I was down in the tying room this morning tying up a few extra streamers for an upcoming upcountry trip this coming week, and I was tying up a pattern that’s quite famous; but that I have never tied up, or eBen fished for that matter.........the Montreal Whore. Now........is that a weird name for a fly? I can just imagine the look i’d Get from my wife if she happened to poke her head in on the way to the laundry room.........asked what fly I was tying, and I told her I was tying up a few Montreal Whores........or, as Hunters Angling Supply used to refer to them in their catalog.......Montreal Courtesans.
There’s a famous Western tier along the Madison River that comes up with as provocative a name for his new patterns as he can think up. Can you just imagine telling your wife/girlfriend/sister/significant other that you’re heading to your tying room to spin up a few “French Ticklers” (really??) or Sex Dungeons? I can just imagine the look I’d get from my wife.
I’m well-aware that a lot of these guys make their living(s) from inventing, and selling, flies; and that they have to differentiate themselves from the pack, but really.........sexually suggestive fly names? Now I’m about as far from a prude as its possible to be; but even I would cringe if fishing with a woman.........and giving her a “French Tickler” to tie on. As they say on Monday Night Countdown.........C’mon Man!
Dave M
Dave, the Baptist Minister up the street from the shop called them Montreal Concubines - I always liked the Note listed under the recipe in Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen's book "Like its namesake, this fly has flash, form and lots of action."
I don’t mind the crazy names... prevents us from taking any of this too seriously...