Having received the official invitation to the 76th dinner banquet of the Fly Fishers Club of Harrisburg, I settled down to tie them a dozen of my favorite 100-Year Duns as a small donation to the cause. My winter tying has been significantly reduced this year, tying flies here and there throughout these long weeks in twos and threes, so a full dozen at one sitting proved to be a little challenge for my concentration.
I started with the quill bodies of the Gordon patterns, tailing and then the quill before coating the bodies with a full coat of Hard As Hull polymer. That achieves a glossy overcoat and protection for the delicate peacock eye quills, but it is necessary to set them aside to allow hardening. I moved on to the Hendricksons, then the March Browns before scaling down for the Sulfurs. The finale included wings and hackles for the Gordon Quills.
I’ll miss the chance to attend again this year, the half a day drive and overnight stay being more than I care to undertake with the dry fly season on my doorstep. I’ll miss seeing some old friends whom I suspect still attend each year, and hearing tales of the state of fishing down in the Cumberland Valley.
I hope the flies go to a dry fly fisherman of course, for I like to think they will bring a smile and some curiosity, along with a good share of luck when cast upon the waters of the winner’s choice. So may you take some fine wild trout wherever you fare with these duns tied here in Crooked Eddy, on a snowy Catskill afternoon!
My salutations to the Fly Fishers Club, with many fond memories of my decades there in the valley and the good times enjoyed at so many annual gatherings!
Bright Waters Catskill 