Highland Gem (Kelson)
Not surprisingly another fly from Kelson’s The Salmon Fly. Haven’t been really impressed with the pattern before but I’ve seen few takes on it that opened my mind. I tried to get a bit lower profile like on the William Chinn’s flies I adore.
The fly doesn’t really allow you to hide any mistakes on the winging since it doesn’t have any sides and cheeks and Amherst isn’t the easiest feather to manipulate. Decided to do a short wing and let the three toppings fill the rest and I like how it turned out.
This one will be on top of my list of flies that will have some fishing time next summer. Here’s Kelson’s recipe and notes for it.
THE HIGHLAND GEM. G.S. (KELSON.)
TAG. Silver twist and yellow silk.
TAIL. A topping, Ibis, and Summer Duck.
BUTT. Black herl.
BODY. In two equal sections : No. 1, of yellow silk, ribbed with narrow (oval) silver tinsel, and butted with Golden bird of Paradise or Toucan above and below, and black herl : No. 2, blue silk ribbed as before alongside broad silver tinsel (flat).
HACKLE. Black Heron, from centre of blue silk.
THROAT. Gallina.
WINGS. Amherst Pheasant strips and three toppings.
HORNS. Black Cockatoo (tail).
An excellent spring pattern on the Spey and Shannon.
