The River Keeper: William James Lunn

By Terry Hellekson

    William James Lunn was the river keeper for the Houghton Fishing Club (founded in 1822), on the River Test at Stockbridge, England, a position he held from 1887 to 1932. John Waller Hills wrote about Lunn in his book, River Keeper (1934) and brought Lunn to the attention of the fly-fishing world. Mick Lunn, William's grandson, followed up with another book, A Particular Lunn (1990) that further elaborated on the Lunn family, making mention of his father, Alfred, and the period after William's reign. When Mick retired in 1992, he ended 105 year period of Lunn service to the Houghton Fishing Club. Mick was kind enough to send me a copy of his book along with 6 of William's top flies for the River Test. Inasmuch as the flies were tied by William, I find them to be priceless. I am pleased that I am able to share them with you here.

    Hills wrote, "As compared to Halford's correct imitations, Lunn tied his to please the fish, and the ties had the appearance of studied carelessness, being loosely dressed and indefinite in shape. Lunn had forty patterns, sixteen winged, thirteen hackle, seven spent spinners and four nymphs, showing the growing preference for hackled patterns."

Lunn's Particular

                    Hook: Sizes 14 and 16 with turned up eye.

                    Thread: Crimson.

                    Wings: Medium dun hackle points tied spent.

                    Tail: Fibers of Rhode Island Red cock hackle.

                    Body: Undyed Rhode Island Red hackle stalk.

                    Hackle: Rhode Island Red cock hackle.

    Hills wrote, "It was in 1917, when the River Keeper was fishing with a Mr. Gilbey, of London Gin fame, on Park Stream, fishing was poor, and Mr. Gilbey complained to Lunn, "The trout are too particular today." Lunn gave him a new fly which immediately took three trout. On inquiry from Gilbey, "What's this fly?", the reply was: "It's Lunn's Particular." Particular in England at the time was an expression meaning a "particular favorite" and was applied usually to adult beverages. Therefore, William was expressing some humor when he told Gilbey, the gin distiller, that this fly was his "particular."

    When William was shown a copy of this fly that had been purchased from Hardy's shop in London and asked what he thought of its tying, William turned the fly between his forefinger and thumb for a moment and said, "They've got the hook right."

Houghton Ruby

                    Hook: Size 16 with turned up eye.

                    Thread: Crimson.

                    Wings: Blue dun hackle tips from hen's breast tied spent.

                    Tail: Three white cock hackle fibers.

                    Body: White hackle stalk dyed crimson or scarlet.

                    Hackle: Rhode Island Red cock hackle.

Sherry Spinner

                    Hook: Size 14 with turned up eye.

                    Thread: Pale orange.

                    Wings: Light ginger hackle points tied spent.

                    Tail: Light ginger cock hackle fibers.

                    Body: Dark orange floss with fine gold wire ribbed

                    or dyed orange hackle stalk unribbed.

                    Hackle: Light ginger cock hackle.

Yellow Boy

                    Hook: Sizes 14 and 16 with turned up eye.

                    Thread: Orange.

                    Wings: Buff hackle points tied spent.

                    Tail: Buff cock hackle hackle fibers.

                    Body: Dyed yellow hackle stalk.

                    Hackle: Light buff cock hackle.

Blue Upright

                    Hook: Size 14 with turned down eye.

                    Thread: Cream.

                    Tail: Light dun cock hackle fibers.

                    Body: Peacock herl stripped off of flue.

                    Hackle: Light dun cock hackle.

Hackle Caperer

                    Hook: Sizes 12 and 14 with turned up eye.

                    Thread: Black.

                    Body: Three or four strands of cinnamon turkey tail with two

                    strands of dyed yellow goose or swan wound in the center to

                    make a ring.

                    Hackle: Rhode Island Red behind a natural black cock hackle.