Yaller Hammer, a Legendary Smokey Mountain Fly

“The Yaller Hammer is so old school and old timey that few have heard of the trout fly, and fewer still have fished it. But you can still find them in old fly shops in the deep hollers of Tennessee and North Carolina.”

“Part of the mystical Yaller Hammer’s allure is that it was tied with the feathers of the yellow-shafted northern flicker. That bird, like all song birds, is protected, so these days, dyed quail and chicken feathers will have to suffice.”

I decided to use dyed Starling feathers, don’t get caught with one tied from the yellow-shafted northern flicker.

Yaller Hammers can be fished as both a wet fly and a dry fly.

List of Materials:
Hook: Mustad 9672 (3xl Nymph), Sizes #10, #12, or #14
Thread: 140 Denier / 8/0 Black Thread
Tail: Yellow Starling Barbules
Body: Yellow Rabbit Dubbing
Hackle: Yellow Starling Primary Wing Feather – Split (Softened in hot water before splitting)
Head: Black Thread – Large