Fishing lure with black, blue, red, and yellow feathers on a light gray background
Fishing lure with black, blue, red, and yellow feathers on a light gray background

Atlantic Salmon Fly, Hairwing, Silver Doctor - Black Wing

$5.49
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Size
Wing Style
Hand Tied
in Canada
Premium
Materials
Proven
Patterns
Description

The Silver Doctor Hairwing is a classic Atlantic salmon fly featuring a reflective silver body, distinctive blue, red and yellow accents, and a natural hairwing. This traditional pattern combines vibrant colour contrasts with practical hairwing construction.

A versatile salmon fly well suited to traditional wet-fly swing presentations across a range of river conditions.

Tied in Canada by DcTackle.

Pattern History

The Silver Doctor is one of the classic patterns from the traditional Atlantic salmon fly tradition, belonging to the well-known Doctor family of salmon flies. Its distinctive combination of a reflective silver body and colourful wing and hackle materials reflects the elaborate feather-wing dressings developed during the nineteenth century.

Over time, the Silver Doctor has been adapted into simpler hairwing versions that retain the recognizable silver body and contrasting colours while using natural hair materials for a more practical fishing fly.

The DcTackle Silver Doctor Hairwing follows this tradition, offered in both Black Wing and Grey Squirrel Tail Classic Wing dressings. Each preserves the character of the original pattern while providing a different wing profile and appearance in the water.

Fishing Notes

The Silver Doctor Hairwing – Black Wing combines a reflective silver body and colourful accents with a pronounced dark hairwing silhouette. The contrast between the silver body and black wing makes it a useful searching pattern for Atlantic salmon, particularly in shaded pools, overcast conditions and moderately coloured water.

Fish it using a traditional across-and-downstream wet-fly swing, adjusting the casting angle and line control to maintain a controlled presentation through pools and runs.

The dark wing provides a stronger silhouette than the Classic Wing dressing, making this version a practical choice when greater contrast is desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Atlantic salmon fly should I choose?
Fly size depends on factors such as water level, water temperature, clarity, season and fishing conditions. Larger flies are often selected for higher or colder water, while smaller flies are commonly used as water levels fall and temperatures rise. Local preferences and river conditions can also influence fly selection.
Are these flies suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. These patterns are suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, although individual patterns, sizes and presentations may be better suited to particular rivers or conditions. Where useful, additional information is provided in the Pattern History and Fishing Notes for the individual fly.
Are these Atlantic salmon flies tied in Canada?
Yes. DcTackle Atlantic salmon flies are tied in Canada by DcTackle using carefully selected fly-tying materials.
What materials are used in these Atlantic salmon flies?
The materials vary by pattern. The Pattern Recipe on each product page identifies the dressing used for that particular fly. Where appropriate, the Material Alternatives section also identifies other materials that can be used in place of traditional or specified materials.
Can I substitute different materials when tying this pattern?
Yes. Many traditional Atlantic salmon patterns have been dressed with different materials over time, often because of availability, regional preference or changes in fly-tying materials. Where suitable alternatives exist, they are identified in the Material Alternatives section of the product page.
Can I purchase the materials used to tie this pattern?
Where materials are available from DcTackle, they are shown in the Shop the Pattern section of the product page. Availability varies by pattern and material.

Shop the Pattern

Everything you need to tie this pattern, matched to the exact materials used.

Pattern Recipe

SW-011 · Silver Doctor - Dark Wing

Hook
Maruto M30 Black Salmon Hook
Thread
Semperfli 8/0 Black CWT Thread
Tip
Oval Silver Tinsel
Tag
Uni-Stretch Nylon - Green
Tail
Golden Pheasant Crest Feather
Butt
Ultra Chenille - Red
Body
Flat Silver Tinsel
Rib
Oval Silver Tinsel
Throat / Collar Hackle
Dark Blue Schlappen or soft hackle
Wing — Layer 1
Black Opossum Hair
Head Finish
Red Thread and UV Red Resin

Tying Video

Tying video coming soon.

This recipe represents the DcTackle dressing. Traditional Atlantic salmon flies often have multiple accepted variations, and materials may differ between historical, regional and contemporary dressings.

Image Note: Some product graphics use AI-assisted presentation. Fly imagery is based on actual DcTackle-tied flies; AI may be used for backgrounds, supporting imagery and visual presentation.

Pattern Notes

1. Adjust the size of the flat tinsel to match the hook size. Same for the oval tinsel

2. I use a darker blue schlappen or soft hackle for these as apposed to a lighter F. Blue

3. Use a micro ultra chenille for hook sizes smaller than 8

3. Use uni underbody or white stretch nylon as an underbody to provide a smooth structure for the flat tinsel body

4. Wax your thread before securing the Black Opposum wing to prevent slippage

Free Atlantic Salmon Fly Anatomy & Proportions Guide

Explore the nine key components of a traditional Atlantic salmon wet fly, with practical guidance on proportions, materials and construction details.

This illustrated reference from the DcTackle tying bench is available as a free downloadable PDF.

Download Free Guide