John Atherton devised a series of 7 dry flies to match the flies hatching in waters he fished. He tied these flies not to replace patterns that were popular at the time like the Hendrickson. Red Quill, Adams, and Light Cahill but to better match the flies he observed hatching on his home waters. The two most productive patterns were the Atherton No. 2 and No. 5. John didn’t give his patterns names only numbers.

The materials listed below is for the Atherton No. 5

Hook – Dry Fly #14-16

Thread – 8/0 Camel

Wing – Wood duck tied upright and split

Tail – Cree Hackle Fibers

Body – Dark hares ear from the back of the ear mixed with a little of the pinkish fur from the base of the ear

Rib – Oval gold tinsel

Hackle – Cree Hackle tied Catskill style

John Lazar

Fly tied by John Lazar