News

How well do you know your tackle?

  • 26th November 2012

Would you be able to tell us what any of the following are?

Brown Hackle Peacock

Bloody Mary

Green Midge

Golden Pheasant

Jenny Spinner

Orange Otter

Red Furnace

Yellow Peril

Colonel Dowman’s Fancy

Cowdung

Treacle Parkin

Turkey Tip

Welsh Partridge

Imperial Fly

Yellow Sally

Infallible

Bloody Doctor

Sound familiar? They are actually all different types of fishing flies.

Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service has recently acquired a small deposit of records originating from Fishing Tackle manufacturers, Martinez & Bird, Redditch. We have been able to secure these records for future preservation and use thanks to the kind support of the Friends of Worcestershire Archives.

The deposit includes a couple of pattern books, which give detailed descriptions of the fishing fly design – for instance:

  • The Alexandra: tail red feather; body – silver, flat; hackle – black hen; wind – sword peacock with red swan on each side;
  • The Alder: body – peacock; hackle – black hen; wing – speckled hen
  • And the Broader Greenwell: body – yellow silk rib, gold wire; inner hackle – Greenwell; head hackle – Blue Dun.

    • The deposit also includes a signed first edition of a book entitled The Trout and we also have a number of original hooks and flies.  

    This collection has now been accessioned and is held in our secure strongrooms. As the documents are as yet uncatalogued users should give advanced notice if they wish to view the items. Please contact us if you are intending to visit.

    2 responses to “How well do you know your tackle?”

    1. Roger Leake says:
      November 27, 2012 at 12:15 pm

      It is good to see this appreciation of The Friends' support of the Archive Service.

      The Friends of Worcestershire Archives regularly support the Service, both by lobbying and in practical (including financial) ways. Any reader who is interested to learn more about the Friends may contact the Chairman, Roger Leake, by telephone on 01386 710382.

    2. Anonymous says:
      June 28, 2016 at 12:31 pm

      good post

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