54 Dean St. Ovale Pure Silk Floss

54 Dean Street Ovale Pure Silk Floss is a premium fly-tying floss made from 100% silk. It is renowned for its vibrant colors, smooth texture, and durability, making it a top choice for both classic and modern fly patterns​. Produced in France by the historic silk maker Au Ver à Soie (with a 180-year tradition of silk dyeing), this floss offers a single-strand, flat silk thread that lays beautifully on hooks and retains its color even after seasons of fishing​. Fly tyers appreciate this material for its traditional appearance and quality – it was developed in collaboration with expert classic fly dressers to ensure authentic colors and performance​. In summary, 54 Dean St. Pure Silk Floss provides a bright, resilient, and easy-to-use body material that honors classic fly-tying methods while excelling in contemporary use.

Characteristics and Material Composition

Ovale Pure Silk Floss comes on wooden spools (30m each) and is available in two dozen rich colors. Being pure silk, it has a subtle natural sheen and can be wrapped flat for a glossy, smooth finish on the hook

• Material: 100% silk floss, produced by Au Ver à Soie in France. The floss consists of a single strand of untwisted silk, giving it a flat profile. This allows tiers to lay down slim, even bodies without excessive bulk. The natural silk fibers impart a slight translucence and luster that synthetic (rayon) flosses often try to emulate. Each spool typically contains ~30 meters of floss and comes on a traditional wooden bobbin.
• Color and Appearance: The floss is offered in a wide range of colors (about 24–25 shades, from primrose yellow and hot orange to clarets, greens, and black) to match classic pattern. These colors are bright and colorfast – the silk is dyed through an artisanal process that ensures uniform, long-lasting color​. Notably, the floss maintains its hue over time and use, so flies tied with it stay vibrant even after being fished for multiple seasons. Silk’s sheen gives a realistic insect-like glint when wet, and many classic patterns were designed with the slight color change of wet silk in mind​ (for example, orange silk turns to an amber-brown when wet, imitating insect bodies).

• Texture and Strength: Ovale silk floss is smooth and strong for its diameter. Being a natural fiber, it has a bit of stretch and give, which helps it wrap tightly and resist breaking.

  “Resistant and with bright colours” is how the manufacturer describes it, indicating that despite its silky feel, it holds up well during tying and fishing. The floss lies flat on the hook shank, but it can also be twisted slightly if a rounder, cord-like body is desired. Its single-strand nature means you won’t have strands separating unintentionally; however, you can intentionally split the strand if you need a finer diameter for small flies or delicate sections.

Modern Applications in Fly Tying

In modern fly tying, 54 Dean St. Pure Silk Floss is prized for tying bodies and tags on a variety of patterns – from trout wet flies to elaborate salmon flies. It is considered “the best possible choice” for dressing classic and modern salmon flies, wet fly bodies, streamers, and even Catskill-style dry fly bodies. Here are some of the key applications and reasons it’s favored today:

Key Applications and Why It’s Favored Today:

• Classic Salmon Flies: Full-dress Atlantic salmon flies and steelhead flies often call for brightly colored floss bodies or butt sections. Modern classic fly enthusiasts use 54 Dean St. silk to achieve an authentic look and feel. The floss’s traditional sheen and color give salmon patterns like the Green Highlander or Jock Scott the same vivid, glossy bodies described in 19th-century recipes. Because it’s real silk, it provides the “classic appearance and traditional silk construction” that serious tyers seek for these heritage patterns. It also holds its shape and color in water, ensuring that the painstaking hours spent tying a showpiece salmon fly are rewarded with a fly that fishes as beautifully as it looks.
• Wet Flies and Soft Hackles: Many trout wet flies and soft-hackle patterns use silk floss for slim, shiny bodies. Modern fly tyers continue to tie venerable patterns like the Partridge and Orange and Professor wet fly with silk to match the originals and for their proven fish-attracting qualities. Silk floss creates a smooth, uniformly colored body that contrasts nicely with soft hackle fibers or wing materials. For example, in the Partridge and Orange (a classic soft hackle), the body is nothing more than wraps of orange silk—a simplicity that produces a translucent brownish-orange look when wet, mimicking emerging caddis pupae. Because 54 Dean St. floss is easy to work with and lays flat, even modern tiers who are new to silk find they can achieve the desired slim profile on these patterns without much trouble. The floss’s rich colors (like golden yellow, claret, or olive green) are ideal for wet flies such as the Professor (yellow body) or Scarlet Ibis (red body), giving those flies the same bold, fish-attracting hue that made them classics.
• Streamers and Bucktails: Certain streamer patterns call for floss bodies under tinsel or as a base color. Silk floss is used in classics like the Black Ghost streamer, where a black floss body under a silver rib creates a striking contrast. Modern tiers appreciate that the silk floss doesn’t bulk up even on large hooks, allowing streamers to remain slim and lifelike. In hair-wing streamers or bucktails (e.g., Black Nose Dace or Professor Bucktail variants), a floss body adds a splash of color and a smooth underbody for wrapping tinsel. The vibrancy of the silk catches light through the water, and its durability means the body won’t fray apart after a fish or two (especially if protected with a rib). Even some contemporary streamer patterns update old recipes with this floss for a nod to tradition combined with reliability.
• Dry Flies (Catskill Style): While dubbing is common for dry-fly bodies, classic Catskill dry flies often used silk thread or floss to form slim, tapered bodies on patterns imitating mayflies. Ovale Pure Silk Floss finds use in reproducing those vintage dry flies or adding a colorful tag on modern dries. For instance, a Light Cahill or Pink Lady dry fly can be tied with a pale yellow or pink silk floss body to achieve a light, crisp coloration. The floss helps keep the body thin and tightly wrapped, which is important for dry-fly buoyancy and profile. Moreover, real silk on a dry fly can darken to a more bug-like tone when moistened, exactly as the original patterns intended. Many tyers prefer using this silk on traditional dry patterns to preserve the Catskill aesthetic and because the material’s long pedigree suits the heritage of those flies. Even on modern patterns, a band of bright silk floss (for example, the red “floss tag” on a Royal Wulff) is chosen for its gleaming appearance and trusted performance.

In summary, the modern fly tyer chooses 54 Dean St. silk floss for authenticity, appearance, and performance. It’s commonly used for bodies on salmon/steelhead flies, trout wet flies and soft hackles, and even some dry flies​. Whenever a pattern benefits from a smooth, glossy body or a vibrant band of color, this pure silk floss is likely to be a go-to material. It outshines rayon or polyester substitutes in delivering a traditional look and has proven itself as a versatile component in contemporary fly tying.

Why It’s Preferred for Certain Patterns

Several qualities make Ovale Pure Silk Floss a preferred material for specific fly patterns, especially those with a classic lineage:

• Authenticity and Tradition: For reproducing classic flies (salmon flies, old wet flies, etc.), using the original material is key. Silk floss was the standard in the 1800s and early 1900s, so modern tiers aiming for authenticity prefer 54 Dean St. silk to match those recipes. The floss was even developed with input from renowned classic fly tyers, ensuring the colors and texture are faithful to traditional patterns. When you tie a classic salmon fly with real silk, you’re preserving the pattern’s heritage – something important to collectors and enthusiasts.
• Aesthetic Quality (Sheen and Color): Silk simply looks great on a fly. It has a natural sheen that gives bodies a subtle gloss without being gaudy. Certain patterns rely on this sheen for attraction. For example, an emerald green silk body might simulate the translucent flash of an insect underbelly in water. The colors offered by 54 Dean St. floss are noted to be bright, uniform, and long-lasting, so the flies remain eye-catching. Silk fibers catch light in a way that synthetic fibers often don’t, lending a lifelike glow. This is one reason many tyers say there’s “no topping” silk floss for classic salmon bodies and elegant wet flies.
• Performance and Durability: Although “silk” might sound delicate, this floss is quite strong and wear-resistant once tied in. It lies flat, which helps you create a smooth body with fewer wraps (meaning less bulk and weight). Fewer wraps also reduce the profile, which can improve how a fly swims or lands on the water. Moreover, the silk floss holds its color over time—UV and water exposure won’t easily fade it. This means your flies won’t dull out after a few outings, an important consideration if you’re tying time-intensive patterns like full-dress salmon flies. When compared to a rayon floss, tiers often note that silk gives that “classic appearance” that rayon can’t quite duplicate. In practical terms, a well-ribbed silk floss body can endure multiple fish; the rib (often metal tinsel or wire) helps protect it from teeth, and the silk itself doesn’t rot or weaken quickly.
• Workability and Versatility: 54 Dean St. floss is appreciated for being easy to handle during tying. It doesn’t tend to tangle or snag as much as some cheaper flosses. You can also adapt its thickness: use the full strand for larger flies, or split it into finer strands for small hooks or slim bodies. This versatility means one spool of floss can serve a range of hook sizes and pattern styles. Tyers who master silk floss techniques find they can achieve very precise results—whether making a smooth, flat body or a slightly raised segmentation by twisting the floss. Because of its high quality, 54 Dean St. silk lays down without the fuzzy stray fibers that plague lower-grade floss; it’s termed “the most versatile pure silk floss on the market.” All these factors make it a preferred material when you need a dependable, high-performing floss for critical fly patterns.

Preparation and Application Tips

When working with pure silk floss, a few preparation and tying techniques will ensure you get the best results:

• Smooth Foundation: Always begin with a smooth thread underbody before wrapping silk floss. Any lumps or uneven thread wraps on the hook shank will show through the thin silk layer. Take care to lay a flat thread base (you can even untwist your thread to make it lie flatter) and build gentle tapers where needed. Some expert tyers will burnish the thread underbody (rubbing it with a smooth tool) to eliminate ridges. This extra effort yields a flawless, even floss body once you wrap the silk.
• Handling the Silk: Silk floss is strong, but the fibers can fuzz or fray if handled roughly. It helps to wash and dry your hands before tying (removing oils and rough skin) and even lightly sand any calluses on your fingertips—this prevents snagging the fine silk. Avoid using metal hackle pliers on silk floss, as they can pinch and tear the fibers. Instead, hold the floss by hand or use a tool with a gentler grip if you must. Some tyers use a thin cotton or silk glove on their material-handling hand to protect the floss. In general, keep the silk under slight tension as you wrap, and don’t let it slacken, which can cause it to unravel or catch. If you need to pause, secure it with a temporary wrap or a material clip.
• Wrapping Technique: To get a smooth body, wrap the floss in touching turns, without overlap or gaps. You can tie in the floss and then wrap backward toward the tail before coming forward, which hides the tie-in point and avoids a bump at the start. While wrapping, many tyers will flatten the silk as much as possible. You can do this by letting the floss untwist (dangle it to remove twist) or even by using a bodkin needle: stroke the floss flat on the far side of the hook as you bring it around each turn. This technique pre-flattens each wrap and results in a very even layer of silk. Take your time—silk is slippery, so maintain steady tension and align each wrap neatly against the previous. If you need a second layer for full opacity, you can wrap a second pass of floss over the first.
• Splitting and Splicing: You can split this single-strand floss if needed. Simply use a fine needle to separate the silk filament into two or more thinner strands—this is useful if you want a thinner body on a size 18 fly, or if you want to combine two colors side by side. Additionally, silk floss can be “spliced” during tying—a technique where you join a new piece of floss to the end of another without an obvious overlap. To splice, you can unravel a tiny bit of the end of the old piece and the start of the new piece, then twist or interweave them together and continue wrapping; the join will be invisible if done carefully. This way, if one length of floss won’t cover the whole body, you can add another length seamlessly. Splicing is also helpful if you want to change color mid-body for a banded effect, as in some salmon flies that have two-tone floss bodies.
• Finishing and Protecting: When you tie off the floss, do so with minimal bulk. It’s often best to secure silk by catching it with your tying thread with a few snug wraps and then trimming the excess floss. Because silk is slippery, make sure those thread wraps won’t unravel—you can apply a tiny drop of head cement on the tie-down point for insurance. Many classic patterns call for a tinsel or wire rib over a floss body. Beyond adding segmentation and flash, this rib significantly protects the floss from damage. Even on patterns that don’t strictly require it, adding a fine wire rib is a good idea if you plan to fish the fly hard. Finally, after completing the fly, a light coat of varnish or head cement on the floss portion can deepen the color and add durability (some tyers do this on salmon flies to give the silk a glossy, translucent effect). Just be aware that any coating may darken the silk slightly, which could be desirable or not, depending on the pattern.

By following these tips—smoothing the underbody, handling the silk gently, wrapping with care, and securing it properly—you’ll find that the 54 Dean St. Ovale Silk Floss is straightforward to use and yields professional-looking results. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts aren’t perfect; even experienced tyers needed practice to master silk. The payoff is a beautifully tied fly with a classic, fish-catching finish.

Example Flies Using 54 Dean St. Silk Floss

Many classic and modern patterns can be tied (or re-tied) with Ovale Pure Silk Floss. Here are a few examples across different fly categories, along with how this silk floss is incorporated:

• Green Highlander (Classic Salmon Fly): A famous full-dress salmon fly known for its vibrant body. It features a two-tone silk floss body: the front half in bright green and a rear portion in golden yellow floss. Using 54 Dean St. silk in this pattern ensures the colors are true and lustrous, just as in the original recipe from over a century ago. Silk floss is also used for the tag or butt on many classic salmon flies, providing a vivid contrast to feathers and tinsels.
• Professor Wet Fly (Trout Wet Fly): An old-school trout fly still effective today. The Professor’s recipe calls for a body of yellow silk floss, usually ribbed with fine gold wire and paired with a brown hackle and mallard wing. The pure silk body gives the Professor its bright lemon-yellow belly that fish find attractive. Modern variants sometimes use synthetic floss, but traditionalists favor real silk for the unmatched sheen and authenticity.
• Partridge and Orange (Soft Hackle): A simple but deadly soft-hackle fly. The body is just orange silk floss (or thread), and a gray partridge hackle is wrapped at the front. Because there’s no dubbing or other body material, the silk is the star here—when wet, the orange silk floss turns a dappled brown-orange, resembling an emerging caddis or mayfly. 54 Dean St. floss in “Hot Orange” or classic orange is perfect for this pattern. Similarly, other soft hackles like the Partridge and Yellow or Silk Peacock use silk floss bodies of various colors.
• Black Ghost (Streamer): A classic streamer pattern originally tied by Herbie Welch. In most recipes, the Black Ghost uses a black silk floss body palmered or ribbed with silver tinsel. The glossy black silk under the tinsel gives depth to the body and makes the fly more durable when ribbed. Tying the Black Ghost with 54 Dean St. silk floss gives the body a smooth, uniform look, allowing the white feather wing and yellow throat to really pop. Many other streamers and bucktails (e.g., Blue Charm streamer, Colonel Fuller) also incorporate silk floss for a sleek body under hair wings or feathers.
• Pink Lady Dry Fly (Catskill-Style Dry): A traditional Appalachian mayfly pattern that remains effective for trout. The Pink Lady features a pale pink silk floss body, usually ribbed with fine gold tinsel, with a golden pheasant tippet tail and light hackle. Using pure silk floss for the body gives this dry fly a delicate coloration and smooth abdomen that sits correctly in the surface film. On the water, the pink silk body may appear more subdued (almost peach or tan), which can suggest a mature mayfly or spinner. Other Catskill dries, like some Light Cahill variations and Royal Coachman variants, also use silk floss segments in their bodies (for instance, the red silk band in a Royal Coachman/Wulff).

Each of these examples demonstrates how 54 Dean St. Ovale Pure Silk Floss can be used across different fly styles—from salmon flies to trout wets, soft hackles, streamers, and dries. Its role in these patterns is typically to form a bright, smooth body or tag that not only looks attractive to fish but also ties the fly back to its classic origins. Whether you’re recreating a 19th-century salmon fly or spicing up a modern trout pattern, this pure silk floss is a versatile material that adds both beauty and functionality to your fly tying.