These flies can be tied with a bead head if you prefer it. I start o with a size 8 or 10 Mustad Nymph/Wet Fly hook. This one is a size 10. The thread is either black or red 6/0. Black seams to be preferred in non-bead head patterns.
Tie in four fibers from darker pheasant tail for the tail. They should be roughly the length of the hook shank.
The body is medium copper wire. It can be red or green, but I prefer lighter copper tones for this pattern. The body should be 2/3rds of the hook shank. Trim cleanly.
The dubbing I use is a very course, reflective, black synthetic. Options include seal's fur and ground craft fur.One pinch is suitable.
The hackle should be the darkest feather from a pheasant crest. The best have a purple metallic sheen. The size should be a bit larger than normally used for soft hackled flies. Pull back fibers from the tip, and pluck of the longer fibers so as to have only 30 or so.
I tie my soft hackles in by the tip. If this is not your preferred method it is obviously not necessary.
Wrap to the bare quill and tie in. Push back the stray fibers and wrap back the thread tho form a head and push the hackle back a little bit. Whip finish and cement.
Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI will tie a few.
Thank you. They fish very well
DeleteGreat instructional pictorial on a great fly. I'm going to need a couple of those. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll get on it.
DeleteAwesome tie!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteJust looked back even further into the blog, and I just want to inform you that White Mountain ponds do hold natives because you asked that question in one of your posts. I have never fished them, but I heard Ethan's Pond is good. Check the NH Fish and Game website because there is a list of ponds with natives. There are also other ponds that are helicopter stocked with fingerling brookies that are of hertitage strain so they hold over and grow for a few years. This is kind of artificial, but just throwing it out there. Also, I saw in one of your posts you recommended your worm pattern over the san juan worm. I'm sure you already posted it a while ago, but what is your worm pattern?
ReplyDeleteThank you, I was aware there were helicopter dropped fish. Interesting method! I'll have to check Ethan's Pond out.
DeleteI have two worm patterns, the first is tied on a size 10-6 stimulator hook with red egg yarn and golden tinsel. The other is on a typical nymph or streamer with a tail and body of pink 2/0 silk.
Love that fly and will be tying some up. Do you super glue the shank prior to tying in your wire? It didnt look like you tied in the tag end - which I may have missed - but if not, I'm curious how long it stays on the hook after a few fish have at it?
ReplyDeleteI don't use super glue, and I don't tie in the tag end because it creates a lump. The first one I tied is still in fishing condition and has caught probably twenty fish.
DeleteCool. Ill try that. I've always tied in wire along the bottom of the shank, then wrapped back, tied in and helicoptered off the wire. I'm going to try it the way you have here. I always figured a fish or two and it would rip the wire off. cool to know that does not happen! Love your streamer too - makes me think of 3 flies in one: black ghost, mickey finn, edison tiger. It's a catcher for sure!
DeleteI'd recommend only doing this with thicker, stiffer wires.
DeleteNice lesson on tying that fly. It's a good time to fill the fly boxes. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTie on...
Than you.
Deletegot a BB gun? Starling hackle with a pheasant tail body... -weightforward
ReplyDeleteStarling aren't all that hard to get with a slingshot even. Very brave, very invasive.
Delete