Among the most classic salmon flies and patterns that most fly fishers recognize, even if they don’t fish for salmon, are Jock Scott and Green Highlander. However, many are also familiar with names like Black Doctor, Silver Doctor, Blue Doctor, Durham Ranger, and Thunder & Lightning. What many don’t know is that all these latter patterns were created by the same person.
BY HÅKAN KARSNÄSER
His name was James Wright, born in 1829 in Sprouston. His father was a fly tyer, and James learned the craft early, eventually making it his profession. Living in a village situated right next to the River Tweed gave him the perfect opportunity to test his creations. The effectiveness of his flies and the quality of his craftsmanship became widely renowned, attracting customers from across the British Isles. Not only is he the mastermind behind many classic salmon flies, but he also created the trout fly Greenwell’s Glory.
Silver Grey is another of James Wright’s patterns. As the name suggests, its silver and grey composition has made it an excellent fly for fair-weather fishing, responsible for catching numerous salmon over the years. The pattern appears in both Kelson’s book The Salmon Fly and Pryce-Tannatt’s How to Dress Salmon Flies, though with slight differences, particularly in the wing composition. At its core, the fly features a silver body with a badger-colored body hackle and a gray mottled front hackle.
This color combination has been embraced by modern fly tyers, who have adapted the pattern into tube flies. In this article, we’ll demonstrate how to tie a Silver Grey tube fly easily and how to modify it to suit various fishing conditions. The foundation of this fly is the FlexiTube system from Pro Sportfisher. The FlexiTube is a plastic tube designed with two different diameters on the same tube, offering fly tyers a range of possibilities.
A “classic” tube fly can be tied with the body and body hackle on the thicker part of the tube and finished with the front hackle and wing on the thinner part. The thicker section can simply be trimmed to achieve the desired body length.
The second, simpler option involves using the thicker tube as a hook holder, while the thinner section is used to slide on a metal tube of the desired shape, weight, length, and color. Pro Sportfisher offers several options for this technique.
- Flexi Weight: A simple metal tube available in various lengths and weights, as well as different colors like gold, silver, copper, and black.
- Drop Weight: Ideal for creating smaller tube flies that still need to sink quickly, this compact, drop-shaped metal tube provides concentrated weight. It comes in gold, silver, copper, black, and ultra-orange. The heavier end of the Drop Weight is positioned nearest the fly’s head.
- Bullet Weight: This type concentrates the weight toward the tube’s rear end. Bullet Weights are slightly smaller and lighter than Drop Weights but are available in the same colors.
- Raw Weight: Compact tungsten weights that can be used alone or combined with other weights for precise sinking control.
To complement the weights that slide onto the FlexiTube before tying the hackle and wing, Pro Sportfisher also offers Pro Conehead and Pro Ultra Sonic Disc. These are attached once the fly is finished and serve as the fly’s head. The Ultra Sonic Disc is a perforated metal disc that displaces water during fishing, creating movement and sound — factors that can make a significant difference in many situations.
As you can see, the possibilities for variation are endless, offering combinations for every type of salmon fishing. Below, we demonstrate how to tie a Silver Grey on the Pro FlexiTube.
Silver Grey Pro Tube Fly Tying Instructions
Materials List:
- Tube: Pro Sportfisher FlexiTube Clear and FlexiWeight Silver 30mm
- Thread: White GSP
- Hackle: Grizzly Soft Hackle and Natural Grey Ringneck Rump Hackle
- Wings: White Marble Fox and Natural Silver Fox with a few strands of Silver Angel Hair
- Topping: Peacock Herl
- Sides: Pro Jungle Cock XS
- Head: Pro Cone Silver S
This versatile and effective pattern is perfect for salmon fishing in clear, bright conditions. Try customizing the materials and proportions to suit your specific fishing environment!
