The challenge thread!

[Sandan 0]

@dflanagan that looks really good. 

[dflanagan 0]

Thanks, gents. 

[MuskyFlyGuy 0]

Terrific sculpzilla and exceptional pictures. 

[cphubert 0]

1 hour ago, dflanagan said:

Truly Sculpzilla

I like it🐟

[upnorthtier 0]

11 hours ago, dflanagan said:

Truly Sculpzilla

Very nice 👍

[ScienceGuy141 0]

12 hours ago, dflanagan said:

Next up: Galloup’s Zoo Cougar

I can give this one a try

[dflanagan 0]

1 hour ago, ScienceGuy141 said:

I can give this one a try

Looking forward to seeing it. Love the fly but can’t tie it well. 

[niveker 0]

14 hours ago, dflanagan said:

Sculpzilla

Agree with all that's been said, great use of pheasant feathers.

[SteeseRanley 0]

Not to beat a dead horse but that's an exceptional tie on the sculpzilla, I also love your use of the feathers.  The gills are also perfect.  Really nice work!

[dflanagan 0]

Thanks, all. Probably could shorten it up a bit but I plan to tie up some more and hope to take it for a swim soon. 

[ScienceGuy141 0]

 

Zoo Cougar

Hook: Daiichi 2461 size 4

Tail: two olive marabou plumes

Body: pearl sparkle braid

Underwing: calf tail

Wing: 2 mallard flank feathers dyed olive

Collar/Head: sculpin olive deer hair 

 

My olive premo strip flares a little more than I'd like for zoo cougar collars, though I've found that I like more flare than some of the commercial versions as the broad collar gives more stability in the water.

 

Next up: front end loader caddis, color of your choice

[Squeezy 0]

Sweet tie!

[dflanagan 0]

Nice work. Do you spin just one clump of deer hair or multiples?

[ScienceGuy141 0]

10 minutes ago, dflanagan said:

Nice work. Do you spin just one clump of deer hair or multiples?

I flare the collar by itself as Kelly Galloup does, then spin one clump most often. On occasion, I'll spin a small, second clump just behind the eye if I want a bit more hair in the head. 

[ScienceGuy141 0]

3 hours ago, dflanagan said:

Nice work. Do you spin just one clump of deer hair or multiples?

However, if your deer hair is long enough, it isn't necessary to tie the collar in separately. As long as you advance your thread through the clump it will all stand up just fine. Andreas shows a good example of that here: Don't Fear The Deer - Simple deer hair head technique with Andreas Andersson - YouTube