Yallerhammer

[klingon]

I purchased a yellow dyed starling skin to substitute for flicker hackle in the smokey mountain yallerhammer pattern. The skin I received actually picked up very little yellow coloration and I'm not happy with the results. I have never fished the yallerhammer pattern since I live and fish mostly in the northeast but it looked interesting and I would like to try it. Any suggestions regarding what to try next to substitute for flicker ?

"If you would catch more trout--you must kill less"

[redietz]

Are you interested in the dry or wet version? For the latter, I've seen yellow-dyed hen sparely palmered, and trimmed.

You might also try dying your own from partridge or grouse.

[catskilljohn]

I have done this very thing with starling secondaries, bleaching them and then dying yellow, then dying the tips black. I since found a better alternative...magpie wings. They are primarily white with black tips, so simply dying them yellow does the trick. To me, the thing that stands out the most with flicker feathers is the bright yellow shaft, or stem.

This fly to me was always one of those "confidence patterns" that could be tyed with anything and still work, but when tyed right gives you the confidence that it works better.

CJ

[narcodog]

Look here for some subs. http://www.davidsonriveroutfitters.com. He uses dove for his sub. They are located in Brevard, NC

[Squaretail]

The one time I tied it for someone fishing that area I used dyed partridge body feathers trimmed down. Probably not the best but it was acceptable.

[Eperous]

... I have never fished the yallerhammer pattern since I live and fish mostly in the northeast but it looked interesting and I would like to try it. ...

I've never tied/fished this pattern either, but I've read about it before and perhaps should join you in trying it... good luck...

Ed

[bassman]

I did some search on the fly and the site I was looking at had about 6 variations. Everything from the rather ugly original to nymphs and soft hackles. Kind of makes it rough to single out which one you're talking about with so many out there. Being one of those who believe fish are only fish, a Yellow Sally would probably do the same job.

[AK Skim]

Guide Ian Rutter's book on Smoky Mountains Yallerhammer






Roger Lowe's Fly Patter Guide

[AK Skim]

Yallerhammer



Fly purchased at Little River Outfitters Fly Shop, Townsend, TN.

[Eperous]

AK... thanks for the update and info on this pattern and the Smokies... The GSMNP is truly a special place on the east coast; my wife and I were there once and often think about a return trip...

Ed