Heff2

Thx George, one for show one for go I suppose.

I tied this one in a 2/0 mixed per the recipe and 5/0 married just to see how it looks. Mixed married below is the listing and a layout of the different materials in the wing. This one calls for quite a few different feathers.

Thx Rick, I was trying for a fishy flow to this one.

Butcher 3/0 Hale. Went just a touch long with the wing and I would separate the Parrot and Yellow better so it shows better should I tie it again but I’m pretty happy with it on a whole. See below for the recipe.

Those are quite nice, I got a few pairs of wings but I do like how those are all sized the same.

Only a few of those per bird, very cool fly.

I’m gonna go with bobbin.

Thx JP, I tried to keep the body thin on that one, I do think I’ll stick with even ribbing. Trying for spirals that open a little isn’t yielding a good result.

Here is a married wing version, not pleased with the head and a few other gremlins but on a whole I like the look of it

Blue Doctor 3/0 tied with a mixed wing per the recipe. The head could be smaller but I’m otherwise pleased with it. May do a married wing version before moving to the butcher but that’s a decision I’ll make when I find some vice time. I did sub the bustard for nicely speckled grey and white turkey, found bustard in a mixed wing clumps things up is a big hurry.

My Macaw came in so back to the Bluebell. I'm pretty happy with this one overall but the Macaw hackle wants a bigger hook b4 | think about another attempt or a married wing version. That will need wait a month for ASFI.

what a glorious day!

Thx Gents

Wasn’t happy with my first attempt a a Bluebell so I moved to a Blue Boyne until I get more Red Macaw in for another go at the Bluebell. Reworked a sz 6 low water salmon hook to get the right size hook for this one. It could be tidier but I’m happy with how this finicky little guy turned out. Might be the only pattern In the book to call out a hook size so I was sure to go with it. Learned a few things about sideways veilings and stacked toppings along the way. Subbed the chatterer with kingfisher but true to recipe otherwise.

You may want a different chunk of hair that isn’t as hollow. The closer you can tie to the start of the black tips the less the hair will flare. That said some times you can get away with doing a few medium tension wraps, then crank it down closer to the eye. You could try a loose wrap around the bunch but that can bunch it too much.