All in a Day’s Work! Getting ready for the new season in 2020!
Walbran mentioned in Flydresser (Autumn 2016) 23.2.17
The Red Tag fly, designed by the founder of TAC, Maximillian Walbran, was mentioned in the 2016 Autumn edition of Flydresser (page 29). Apparently he had been recommended to try the fly ‘Worcester Gem’ on his Yorkshire rivers. He consequently then changed the name of the ‘Worcester Gem’ to ‘the Red Tag’ and first mentioned it in a chapter on grayling flies in his book British Angling Flies (second edition).
The Red Tag – Walbran’s version
Body: bright green peacock’s harl over which winds a red cock’s hackle, and a scrap of crimson floss silk at the tail.
However FM Halford had described it, some three years before, in Floating Flies & How to Dress Them. Here he said the Hackle was Blood red game cock; the Body was copper-coloured peacock herl with 2 or 3 stands twisted together. The tag was Ibis or scarlet wool.
Investigation. Using diploid brown trout 9.4.17
We continue to research the addition of diploid trout to the river and thankfully the first three years of our Investigation has been very successful. The Environment Agency are happy with the data that we are providing and are supportive of our continuing work on this subject.