The Waddens and the Ackroyd Fly

Many of the St. Mary’s River old-timers fondly remember the Wadden brothers, Eddie & Bunny, from Westville NS. They were true angling pioneers, proving that fly fishing for Atlantic salmon in salt water can provide great sport in and around river estuaries. They developed streamer fishing for sea-run brown trout in the salt water and angled giant striped bass in Guysborough county surf.

Most of all, they had fun. Bunny was the quiet one. Eddie was the more sociable of the two, always ready to help a novice or spin a yarn. Eddie, often carrying a glass of “orange juice”, entertained the bankers at the Ford Pool with his stories and antics. These men were experts. They knew their sport well, designing and tying flies to support their habit.

Eddie’s favourite salmon fly was the Ackroyd. He’d often tell stories about an especially large salmon he caught or lost on an Ackroyd. As he got worked up by recalling the excitement of his experience he developed quite a stutter, regaling his audience.

Eddie liked a large Ackroyd in the cold water of fall Rivers such as the Margaree, or early spring on the East River St. Mary’s. He also fished a small hair wing version in the summer. He loved that fly. If you try it, you may experience some of Eddie’s excitement and also share the thrills of many anglers who lived well before Eddie’s time.

Historically, the Ackroyd belongs to the family of Dee strip winged flies. These are very old flies (early 1800’s) originating from the famous Scottish river Aberdeenshire Dee, commonly called the Dee. The Dee flies are very special, with their characteristic turkey wings and long spey hackle. Ideally the Dee fly is tied on long-shank light or medium weight hooks, dressed thin & sparse, allowing them to sink more readily in heavy water.

The Ackroyd is a fairly simple fly featuring a yellow and black body, nicknamed “the poor man’s Jock Scott”.  The fly in the photo was tied by four-time world champion classic fly tier Jim McCoul of Brookfield NS.
 
Specifications are as follows:

The Ackroyd

Hook:                Long shank spey-type hook, sizes 6 - 3/0

Tag:                  Fine oval silver tinsel

Tail:                  Golden pheasant crest topped with tippet strands

Body:                First half, yellow seal’s fur (or angora dubbing)

                        Second half, black floss

Rib:                  Oval silver tinsel, yellow hackle over the yellow seal’s fur and a black long-fibered spey hackle over the black floss

Throat:              Teal or mallard flank

Wing:                A pair of cinnamon or white turkey tail strips, tied flat on top

Sides:               Jungle cock, drooping below the hook shank

Please stay on the line ...