Fly Identification

[owlhoot]

I picked up a box of fly's at a garage sale, most seem to be made the same pattern, Can someone identify these fly's for me?
Thanks.

[Larry.S]

Not sure. Sort of look like a modified Carey Special.

[goldscud]

Green thread and pheasant tail trolling beauties

[Outbound]

Originally Posted by Larry.S

Not sure. Sort of look like a modified Carey Special.

I agree with this. They look like a variation of the Carey Special.

[Lornce]

Definitely the Carey Special variation. Tied many of these for shops in BC in my younger days. Great lake fly.

[owlhoot]

Thanks Guys, I'll put them to work next spring. Here's a history of the fly from BC Outdoors Magazine.

The Carey Special traces its roots back to 1920 when Colonel Tom Carey and Dr. Lloyd Day collaborated on a pattern originally called the Monkey Faced Louise or Dredge. Their design featured a dense pheasant rump hackle and a dubbed fur body from a dead marmot Dr. Day had found on his drive to rendezvous with Colonel Carey for a fishing trip. Since this initial prototype, the Carey Special has undergone many mutations. Still, the fly’s core remains the same: a pheasant rump tail and hackle, coupled with a body using a variety of materials.

[Lornce]

By the way, nice find.

[owlhoot]

Originally Posted by Lornce

By the way, nice find.

Thanks. I got 5 full fly boxes for 20$. These were the most interesting

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by owlhoot

Thanks. I got 5 full fly boxes for 20$. These were the most interesting

You struck gold. Congrats.

BW

[walker1]

There is good finds to be had.

[Mr Flyguy]

You also got some vintage aluminum fly boxes...nice find!

[WinFwt]

Right spot, right time for sure. Excellent buy.
Are the boxes Wheatley?

[flyrodfisher]

Originally Posted by WinFwt

Are the boxes Wheatley?

That was my first thought when I looked at the photo...
But upon closer inspection and comparisons with my Wheatleys, I'm not sure...
The hinge and the hook keepers look the same..but the rivetted sidewalls look strange.

Still could be though...more pics of the box are needed.

If they are....a GREAT find!!!!

[SNAPFisher]

Yeah! Great find for sure. Those green colored ones will work well at Maligne

And I'm sure at a lot of closer lakes too.

[Lornce]

Perrine Fly Fishing Box perhaps, have to look at the logo.

[owlhoot]

The box is a Wheatley. What kind of age would you put on it?
I took some more pics. The bottom two are Wheatley The blue/green two have "Fly Box" embosed on them and the top one is a Perrine.
The Old adage of the Wife selling her husbands fishing stuff for what he said He paid for it may be true

[owlhoot]

Here's a closer shot of the Perrine

[chucky]

All this for $20!! great boxes and really nice patterns there, congrats

[WinFwt]

Based on the style and look of the flies, my guess on the age of the package you bought would be sometime in the '80's to 90's, could be earlier, not sure though. My Dad had a couple boxes similar to the green ones in the 70's/80's with similar looking flies in them. He did a lot of lake fishing.

W.W. Doak & Sons out of NS are currently selling Wheatley boxes similar / identical to yours for $80 to $90, depending on the size.

Regardless, very cool find. Thanks for sharing.

[flyrodfisher]

I'm thinking late 1960's or early 1970's for the Wheatleys.

If it has the "silmalloy" stamp on it, it is post 1966.

Here is a link that helps date some of the Wheatley boxes;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=OsVmvGUsJZw

Great find...Wheatley's are expensive to buy...but they hold their value and are prized by collectors.

[owlhoot]

This keeps getting better, They are stamped Silmalloy,
Thanks for all the info
Owl