As in palmering a fly. I heard recently, I think it was on one of Bob Wyatt's DVDs, (and Bob does his research) that it comes from an old Scottish word - "palmer" meaning caterpillar or type of caterpillar. That sort of makes sense when you look at the effect.
Anyone heard this or perhaps an alternative?
A palmer hackle goes way back & I'll bet before Scottish tiers got hold of it.
Dame Julian Berners had Mayflies tied with this hackle. I see the connection with Caterpillars but not a word of Scottish origin that I am aware off.
I believe the term came from early Christian times were palm leaves were carried as a mark that they had visited the Holy Land. I take it the shape of the Palm leafs came into fly tying some time later on.
Tight Lines
Wow never knew there was so much to it, or it was so old.
When was Berners around..1400's?
QuoteWhen was Berners around..1400's?
Yes that is about right. If you really want to read a bit of history see if you can get a copy of
The Fly...........Andrew Herd
That will tell you about most old things including the Palmer question.
I may be available online to read by now. I had a copy way back but it went "walkies" so I can not check just going on memory with my answear.
Tight Lines
Thanks Highlander. Also found a couple of books here - https://archive.org/search.php?query=Dame%20Juliana
Been working my way through lots of books on there from the 1850's to early 1920's. They really loved their trout fishing back then with a passion