Green Highlander
This is Kelson’s version of the standard classic which he attributes to Grant. It’s a bit simpler pattern than most as it doesn’t have sides or cheeks but it will show every mistake when tied as a married wing. I added a close up photo of the wing tie in point that lets you see it in detail. As you can notice I struggled to find golden pheasant long enough for the top strip and it’s tied straight from the base of the fibers.
I still think it’s probably the best Green Highlander pattern for beginners if you substitute the light and dark bustard with other brownish feathers. Especially nice tied with a mixed wing and smaller sizes as it probably was meant in the first place.
Green Highlander (Kelson – The Salmon Fly 1895)
Tag. Silver twist and canary silk.
Tail. A topping and Teal.
Butt. Black herl.
Body. Two turns of yellow silk and green Seal’s fur.
Ribs. Silver tinsel.
Hackle. Green from yellow silk.
Throat. A yellow hackle.
Wings. Two tippets (back to back) veiled with light and dark Bustard, Golden Pheasant tail, dark mottled Turkey, Swan dyed green, Mallard and a topping.
Horns. Blue Macaw.
