Here is another addition to my Carrie Stevens Fly Pattern Dictionary; a work in progress:
Kelley’s Killer
Kelley’s Killer – Carrie Steven’s pattern – a shot of triplets. All three streamers are dressed by Don Bastian on Gaelic Supreme Martinek / Stevens Rangeley Style Streamer hooks, size #1 – 8x. The bottom two sport silver badger feathers that had a dark flecking on the silver portion of the barbs. I found it interesting to use on this pattern.
Kelley’s Killer
Tag: Flat silver tinsel
Body: Orange floss
Ribbing: Flat silver tinsel
Underbelly: White bucktail
Throat: White hackle fibers
Wing: Four lavender hackles flanked on each side by a slightly shorter silver badger hackle
Shoulder: Tan-tipped Amherst pheasant body feather
Cheek: Jungle cock
Head: Black with orange band
The Kelley’s Killer is one of a few of Carrie’s patterns that employs the use of silver badger hackles in the wing. It is a very beautiful pattern.
Kelley’s Killer – head, shoulder, cheek, throat macro. I love these close-up images because the viewer’s eye is always drawn to this area – the most complex and interesting portion of the pattern.
Don
Nice flies again. How many coats of sally’s do you usually use? And do you use thinner in it? Reason I ask is because one of my bottles got thicker as I used it. Bought a new on which was thin to start out…wouldn’t mind thinning the other to finish off the bottle.
You also mentioned the CS fly pattern dictionary, but I haven’t been able to find a link to it on the blog…is it active yet?
Eunan
Hi Eunan;
Thanks for your comment and compliment! To answer your questions – on the Sally Hansen Hard As nails – someone gave my bottle to me, one of my wives, can’t remember which one. If it was Lou Anne, then it’s more than 5 years old. Or the “other” second one, then at least 2 or more years old. The bottle is about half full. Never used it much til recently. I don’t thin it, don’t know what to use. At present it seems to be of the perfect consistency. And I use the brush applicator, which is different for me since I normally use a bodkin on all my other cements. These heads are bigger though. I apply 5 – 6 coats, sometimes one coat is still tacky when I add the next. Drying time overnight, or 10 – 12 hours sets it up so that you can grab the head with your fingers and not smudge or dull the shine.
My Carrie Stevens Pattern Dictionary (hereinafter referred to as The Dictionary), will be a “Category” on my blog, not necessarily a separate page. Once I get more posts in it, to view The Dictionary visitors can simply click on the Carrie Stevens Pattern Dictionary Tab on the right, and it will load all the posts in that category, and only the Carrie Stevens posts. That way folks won’t have to dig through the whole blog to find this file.
I just created the new Category – aka The Dictionary, yesterday, so if you click on it today, you’ll only be able to view these two recent posts with “The Killers” in them. When I get time I intend to go back in my older Carrie Stevens streamer posts and add them to “The Dictionary.” To answer your question, The Dictionary is active, but it doesn’t have a link, unless maybe I can create a permalink in my dashboard…hmmmmm…have to check that out.
Thanks again for your comment!
I’ve been using hard as nails for the last 6 months. I cut the little brush down to about one fifth its original size and use it for everything. Wet fly heads, streamer heads and salmon fly heads. usually 3 coats for a nice shine, and like you said sometimes still tacky when i apply the next one, but always overnight before I will touch the head.
I don’t use black laquer on my heads (simply because i don’t have any). I just finish with black thread and the three coats give a nice shine and reflection. Try it, you might not like it, but i do.
Eunan
Don, these flies are simply outstanding. The Kelley’s Killer is something I will have to tie. I am partial to the name, and the beautiful feathers used in this fly. You did Carrie proud here. Wow, these are striking looking flies. Gorgeous pattern, and you did a wonderful job. Thank you for the beautiful photos, thoughts, and recipe. I am thrilled to see this, you can bet on that!
Kelly;
Thanks for your comment and appreciation! On the spelling, (I corrected your comment BTW), there’s an “e.” I just noticed that when I was typing the recipe from Hilyard’s book. So that makes this pattern different than your original Kelly’s Killer. 🙂 I liked this pattern because of the lavender / silver badger wing combo, and would have tied it sooner, like last summer, but I lacked the Amherst pheasant. Picked up a skin, sans tail & head in Maine in March for $20. I’m glad you like my work. This will be fun to keep working on this project of my blog version of a Carrie Stevens Fly Pattern Dictionary. Thanks again for your comments, kinds words and support! You da girl!
Eunan, I have thinned a thick Sally’s with FRESH Sally’s. When the bottle starts to get too thick, and that is usually about half full, or less….just add new Sally’s in there. I don’t use Sally’s as much lately, but it is still in my tying arsenal. Black Sally’s works just fine, and you can find that at some stores locally, without ordering it. Get the Black Out. The other one has a slight purplish black tint. I don’t like that one. After about 2 times of thinning, I just throw the bottle out, and start with a fresh one. It is cheap enough that you don’t have to worry about it. I have thinned the black with a little clear too, it works out fine, as long as you don’t fill half the bottle with clear.
AH, I do stand corrected. I forgot about that spelling. I didn’t even know about a Kelley’s Killer, until I made a Kelly’s Killer in the New Zealand Killer Style of flies. Carrie Stevens work is just top notch, and Don, I LOVE THAT YOU ARE DOING SO MANY of HER PATTERNS!! I get excited seeing all this beauty, and fish attracting, all built into a pattern like this. Carrie was a master. I know she would be proud of you doing her patterns so wonderfully. Thank you for the beauty, the history, and the blog. It made my day.
Hi Kelly;
You are too kind. I hope to be able to always continue this work, and what I do. Continue to grow as a fly tier, progress and evolve, all in positive ways. Your encouragement helps. Thank you very much!