Wells' Special

Wells' Special 

Hooks - MUS80500BL, MUS8050I BL, TMC7999, or DA1244I, sizes 4-8

Thread - Black

Tip - Flat gold tinsel

Tail - Claret hackle barbs

Body - Peacock herl. Reverse wrapped with fine silver wire

Hackle - Yellow tied on as a collar and tied back

Wing - Coastal blacktail deer hair tied over the body

Sam Wells of Eureka, California, originated this pattern in 1920. 

The original pattern had natural gray goose quill for the wing and often had narrow sections of red, yellow, and blue goose quill tied either on top or along the sides. The deer hair wing came into vogue around 1945.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson