The challenge thread!

[niveker 0]

7 minutes ago, Trouttramp said:

You guys have been killing it!

The last bunch of challenge flys are outstandingly good. Dead spot on!

Nice job all.

T.Tramp

Agreed!  Kudos goes to you for starting this thread, t'was a great idea (and of course thanks to all who have added to it).  It adds a lot to the site.  

One of the things that could make it better is to have those who don't often post, offer up a fly or two.  There's no criticism here, unless you ask for it, and any fly tyer worth his salt always likes to see how other tyers interpret/modify a pattern for their own circumstances.  

Friendly reminder from @flytier a few posts back:

4. Any version of the challenge fly is acceptable 

5. Have fun, this is not a competition, just a way to see some different versions of flies

[Jaydub 0]

Since nobody took it up, I tied a Del Mazza Stonefly. The only reference I could find was a picture on another forum. Hopefully this is what cphubert intended.

 

Hook: 2xl Dry Fly

Tail: Elk Mane

Rib: Fine gold wire

Body: Yellow/gold dubbing

Body Hackle: Brown

WIng: Elk Mane

Thorax: Same as body

Parachute Hackle: Brown

 

Next up: Quigley Cripple

[ScienceGuy141 0]

1 hour ago, Jaydub said:

Next up: Quigley Cripple

Never tied one, so I'll jump on the Quigley cripple. Any color free game? 

[flytire 0]

4 hours ago, ScienceGuy141 said:

Never tied one, so I'll jump on the Quigley cripple. Any color free game? 

4. Any version of the challenge fly is acceptable 

[niveker 0]

7 hours ago, Jaydub said:

Del Mazza Stonefly

Super nice!

[ScienceGuy141 0]

 

Quigley Cripple - BWO

Hook: Standard dry fly hook #16

Thread: 14/0 sheer olive

Tail: Olive marabou tips

Abdomen: Olive marabou twisted and wrapped

Rib: Brassie chartreuse ultra wire 

Thorax : BWO superfine dubbing

Wing: Natural deer hair

hackle: Barred dun

 

Quigley Cripple - PMD

Hook: Standard dry fly hook #16

Thread: 14/0 sheer cream

Tail: Brown marabou tips

Abdomen: Brown marabou twisted and wrapped

Rib: Brassie gold ultra wire 

Thorax : pale yellow superfine dubbing (the lighting doesn't bring it the pale yellow color well at all) 

Wing: Natural deer hair

hackle: Golden grizzly

 

I need some more practice on this pattern. Neither one turned out quite right, but I've found posting my flies pushes me to get better. I think the main issues are on the bwo version the wing is too sparse, and thorax slightly too long. The thorax in the PMD version is too skinny. 

 

Next up: klinkhammer

[cphubert 0]

11 hours ago, Jaydub said:

cphubert intended.

Nice tie Jaydub, exactly the type of pattern I was intending.

[Trouttramp 0]

I will take the Klinkhammer. 
 

TTramp

[niveker 0]

10 hours ago, ScienceGuy141 said:

I've found posting my flies pushes me to get better.

Agree, why I often put in my own criticism after I post one of my ties, as I sometimes don't see how I could have improved it until after I see it on the big screen. 

I think they both look good, but  agree with your critiques, with the exception of the thinness of the PMD. 

Nevertheless, I'd still try to catch a tree branch with them.

[Trouttramp 0]

Klinkhammer

Hook.   Orvis sz 12  #1639

Superfine pmd dubbing

peacock hurl 

Tan Uni thread

Antron post 

 

Next fly:

Fat Albert. 

[ScienceGuy141 0]

On 5/6/2023 at 4:18 PM, Trouttramp said:

Next fly:

Fat Albert. 

Nice work on the klinkhammer! I can take the fat albert

[ScienceGuy141 0]

Fat Albert

Hook: size 8 hook (here a streamer/nymph hook. Any nymph/streamer/terrestrial hook should suffice)

Thread: Black 140 denier

Underbody: Yellow foam

Overbody: Tan foam

Wing: White poly yarn

Indicator/top: Yellow foam

Legs: Olive rubber legs

*I coated the exposed threat wraps in a thin layer of UV resin.

 

Next up: Mimic may dry fly

[ScienceGuy141 0]

Maybe next up: bow river bugger?

[flytire 0]

well which one is it

mimic may or bow river bugger?

[ScienceGuy141 0]

No one was taking the mimic may, so offered bow river bugger as an alternative. 

 

Feel free to delete if you think it only makes it confusing, just didn't want my selection of the mimic may to be the roadblock for the thread continuing.