Fly of the Month - Moosetail Quill GordanFly of the Month - Moosetail Quill Gordan
The Quill Gordan is a pattern that has been passed down to new fly fishing generations. It comes from who some consider to be one of the greatest fly fisherman in history; Theodore Gordon. The original Quill Gordan pattern was tied in the traditional Catskill style to imitate the emergence of adult mayflies (Epeorus pleuralis), that hatch-out in April or early May among the many New York State rivers. Even though the Quill Gordan pattern was originated for fishing Mayfly hatches in the eastern states, it can be used anywhere you find well oxygenated unpolluted waters. If you are going to be using this pattern for faster flowing turbulent waters, then thickening the hackle and adding moose body hairs for the tail will help it to ride on the surface of the water more easily. You fish the Quill Gordan the same as you would any other dry fly pattern you have in your fly box. By matching the fly size as best you can to the naturals, and trying to give it the longest possible drag-free drift over potential trout hotspots you will get the results that you have been looking for. Don’t forget to hold on tight, because the strikes will be vicious.
Tight lines and Smooth threads, Jason Akl
The Materials for the pattern are as Follows: Hook: Mustad size 12 or 14. Tail: 7-8 Moose Body Hairs. Body: Peacock Eye Herl Stripped. Wing: Wood Duck. Flank Feather Hackle: Chocolate Dun Hackle, Medium.
Moosetail Quill Gordan Step by Step Instructions
1. Start this fly by placing your hook into the vise, making sure it is secured tightly. Tie the thread in behind the hook eye and wrap a thin smooth base of thread back towards the hook bend until you reach the point above the barb.
2. From your patch of moose body hairs select 7-8 individual hairs that closely resemble each other in color. Stack this small patch of hairs and tie onto the hook above the hook barb. The tail length should be should be the same as the length of the hook shank. After the tail has been tied down make sure all the fibers of the tail stayed on the top of the hook shank. If you are satisfied with the tail, advance the thread forward to the ¼ mark on the hook shank
3. For the wing: select a nicely colored wood duck flank feather and tie down the tip over the hook eye as the wing. The wing length should be the same as the length of the hook shank.
4. Select a long peacock herl from a brightly colored peacock eye. Strip this herl completely with an eraser very carefully starting from the tip and working to the butt section. Apply either hand lotion or conditioner to soften the quill, and then proceed to tie it in behind the wing and cover it with thread until you reach the tail.
5. Carefully wrap the herl forward making sure not to leave any gaps in the body. Keep winding the quill forward until you reach the back of the wing. Tie off the quill and start to stand your wing upright by placing thread wraps at the front of the wing base; 3-4 wraps of thread should stand the wing up straight.
6. With you scissors: carefully divide the wing into two equal but separate wings. Using figure eight thread wraps post the base of each wing so that they will stay standing partially on their own.
7. Tie in between the newly posted wing the two medium chocolate hackles, making sure to keep the glossy side forward.
8. Wind the first hackle towards the hook eye, 3 times behind and two times in-front of the wing. Then wind the second hackle forward this time wrapping two times behind and three times in-front of the wing. Tie off and trim both hackles neatly, then whip finish and cement.
The Quill Gordan is a pattern that has been passed down to new fly fishing generations. It comes from who some consider to be one of the greatest fly fisherman in history; Theodore Gordon. The original Quill Gordan pattern was tied in the traditional Catskill style to imitate the emergence of adult mayflies (Epeorus pleuralis), that hatch-out in April or early May among the many New York State rivers. Even though the Quill Gordan pattern was originated for fishing Mayfly hatches in the eastern states, it can be used anywhere you find well oxygenated unpolluted waters. If you are going to be using this pattern for faster flowing turbulent waters, then thickening the hackle and adding moose body hairs for the tail will help it to ride on the surface of the water more easily. You fish the Quill Gordan the same as you would any other dry fly pattern you have in your fly box. By matching the fly size as best you can to the naturals, and trying to give it the longest possible drag-free drift over potential trout hotspots you will get the results that you have been looking for. Don’t forget to hold on tight, because the strikes will be vicious. 
Moosetail Quill Gordan Step by Step Instructions 
2. From your patch of moose body hairs select 7-8 individual hairs that closely resemble each other in color. Stack this small patch of hairs and tie onto the hook above the hook barb. The tail length should be should be the same as the length of the hook shank. After the tail has been tied down make sure all the fibers of the tail stayed on the top of the hook shank. If you are satisfied with the tail, advance the thread forward to the ¼ mark on the hook shank 
4. Select a long peacock herl from a brightly colored peacock eye. Strip this herl completely with an eraser very carefully starting from the tip and working to the butt section. Apply either hand lotion or conditioner to soften the quill, and then proceed to tie it in behind the wing and cover it with thread until you reach the tail. 
5. Carefully wrap the herl forward making sure not to leave any gaps in the body. Keep winding the quill forward until you reach the back of the wing. Tie off the quill and start to stand your wing upright by placing thread wraps at the front of the wing base; 3-4 wraps of thread should stand the wing up straight. 
6. With you scissors: carefully divide the wing into two equal but separate wings. Using figure eight thread wraps post the base of each wing so that they will stay standing partially on their own. 
8. Wind the first hackle towards the hook eye, 3 times behind and two times in-front of the wing. Then wind the second hackle forward this time wrapping two times behind and three times in-front of the wing. Tie off and trim both hackles neatly, then whip finish and cement.