#135 - Cains River Silver Doctor

Tied by: Ted Patlen
Popularized by: Fred N. Peet
Source: Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing (page 248)

Hook: #2 sproat hook (2xl or 3xl may also be used)
Thread: Black 70 denier
Tail: 2 sections of barred wood duck feather
Body: Flat silver tinsel
Wing: 2 medium brown hackles flanked by 2 Plymouth Rock (grizzly) hackles
Cheek: Jungle cock nail
Collar: A few turns of french blue hackle followed by a couple turns of a Plymouth Rock (grizzly) hackle
Head: Black

Notes: The Cains rivers streamers are quite distinctive with their flashy barred wood duck tails and short hooks. While Peet did not originate the style of the Cains river streamer, he did design several of the patterns in the series. The Silver Doctor classically has a red head, but the black head lends a certain elegance to the pattern. Mr. Peet tied the flies for use on the Cains River in New Brunswick in the 1920's. Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing includes 21 dressing of the Cains streamer style, and I would recommend reading the section on the history of the flies.

Except from Streamer Fly Tying & Fishing by Joseph D. Bates Jr.

On all Cains River streamers all wing hackles are of the same length. When a two-tone collar is called for, the rear color should be twice as heavily dressed as the forward color. Two or three turns of tinsel should be taken around the bend of the hook below where the tail is tied in. The heads are varnished black. Mr Pray used regular number two sproat hooks, although the flies may be dressed on 2X or 3X long. Nearly all of the series are similar in design.

For more information the Cains River streamer series see Forgotten flies (pg 406-407) and Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing (page 242-250)