The challenge thread!

[flytire 0]

 

Golden Darter

Hook - Mustad 3665A 

Thread - Black 6/0 UNI-Thread 

Tail - Turkey quill slip 

Rib - Gold Lagartun flat French tinsel (medium) 

Body - Yellow floss 

Throat - Jungle cock body feather 

Wing - Badger saddle hackles over brown bucktail 

Cheeks - Jungle cock eyes 

The Classic Streamer Fly Box - Mike Valla

Note - Mike Valla's book has 2 recipes for the Golden Darter, "Original" and "Variation". However the recipes are identical.

The photo in the book for the "Original" is slightly different that the "Variation". I could not find the "Original" recipe on the internet

[flytire 0]

next challenge fly is an.....Emerald Shiner

[niveker 0]

3 hours ago, flytire said:

Golden Darter

I love that slim, sleek look you give your streamers, very nice flytire.  

I can't remember exactly, but I seem to recall some question as the whether the bucktail underwing was or wasn't part of the original recipe, but I could be wrong.

[flytire 0]

in both recipes in vallas book, bucktail is the underwing

whether its right or wrong only oatman would know

[mvendon 0]

I took a look in Bates Streamer Tying & Fishing to check the recipe. There's no bucktail mentioned for the underwing, just two golden edged badger saddle hackles.

Here's what Oatmans originals looked like. Someone had a small bunch they were selling on ebay in the early summer of 2022. I just saved the pics rather than spend hundreds on the flies.

[niveker 0]

8 minutes ago, mvendon said:

Here's what Oatmans originals looked like.

Good thinking.  Thanks for posting.  Looks like the tail material is different too, can you tell what it is?

[mvendon 0]

1 hour ago, niveker said:

Good thinking.  Thanks for posting.  Looks like the tail material is different too, can you tell what it is?

In Bates book it has " A very small section of a mottled turkey wing quill, no longer than the gap of the hook" 

I've got some very light colored mottled oak turkey feathers, so it really might be what it is. 

This one is a little off topic here, but a really neat colored one just labeled smelt

 

[gadabout 0]

8 hours ago, flytire said:

…,

 

 Beautiful tie Norm.  I’m not sure where the original recipe would be listed.  Possibly one of Joe Bates’ books.  My reference for this is Poul Jorgensen’s “Modern Trout Flies”, which shows the same dressing as yours, minus the bucktail underwing.  

Also, in Mike Valla’s “The Founding Flies” book, he does not mention the underwing.

 

 

 

[flytire 0]

yup

i dont know how valla sneaked in the bucktail under wing in the recipe 😁

bates book does not have an underwing in its recipe

[flytire 0]

thanks for sharing the photos mark

[flytire 0]

from mike valla's book. i guess thats where the bucktail comes in

[flytire 0]

Golden Darter (Original)

Hook - Mustad 3665A 

Thread - Black 6/0 UNI-Thread 

Tail - Turkey quill slip 

Rib - Gold Lagartun flat French tinsel (medium) 

Body - Yellow floss 

Throat - Jungle cock body feather 

Wing - Badger saddle hackles

Cheeks - Jungle cock eyes 

Streamers & Bucktails - Joseph D Bates Jr

[niveker 0]

On 2/19/2024 at 10:37 AM, flytire said:

Emerald Shiner

I'll take that, Keith Fulsher style.  Been on a bit of a streamer kick lately anyway

[niveker 0]

Emerald Shiner, Thunder Creek Style

Hook: #6

Thread: White, 6/0

Body: FTD Northern Flash, straight olive green, wrapped along shank, covered with pearl tinsel, and coated with SHHAN

Over wing: Brown bucktail dyed olive over white bucktail dyed olive

Under wing: White bucktail

Flash: Fl. yellow, 2 strands/side

Gills: White thread,  red marker.  

Head coated with SHHAN x 2

No eyes, I'm too lazy.  Maybe later.  

 

 

[gadabout 0]

Nice!  That looks fishy.