silver Doctor
This Local Silver Doctor is the one I’d like to feature for this month’s pattern. It is December, and while there are a few modern flies with a semi-Christmas themed color scheme, I couldn’t find one with as interesting a history as this take on the traditional full-dress salmon fly.
Note, the original recipe does call for a kingfisher, or Silver Doctor blue for the throat, but with this one variation of tying it in green, it could definitely remind you of something you’d see hanging from a Christmas tree.
Local Silver Doctor Materials
Hook: #6-10 wet fly
Thread: Black
Tag: Oval silver tinsel
Tail: Golden pheasant tippets
Butt: Red seal's fur (or substitute angora or Arizona Simi Seal)
Body: Silver Mylar tinsel
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Throat: Silver Doctor blue hackleor green for Christmas.
Underwing: Red swan, goose or duck slips
Overwing: Mallard or teal breast
Comments
Cool fly. I’d love to try tying a few. But other than thread, I confess I don’t have any of the materials needed to take a stab at it. Would be nice if stockards could offer a small packet with enough material to tie 10 examples of each fly of the month as they are announced. I’d probably try tying things outside my current zone of comfort, and who knows, maybe attempt some size 18 dries someday.
On another note – thank you Stockards for you great products and exceptional service. Happy Holidays to all of you.
Jon
Abe & Dick- thank you for the kind words!
Richard- if you see this reply, send me an email and I’ll see what I can do. My email is matt@savageflies.com or you can leave a comment in under the video and I’ll likely see it. Thanks!
I find your presentation style is not only informative, but makes me smile and relaxed. After a 45 year hiatus, it’s good to back into fly tying. Have a peaceful holiday season.