I was re-reading Joseph Bates' book Atlantic Salmon Flies and Fishing recently. After reading a little bit I decided to tie the cosseboom series of flies from the patterns in the book. The cosseboom series was tied for fishing the Margaree River in my home province. Although I cannot find the reference, I believe these were first tied and used for the Long Pool, on the Margaree. My first original pattern, the LP Charm, produced it's first salmon on the Long Pool as well.
I have even included my interpretation of the "Original Cosseboom" pattern mentioned in the book. The first 8 patterns are the original Cosseboom's. The last two patterns come from Stewart and Allen's Flies for Atlantic Salmon. Although the last two carry the cosseboom name, I do not consider them true cosseboom's. I think they could have been more approriately named as well. But I have included them here because they are of significant importance in fishing for Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and New Brunswick.
Original Cosseboom Streamer
Hook:
Any streamer hook 4x long
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Silver Tinsel
Tail:
Small Golden Pheasant Crest Feather
Rib:
Gold Tinsel
Body:
Orange Floss
Wing:
A small bunch of Bronze Peacock Herl over which is a small bunch of Grey Squirrel Tail over which is a small bunch of Green Peacock Herl over which is a small bunch of Fox Squirrel Tail. Repeat this same grouping so you have a total of eight small bunches in the wing.
Collar:
A Teal Feather
Cheeks:
Small Teal Feathers(short jungle cock over optional)
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
Joseph Bates calls this the Original Cosseboom in his book Atlantic Salmon Flies and Fishing. He uses it in his book for historical purposes to show the early use of streamers for salmon fishing. This particular pattern calls for it to be tied on a 4X streamer hook.
Cosseboom (Cosseboom Special)
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Tail:
Pale Olive Floss
Rib:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Body:
Pale Olive Floss
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail
Collar:
Yellow Hackle tied back a bit to blend with the wing.
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
There is no mention of the type of hook for this pattern. Based on the fly pictured in Plate V of Atlantic Salmon Flies and Fishing I decided to use a standard salmon hook
Black Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Tail:
Black Floss
Rib:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Body:
Black Floss
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail
Collar:
Black Hackle tied back a bit to blend with the wing.
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
None.
Orange Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Black
Tag:
Flat Gold Tinsel
Tail:
Orange Floss
Rib:
Flat Gold Tinsel
Body:
Orange Floss
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail over which is a small bunch of Peacock Sword Fibers.
Collar:
Black Hackle tied back a bit to blend with the wing.
Head:
Black Thread
Instructions:
John Cosseboom insisted the heads of
this fly series should be red. For some unknown reason he tied this one with a black head. It is the only fly, of the original 7, that has a black head.
Yellow Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Tail:
Yellow Floss
Rib:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Body:
Yellow Floss
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail
Collar:
Grizzly Hackle tied back a bit to blend with the wing.
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
None.
Red Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Embossed Gold Tinsel
Tail:
Red Floss
Rib:
Embossed Gold Tinsel
Body:
Red Floss
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail
Collar:
Black Hackle tied back a bit to blend with the wing.
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
None.
Peacock Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Tail:
Small bunch of Peacock Sword tied short.
Rib:
Oval Silver Tinsel
Body:
Rear 1/2 Embossed Gold Tinsel, Front 1/2 Peacock Herl
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail over which is Peacock Sword Fibers measuring half the body length.
Throat:
Small bunch of Peacock Sword Fibers half the length of the body.
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
None.
Gold Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Black
Tag:
Embossed Silver Tinsel
Tail:
Small Golden Pheasant Crest Feather
Rib:
Oval Silver Tinsel
Body:
Embossed Gold Tinsel
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail over which is a small bunch of Peacock Sword Fibers.
Collar:
Blue Hackle tied back a bit to blend with the wing.
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
None.
Miramichi Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Black
Tag:
Oval Gold Tinsel
Tail:
Green Hackle Fibers
Rib:
Oval Gold Tinsel
Body:
Green Floss
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail
Collar:
Yellow Hackle
Head:
Black Thread
Instructions:
None.
Silver Cosseboom
Hook:
Any salmon hook
Thread:
Red
Tag:
Flat Silver Tinsel
Tail:
None
Rib:
Oval Silver Tinsel
Body:
Flat Silver Tinsel
Wing:
Grey Squirrel Tail
Collar:
Yellow Hackle
Head:
Red Thread
Instructions:
This was originated by a fellow named Ken Kendall of Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
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