xvigauge 0 Report post Posted August 2, 2018 I saw this fly mentioned in a book about Smoky Mountain fly fishing. It was mentioned as a nymph (there was not a picture of it), but the only thing I can find in an on line search is a dry fly. It looks like a pretty good fly as a dry fly, but I would still like to see the nymph version if it actually exists. It looks to me to be on the order of the Prince nymph. I suppose I could tie one by substituting the dry fly hackle with some kind of soft hackle. Anyone know of a nymph version? Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AK Skim 0 Report post Posted August 2, 2018 Smoky Mountain Fork Tail I was going to check the books I have on Smoky Mountains & East Tennessee fly patterns... Not the nymph.. but here you go for the dry.. http://www.smokymountainflyguide.com/tutorials_flytying.htm/smoky%20mountain%20forked%20tail.htm Hook: Mustad 94831 or 94840 dry fly hook, size 14Thread: orange flossTail: 2 brown or tan goose biotsBody: orange floss wrapped to shape full length of the body.Wings: 2 brown or tan goose biotsHackle: light ginger rooster hackle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Cummings 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 Try this link. Its ray Bergman who made the fly famous but no known originator. This link is rays wet fly tied a lot like the fork tail. https://youtu.be/FF3BWHLMSXU Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 google found the following a completely different version can be found in the lower right hand corner on the following page http://www.smokymountainflyguide.com/nymphflies.htm dry fly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 Damn. I thought this about a girl I once knew. Neat dry pattern though. Rocco Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xvigauge 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 Thanks guys for all the replies. The pics that flytire posted were very good, and I have to say the this forked tail looks nothing like the dry fly, but then, a nymph usually does not resemble the adult. When I first saw the post, I thought it looked a lot like a black version of the yellar hammer, but with no yellow. I'm going to make a stab at it and substitute some material; i.e., peacock hurl (as I don't have any ostrich hurl, and maybe a quail or starling wing feather as I don't have any crow feathers. I tried to post a picture, but I received a message that said the file was too large to load. Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 I'm sorry what you perceived is not what you expected When you find the "actual" recipe, please post it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Cummings 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 Cheap and plenty ostrich can be found at Walmart in natural feather dusters. I been using 2 feathers for over a year now. About 10.00 us for the duster. You can use photobucket to post full sized images. Otherwise file reduction app. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xvigauge 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2018 I think I got it to work. Sorry the fly pic is so blurry, but I think you can get the gist of it; i.e., orange dubbed body, goose boots fo the tail and wings, peacock hurl for the collar or thorax, and partridge soft hackle. Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xvigauge 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2018 When researching this fly, The Smoky Mountain Forked Tail nymph I could not find it as I stated. But thanks to flytire for the additional info. Little did I know that the "Crow Fly" is another name for the same nymph. I found a picture and recipe for the Crow Fly in Ian Rutter's book, "GSMNP Fly Fishing Guide." The first picture is my rendition. Notice I used black dyed goose biots to add a real "forked tail" as well as a tungsten bead. Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishinguy 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2018 Would this be using the leading edge or trailing edge of the wing feather for the hackle? I have a starling skin and don't have much use for the wings yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xvigauge 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2018 Would this be using the leading edge or trailing edge of the wing feather for the hackle? I have a starling skin and don't have much use for the wings yet. Yes, that is exactly what I used. I soaked the feathers from a starling wing for a few hours by placing them in wet paper towels. This makes them more pliable. I either split the feather or pulled off one side, whichever was the easiest to do at the time. I used the shortest edge of the feathers. I also trimmed some of them (the edge) to about 1/8" or so. That seemed to work ok too. Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites