Illustration: Jonathon M. Powell
The Quill Gordon is one of the earliest eastern mayfly hatches in the spring. The flies hatch on the bottom and rise as fully formed adults, working on the surface to dry their wings and fly. The Quill Gordon dry fly has not changed since originated by Theodore Gordon in the Catskills. Skittering the dry fly a bit can improve production as the mayfly often makes multiple attempts to fly before it finally breaks free. The Gordon dry fly is a true classic.
A particularly beautiful fly. I love to fish it and draw it... Kudos to the illustration by Jonathon M. Powell ( nice job ). I may post my version in future posts.
ReplyDeleteI was going to write more about the fly and my experiences with the Quill Gordon, but in my research I found an article that would better explain everything than I could have written from a more experienced point of view. See the following link.
( http://www.flyfisherman.com/content/east-mayflies-quill-gordons )
That being said, the article references TCO (Tulpehocken Creek Outfitters, Inc.} ((TCO Fly Shop)) This was my home fly shop in Reading PA, before I turned in my Yankee Card and moved South. LOL.
Great guys, Great info, Great flies... I have to say they have info on just about anywhere in the country, and have deals on tying supplies.
NO! I don't work there... No, I'm not a "Loyalist" and haven't spent hundreds of dollars in their shop.
What I can say is these guys know their stuff and have A+ Customer Service. I have had a friend here in SC who found a best deal on several colors of feathers online from their shop. They where out of stock in one color... they shipped all but was out of stock except for the last color.
TCO sent an email to my buddy with a phone number to call. He called, and got in touch with the owner/ management. They apologized for the delay and shipped remainder of order for free shipping 2 days later.
Excited, my buddy called me with great info on a new resource for fly tying materials... he said "out of Reading, PA... Ya know them?" (knowing I'm from that town) "TCO?" My response. Well, the rest has been said.
Read the article. As a Southern fishermen it's one fly to keep in the box. I've had a few trout take it on the Saluda River above the Zoo around Irmo. (look at a map online you'll figure out where).
Hint: it's not far from the Dam, and watch for rising waters if the dam decides to generate power.
Quill Gordon learn to tie many ways:
Tie it & fish it as a wet fly with emerging wings with a big thick body and wet wings.
Tie it & fish it fuzzy body as an egg bearer leaving the water or returning to spawn.
Tie it & fish it skinny as a post egg bearer.
Tie it & fish it flat wing as a dead fly.
Have some of each in your box. They may entice strikes at the right times.
My box is thin right now, I need to take my own advice an tie some flies!
C
Thanks for the info.
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