Before the Hendrickson

Whirling Dun Fly by Art Flick
Whirling Dun Fly by Art Flick

History

By Tom Mason: Some of us in the last few days have explored the tying of the Hendrickson and we have enjoyed this very much. But what fly was used by the old timers before the Hendrickson came along.

Art Flick states in his classic Streamside Guide that the Whirling Dun was originally tied to imitate E. Subvaria. This is that Fly as per the dressing of Rube Cross.

My Take

It was interesting to me because the “Hendrickson” is so famous I never questioned what was tied before its invention. Tom Mason let me know he “was there” (lol) when the Hendrickson was invented. He also told me he tied it with using dinosaur bone tools lol.

Male Hendrickson Red Quill by Dave Brandt

Dave Brandt Hendrickson Fly, Red Quill
Dave Brandt Red Quill photo Tom Mason

The Female Hendrickson has been thoroughly explored recently. Let’s move to a different riffle where we find the male Hendrickson hatching. This is a Red Quill tied by master Catskill Fly tier Dave Brandt. Loved to chat and watch Dave tie but for some reason the sign in on his table always said “Free Flies Tomorrow”. When I questioned this Dave’s response was “we will burn that bridge when we come to it”.

-an excerpt from Tom Mason my good friend and neighbor on the East Branch is the Delaware.