BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by BigDaddyHub: Deer Hair Dragon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 Should have listed this one a little more carefully...I changed it in the database to "Bucktail Dragon". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickalo 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 what size hook did you tie this? Nice looking fly, and use of the herl, like that. tied something similar but used black bear instead of deer, seem to have a bit more motion to it. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 This one is tied on an old recycled Mustad. Sproat bend sz 6. It's one of those patterns that I don't try to give a lot of motion, I just allow it to dead drift into a pool out of a run. When I do fish it in still waters, I try to "plop" it down with a choke cast and allow it to just sit for a few moments, then give it just slight twitches. If no takes, I represent and try it again. Are you using the bear hair for the wings? I certainly see where that would definately give the wings more action. I have tied this with flash wings and the action that gives is great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
letumgo 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 I am really diggin' your foam flies, BigDaddy! This looks like a great smallmouth pattern. You make it look easy, but I bet the extended tail is a bit of a challenge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallieFanatic 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 Splendid tie, Chris. The materials you put in this one are really something. I'm sure to tie up a couple of these for largemouth bass. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickalo 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 This one is tied on an old recycled Mustad. Sproat bend sz 6. It's one of those patterns that I don't try to give a lot of motion, I just allow it to dead drift into a pool out of a run. When I do fish it in still waters, I try to "plop" it down with a choke cast and allow it to just sit for a few moments, then give it just slight twitches. If no takes, I represent and try it again. Are you using the bear hair for the wings? I certainly see where that would definately give the wings more action. I have tied this with flash wings and the action that gives is great. Yep use the black bear for the wings, had a bunch of it so decided to give it a try. Stuff it's hard to find at times so I kinda went crazy and stocked up on. Haven't tried dying it yet. I tied a few of these slightly smaller, sz 8 & 10's caught some nice smallies last season fishing from the banks working the shorelines under the trees. Great fly. takes a little practice getting the extended tail just right. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 the key to the tail, at least in my experiences, is to find the bucktail that's just right. Too stiff and it will crimp and bend. Too soft and the thread will slip and not hold. Softer hair ties and wraps best, but too soft will slip around the needle. Finger control is a must. I keep my fingers in the hair at all times while I'm wrapping to keep the hair from slipping. Nice , even, firm wraps make a nice looking tail. It sounds a bit more complicated than it is really. Once you get it right , it becomes just another technique. You can also coat the tail with a bead of superglue and stroke it with your fingertips over the tail to ensure the thread wraps don't slip, but good wrapping with the right hair prevents it anyway. I do like to cement the final wraps at the end of the tail just for durability. A few good bass will SHRED your tails! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 I am really diggin' your foam flies, BigDaddy! This looks like a great smallmouth pattern. You make it look easy, but I bet the extended tail is a bit of a challenge. Than you, Ray. It was a bit challenging the first few times I tried it. I've fished extended body flies for many years and just thought I'd post one or two. I learned to wrapped the materials from a very talented tier who tied very simple patterns. He would tie an extended tail of bucktail, lash it to a hook, and hackle the hell out of it and skate it for everything from trout to gills and back again. The man never had an empty creel. He showed me that when wrapping the tail, keep your fingers right at the point of the material that has yet to be wrapped and move your fingers with the material as you wrap. Made all the difference in the world. Allows you to get tight wraps and keeps the material from slipping. Floyd has EXCELLENT extended bodies....I know you've seen this, but he is some of Floyd's work http://www.flytyingforum.com/pattern8234.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickalo 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 here's a link that helped with deer hair extended bodies, before I seen Floyd's work, luved his Gill-er bug http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/tying/deer-hair-body/ Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 great link, Mike! That particular technique gives a nice full body for mayflies with the most minimal amount of hair. Body hair is many times more bouyant that bucktail. I think many of our novices will find the link extremely helpful, thank you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickalo 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 most definitely, body hair much easier to work with then bucktail ... for sure Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arkansas Mike 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 That's a sweet dragon, Chris. You da' man. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NJ All Day 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2010 Nice tie, i tie a Dragon fly with foam instead of deer hair. I use the needle method when i make my body. All i use is a size 8 scud hook, foam, dubbing for the body, mono eyes, and ice fur for the wings. The ice fur gives it a little flash from the wings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted February 14, 2010 yup...makes a nice dragon/damsel patttern. Tie the very same pattern often, using the same tehcnique. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites