Stefano has really outdone himself this time. During the Holidays he has produced these three flawless Doctors and took the time to include the very helpful text you see below. In his personal note to me he stated the following: "Please make the necessary corrections because I am not writing in my language and some mistake could be done easily. I hope you will like my work." Everything this man does is terrific. His grasp of the English language is better than mine in fact I've considered having him proof read and edit the stuff I write for these pages and to say I like his work would be an enormous understatement. Thank you from all of us who see and enjoy your work Stefano.



" The Black, Blue and Silver Doctor are three beautiful Classic Salmon flies of the Victorian Age. The patterns I will tye are as described by T.E.Pryce-Tannat in his book " How to Dress Salmon Flies ", first published 1914. I have an Edition by Van Dyke Press - Souderton, P.A. - U.S.A. and so I think it could be easily found in your country. I suggest this text to everybody interested to Classic Salmon flies because it is really " A Handbook for Amateurs " as indicated by the author. You could find there the dressing instructions of a big number of Classic Salmon flies, with a strange peculiarity : no vise have been used in those times but the hook was firmly handed during the dressing. That was not easy indeed. You could find beautiful designs explaining how to do but I think you will continue to use your vise as I do with mine!

On Chapter XI, page 160 you will find: " The fifth lesson - a mixed-winged pattern, with a plain flat tinsel body (e.g., SILVER DOCTOR )."



The three Doctors have the same wings and underwings but different bodies. Something unusual: we are used to ostrich herl?s butts while this time we have one made with wool, exactly as the head is done. But, let speak P.Tannat: " The butt is formed thus: unravel a piece of scarlet Berlin wool, and select a strand therefrom about 2 inches in length. Break this up in the fingers into small pieces, and, having thoroughly disintegrated it, shape it into the form of a spindle, and spin it on to the dressing silk ".




Two of the Doctors ( Black and Blue ) have the body made with silk floss while the Silver Doctor has it made with silver flat tinsel: these are extremely difficult bodies to obtain because the underbody must be absolutely perfect or you you will see bumps and irregularities which will ruin your work. But, let us listen again the words of the author, after almost one hundred years, regarding the body of the Silver Doctor: " Each turn of the flat tinsel must fit close up to the preceding turn, but not under any circumstances must there be any overlapping. Overlapping is fatal, not only to the appearance, but also to the durability of a flat tinsel body. A healthy kelt, with its serviceable dentition, will abundantly demonstrate the practical objection to overlapping tinsel or any other irregularity in a flat tinsel body ". Even if your fly will never go in the water looking for a twenty-pounder, that is nevertheless a good suggestion!



For the reason that the three flies have the same wings, I firstly tied the three bodies and underwings and then the three wings altogether. Concerning the underwings, they are in effect part of the mixed wings. I suggest to be very careful with the Golden Ph. tails sections because they don?t like a lot to remain on a hook in the way you wish for them. They also don?t like to be married with feathers of other birds and so the marriage easily break-up!




In the photo above right, the sections of the three right and three left wings ready to be married. In the order: red, blue and yellow dyed turkey tails. Florican bustard, Speckled bustard and Argus Ph. on.

Above left, the three ready right and left wings.

I exactly followed the Pryce-Tannat dressing but I have added Kingfisher?s cheeks and B/Y macaw horns, even if not expressly requested. Without them the Doctors seemed to me a little bit empty and naked: it is only my opinion so you can do as you prefer.

I had some difficulties with the throat of the Blue Doctor for which Jay is required. It was not possible to use this feather because I have tied the Doctors on 8/0 Harrison&Bartleet hooks by R.Reinhold and the jay is too small to fit them. I did not find any good ready substitute so I decided to dye some Guinea fowl breast feathers with a light blue colour from Veniard which could fit with the tone of the pale blue body."