Black Doctor as per T.E. Pryce-Tannatt
Another well known classic salmon fly. Most salmon fishers can point out a Doctor fly when they see one but there’s so many variations today that I think it’s good to tie it once in a while following the old recipes. There are of course older versions of the Black Doctor than the Pryce-Tannatt’s one but I think this is the mostly used pattern for variations. I personally like the one in Kelson’s Salmon Fly with a blue hackle even more than this one.
Doctor series is perhaps easiest to identify from the red Berlin Wool butt and head. My suggestion is to never tie them from a yarn but instead dub the wool to your tying thread. This way you will have more control on the form and make a sturdier fly for fishing. I like to form the head by dubbing the thread from front to back and making a whip finish with the last turns of dubbing to the base of the wing.
The Black Doctor recipe like it is in T.E. Pryce-Tannatt’s How to Dress Salmon Flies from 1914
Black Doctor (hook, 1 ¼ to 2 inches).
Tag : Silver thread and lemon floss.
Tail : A topping and Indian Crow.
Butt : Scarlet Berlin wool.
Body: Black floss.
Ribs : Oval silver tinsel.
Hackle : A dark claret hackle.
Throat : Speckled Gallina.
Wings : Mixed tippet in strands with strips of Golden Pheasant tail over ; “ married ” strands of scarlet, blue and yellow Swan, Florican, Bustard, Peacock wing, and light, mottled Turkey tail ; “ married ” narrow strips of Teal and barred Summer Duck; narrow strips of brown Mallard over ; a topping over all.
Head : Scarlet wool.
