Beginners Lesson 15

Baby Doll 

 

 This fly originated in the very early 1970s and was attributed to a Brian Kench. It differs from earlier more traditional patterns in as much that there were no moving parts. Despite this it quickly found favour with the fly fishers of the day on the reservoirs and still waters, thanks mainly to the publicity given to it by Bob Church. 

At that time I was tying flies for three of the local tackle shops and I was inundated with orders for the original baby doll and the several variants it had ‘spawned’. Fortunately Jean, my lovely wife, took it upon herself to deal with all the ‘baby doll orders’ and left me free to carry on tying proper flies.

It was only after a good day at Eyebrook reservoir that I appreciated how good a fly it was. Despite its success over the years it has fallen out of favour and given way to more exotic creations when more man made materials became available to fly tyers.

The three ‘dolls’ on the photograph illustrate the ‘undertaker’, the ‘peach doll’ and the original. Other good patterns which evolved were the peppermint doll, Nell Gwynne and the ‘DF doll’ which had a lead underbody. The dressings for these are all in a book by a fellow Nottingham angler Bob Carnill titled ‘ Dressed to Kill’ if it is still in print.

I would suggest that before you tie this fly you make sure your hands are clean. The baby wool is fluoescent and loses its appeal if it is grubby. I would also suggest that you scrap the fly after a days fishing, after all it is cheap as chips to make.

If you want to give your ‘doll’ a ghostly look gently stroke the wool body with an emery board  to raise the fibres, but make sure that the head is well varnished and dry first.

Materials

 

Original Baby Doll

• Hook            Long shank or Streamer hook ’8′ and ’10′.
• Thread          Black or Red.
• Body/Tail      White ‘Baby Wool’.
• Rib               Silver wire (strong).    

    

Undertaker

As above except body/tail of Black Wool.

 

Peach Doll

As above except red thread for head.

Body/Tail        Peach Wool.

 

Good Luck and Happy Fishing.

Dave Cammiss and the Team