#106 - Cains River Wade's Choice

Tied by: Bryant Freeman
Originated by: Oscar Weber
Source: Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing, Bates - Pg. 243 - 249

Bryant's Variation
Hook: #2 Partridge CS17 Ken Baker
Tail: 2 sections of barred wood duck feather
Body: Medium flat silver tinsel
Wing: 2 grey Plymouth Rock (grizzly) hackles hackles flanked by scarlet hackle flanked by rich yellow hackle on each side
Cheek: Jungle cock
Collar: A few turns of rich yellow hackle (original calls for a few turns of grizzly before the yellow)
Head: Black

Notes: This is the first of 2 Wade's Choice streamers submitted by Bryant for the project. This is the original version as dressed by Oscar Weber of the Weber Tackle Company with the exception of A few turns of Plymouth Rock (grizzly) hackle followed by rich yellow hackle in the collar. The fly was named for a guide who worked for Mr. Harry Allen, a prominent figure in the history of the Cains River.

The Cains River style of streamers was popularized by Fred N. Peet and C. Jim Pray and have become known to be effective lures for sportfish such as Atlantic salmon, steelhead, Pacific salmon and pike as well as a range of saltwater targets. Some general notes when tying this style are outlined in Joseph D. Bates book, Streamer Fly tying and Fishing.

On all Cains River streamers all wing hackles are of the same length. When a two-color- collar is called for, the rear color should be twice as heavily dressed as the forward color. Two or three turns of tinsel should be taken around the bend of the hook below where the tail is tied in. The heads are varnished black. Mr. Pray used regular number two sproat hooks, although the flies may be dressed on hooks 2X or 3X long. Nearly all the series are similar in design.

Bryant has provided the project with 6 examples of the series and they will be available for sale as a group near the end of the project.