William Rufus. A reverse hackle Border Fly for Grayling

[dbl]

I was looking through my copy of Trout Flies of Shropshire and the Welsh Borders, by Michael Leighton, now out of print. I bought it at a meeting of the (late) Shropshire Branch of the Fly Dressers Guild in 1987. (Louis Noble will know this book as he provided some of the tyings!)
I came across this description of the William Rufus:
"...One person I was particularly looking forward to meeting was James Evans, author of 'Small River Fly Fishing for Trout and Grayling', the definitive work on Border angling. And, having met him, I was delighted to come away with a new pattern from the maestro. This is a pattern which he tied especially for the grayling fishing on the Lugg. It is designed for upstream wet fly fishing, a type of fishing he enjoys and prefers. By tying the hackle in 'backwards' it has extra kick, rather than wrapping itself lifelessly around the hook shank. The knowledgeable will notice that the fly is basically a variation on the William's Favourite, hence its name.
The dressing is -
Hook         14-16
Tag           Florescent Red Wool
Body         Crow Herl
Hackle        Black hen hackle, tied in with the concave face forward so that the fibres have plenty of 'kick'."

I will try and scan the photo later and post it here.

[flatsghost]

You will find very comprehensive additional resource material in Roger Smith's book on flies of the Welsh Borderlands.
Look after your Michael Leighton book they are worth a lot these days as is James Evans'.
Thanks
Glyn

[dbl]

[adric]

I will try this pattern

Richard

[adric]

I will try this pattern

Richard

[dbl]

Thanks for the tip about Roger Smith's book, Flatsghost. I have immediately ordered a copy. I also located a relatively cheap copy of James Evan's book, although, as you say, pristine copies are very expensive.

Another book I find fascinating because of his local knowledge is Moc Morgan's Fly Patterns for the Rivers and Lakes of Wales. It has been republished I have just found out as: Trout and Salmon Flies of Wales. Apparently the new illustrations are much better quality so it is amusing that my old signed edition is 'worth' more. I think I bought it in the Post Office in Pontrhydfendigaid. I was probably buying a Teifi Pools day ticket at the time!

Has anybody tried tenkara on the Teifi? The upper reaches would surely be suitable.

[phil]

Super post, thanks for that.

Phil

[flatsghost]

I hope that you enjoy both books dbl - you will see a name in Roger's book that might be familiar to you - mine!
Moc's also has some good stuff although in my older edition, like yours I guess, some of the tyings are a bit shabby.
I believe that Orange otter tried the Teifi last year with Tenkara but it was not a productive visit as I recall due to excessive weed growth. Give it a go next season and let us know how it went.
There must be lots of water waiting to be fished with Tenkara which I m sure the grwoing number of enthusiasts will get to sooner or later.
tight lines
Glyn