Smoky Mountain Blackbird?

[flyguy]

This fly appears to be tied in the tradition of the Yellerhamer and Crow fly. (two Smokey Mountain standards) These flies are tied by spliting the shaft of a flight feather from the wing of the bird. You use a razor blade to do this. The feather is then soaked in water to make it pliable. It is then palmered. I the case of the SM blackbird they are using starling feathers.

[FlyLie]

This fly appears to be tied in the tradition of the Yellerhamer and Crow fly. (two Smokey Mountain standards) These flies are tied by spliting the shaft of a flight feather from the wing of the bird. You use a razor blade to do this. The feather is then soaked in water to make it pliable. It is then palmered. I the case of the SM blackbird they are using starling feathers.

Thanks flyguy, you're righ on! Also, found additional details in a post by BugSlinger on www.southeastflyfishingforum.com Pasted post in below:
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"Here is some information I found in the archives (I think I had it saved before the site crashed):

KYratchethead posts:
Here is the pattern for the original Smoky Mountain Blackbird as listed by L.J.DeCuir in his book Southeastern Flies.
* * Hook : Mustad 9672, TMC 5263, or 3-4X Streamer hook, Size 4 - 10.
* * Thread : Black.
* * Weight : Lead wire.
* * Tail : Barbules from the wing feather of a blackbird.
* * Body : Peac-ock herl.
* * Palmered Rib : Split wing feather of a blackbird.
Hugh Hartsell has indeed adapted the pattern into a soft-hackle pattern by substituting a blackbird body feather for the hackle, if I'm not mistaken, and it is indeed a great looking fly, which can be seen and purchased on his web site. *Please correct this information if it is wrong, Dr. Hartsell.

Hugh Hartsell himself then follows up:
Mr. K, the recipe that L.J. DeQuir gives for the Original *Smoky Mountain Blackbird pattern sounds right except for hook size. There is another fly called the Crow Fly that is tied the same way except that the wing feather from a crow is used and it makes a bigger fly which would call for the hook sizes that he gives for the Blackbird. The size hooks for the Original Blackbird would be size#16- #12.