Wells' Special
Hook - Single salmon
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
Author's Note
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
