DR BELL OF WRINGTON
PIONEER OF RESERVOIR NYMPH FLY FISHING (1888-1974)
DR BELL'S FLIES 1
Dr Bell was instrumental in the design of several fly patterns which were revolutionary at the time. The best known, of course, being his Grenadier pattern.
Here are the dressings of some of his other dressings. Do give them a try!
Grenadier
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 10 - 14
Tying thread: Brown
Body: Orange seal’s fur, ribbed with fine gold wire or fine oval gold tinsel
Hackle: Ginger cock collar hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
Precisely what Dr Bell intended to imitate with this fly is uncertain but there are strong indications that he may have had bloodworm, which can be this shade, in mind. The Grenadier is still very popular although it is usually tied with a palmered body hackle nowadays (see the pattern at the foot of this page.
Blagdon Buzzer Nymph
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 10 - 12
Tying thread: Black
Body: Black wool or floss tied part way round the bend, ribbed with fine gold tinsel
Hackle: Brown mallard fibre throat hackle
Wing: White floss trimmed to one third the length of the body
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
This fly is the forerunner of the hundreds of buzzer patterns which have been designed over the years and it possesses three of the features we usually consider indispensable in such flies: a body going around the hook bend, ribbing to suggest segmentation and white breathers.
Corixa
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 12 - 14, with shank painted with white varnish
Tying thread: Brown
Body: White or cream floss, ribbed with beige or brown tying thread
Back: Woodcock wing feather fibre
Hackle: White or cream hen throat hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
John Veniard attributes this pattern to Dr Bell in A Further Guide to Fly Dressing, quoting from an article by Col. Esmond Drury in the Fishing Gazette of April 1958. Corixa are to be found in the shallow areas of most reservoirs, swimming with a jerky motion, and that is where and how the artificial needs to be retrieved. Many present-day corixa patterns are similar in design to this fly and are very likely developments from it.
Amber Nymph (Brown Version)
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 10 - 12
Tying thread: Black
Body: Amber seal’s fur
Thorax: Brown seal’s fur
Wing cases: Brown feather fibre
Hackle: Ginger or honey hen throat hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
Although this fly may have lost a bit of its popularity in recent years it still has a nice ‘buggy’ look about it, and can be fished either as a sedge pupa pattern or a general prospecting nymph. It is very versatile and can be used in conjunction with anything from a floating to a sinking line. Like all Dr Bell’s patterns it needs to be fished slowly.
Amber Nymph (Hot Orange Version)
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 12 - 14
Tying thread: Black
Body: Amber seal’s fur
Thorax: Hot orange seal’s fur
Wing cases: Brown feather fibre
Hackle: Ginger or honey hen throat hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
This is a similar version to the above imitating different species of sedge. Fish in a similar manner to that as described for the previous pattern.
Green & Orange Nymph
Hook: Wet fly hook size 12
Tying thread: Black
Body: Medium green wool wound thickly, ribbed with black tying thread
Thorax: Hot orange tying thread
Hackle: Bright natural red/ginger hen collar hackle, long in the fibre and sloped well back; trim so there are only five or six fibres on either side of the hook
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
This pattern was designed as a representation of the pupa of a large cinnamon sedge as it swims towards the shore to hatch. Dr Bell made the observation that trout taking this sedge were often to be caught on a Teal & Green.
Translucent Nymph
Hook: Wet fly hook size 12, with shank painted with white varnish
Tying thread: Orange
Body: White floss silk bluntly tapered at tail, ribbed with black horse hair, coated with amber varnish
Hackle: Bright ginger (New Hampshire Red) hen collar hackle, long in the fibre; trim so there are only five or six fibres lying on either side of the hook
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
Dr Bell did not name this fly but I have given it the title Translucent Nymph because that is an appropriate description, as he endeavoured to give it translucence much in the fashion of J W Dunne. It can be employed either as a sedge pupa imitation or used at other times when the flies need to stand out and be noticed.
Grenadier Special
Hook: Wet fly hook sizes 10 - 14
Tying thread: Brown
Body: Orange seal’s fur, ribbed with fine gold wire or fine oval gold tinsel
Hackle: Ginger cock collar hackle tied palmer
Tail: Fluorescent Orange floss
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
This is not Dr Bell's version but a derivative from the original Grenadier that is exceedingly successful and popular today. The addition of the short fluorescent orange tail in the Grenadier Special is a distinct improvement, and is a particular favourite of the writer, and has taken countless fish.
Bloodworm
Hook: Long shank wet fly hook sizes 10 - 12
Tying thread: Red
Body: Red tying thread, ribbed with fine gold wire
Hackle: Pale ginger cock collar hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
The evidence for this fly has been drawn from an example tied by Dr Bell which was (posthumously) donated to the Fly Fishers' Club in London. Precisely what he intended it to represent is not known but the fact that it is tied on a long shank hook suggests that it might well have been a bloodworm. It is suggested that this sort of pattern would need to be retrieved quite slowly for best effect.
Blagdon Green Midge
Hook: Dry fly hook sizes 14 - 16
Tying thread: Green
Body: Emerald green wool or feather fibre
Hackle: White cock collar hackle
Head: Tying thread, clear varnished
Variant: The hackle can be in ‘parachute’ style or tied ‘spent’.
Whether this is a creation from Dr Bell is not one hundred percent certain but as it is associated with Blagdon (as the name suggests), and he may have had an influence on its design, it is included for the sake of completeness. When green midges are in evidence leave it stationary and watch for the fish to rise and take. It can be pressed into service when the trout are taking aphids.
Image credits on this page: Adrian Freer