BigEHokie

Makes perfect sense. I'll give it a shot next time I'm tying (probably not until Friday night, my Hokies are playing on TV tonight)

Interesting! The west blacknose dace has black on top: I'm from the east so I'm guessing I should tie mine with the brown on top. This has been a great discussion, thanks everyone!

I've seen numerous tied that way (even in the Orvis book, they have it tied both ways). However, if you look at this picture of a black nosed dace, it looks as though the black should be on top: Also seen here: Anyone know the proper color combination?

Thanks for the suggestions all, I'm gonna tie a few more and shorten the length of the bucktail a bit. After looking at a few pictures from the linked thread above, I think the colors are in the right order according to what a blacknose dace looks like. I'll be sure to post a few pics of the next ones I tie.

That's a great thread. Thanks for sharing.

FYI, I used the Orvis Fly-Tying Guide as my reference in tying this fly. I see several people mention the length of bucktail as well as the order of the colors. The step-by-step instructions in the book identify the color order as I have them on my fly as well as the instructions and pictures depicted show the length much longer than the shank. The instructions even say to tie use bucktail 1.5 to 2 times the length of the shank (mine is still a bit too long). However, if you look in the recipe list in the back of the book, the picture there has the bucktail MUCH shorter (about the length of the shank) as well as the ordering of the bucktail colors completely different!!!!! Amazing that the book has such two different depictions of how a fly should be tied. If any of you have this book, look at the step-by-step instructions finished product on page 94 (looks like my fly), then look at the recipe in the index on page 324 (looks much different, minus the use of mylar tubing for the body). Oh, I did use a 4x length streamer hook, but the length of the bucktail I have doesn't really show that

Well, I started tying flies about 6 months ago. I tied about 3 different patterns -- Woolly Bugger, GRHE nymph, and a pheasant tail nymph. I have only tied about 30 total flies within the first month, then I moved and had my first child. Needless to say I've been quite busy and haven't had much time to tie; I'm still quite the "beginner". I tried to get back into fly tying last night and tied my first fly in about 5 months (and still one of the first few I ever have). Not sure why, but wanted to try a bucktail. Here's my first, a size 10 Black-Nose Dace Bucktail. It was by far the most difficult I've tied yet, but I had a lot of fun doing it.

As soon as I saw your first post I immediately though of a beetle. One question though, you don't have problems with the fly sinking with the coffee bean? I wonder if the fish are being released with a small buzz after striking :hyst:

That's a great looking fly. The head of yours is so clean. Any tips you can provide on that?

Okay, I know this might sound like a really odd question, where do you draw the line for using materials to fly tie? The reason I ask is....I have two rather large hairy dogs that shed ALL OVER the place. One is a yellow lab and the other is a st bernard/border collie mix. When we brush them, we get huge balls of hair...some of which look a lot like fly tying materials I've seen in magazines (I'm still new to all of this). Don't worry, I'm not gonna go shave the family dog I was wondering if anyone has ever tried this? Is this a really silly question? Do any of you have any odd sources for fly tying materials that deviate from the norm?

Okay, I've tied about 5 or 6 of these Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear nymphs. This last one is my best I think. I've really enjoyed tying this fly as I get to use a several different techniques. The wife's not crazy about some of the materials for my new hobby. I quote, "You have to cut a rabbit face?' She's still supportive, she has sent me a link to the local Y, they are offering beginning fly tying classes. Think I'm gonna sign up. Anyways, here are a couple of shots of the last GRHE nymph, size 14. I'm still not great at finishing the fly, still have a lot of junk around the eye. However, this is 10 times better than the first few flies I tied. Thorax may be a little too bushy but that can be cleaned up.

Tony, I did quite a bit of fly fishing on the New this past year and since I don't have a boat, I have to wade every where. If you're looking for a few spots to hit, let me know. I've fished the New mostly between Blacksburg and the Claytor Dam, however I'm looking to try north of Blacksburg this year. I hear there's great wading at Eggleston and Pembroke. There is NOTHING like fighting a 2 to 4 lb smallie on a fly rod. I love the scenery when fishing for trout...I love the fight when I'm fishing for smallies.

That is one good lookin fly Carl!

Well, I made my 2nd and 3rd attempts tying a gold ribbed hare's ear nymph. Minus the crowding of the eye and the crud around it, I'm fairly pleased with my 3rd attempt. I think I have good proportions between the abdomen and the thorax. I think the thorax has a nice buggy feel to it, although could probably stand to have a little more of the hairs pulled out. The gold wire that came with my kit is fairly fine, I wish it were a little thicker so the segmentation shows up a bit more... One question....how do you guys cut trim off around the head of the fly without having all the material extending out from the head and covering the eye? I just can't seem to do it at this point. Every fly I have tied I just can't seem to nip it all that close. Anyways, here's attempts 2 and 3. Number 3 is by far the best I think.

So, this is the 6th fly I've ever tried to tie and the 1st hare's ear nymph. I'm ready for some advice, you guys have been great so far. Taking closeups of the fly and studying them myself really helps me see things on my own. I can see that there's a little crud around the eye (however I can pass a needle through, so I'm thinking my leader will still make it as well). I've tried to trim it up as best as I can but I just can't manage to cut away whatever little stuff is left there. I can also see that maybe the abdomen is a little too bushy. This was my first time doing any sort of dubbing so I'll chalk that up to inexperience Because the abdomen is too bushy, there doesn't seem to be a difference between an abdomen and a thorax. I'll work on that. I did attempt to make the abdomen longer (unlike my posted pheasant tail nymph) and I think I succeeded but I'm not sure you can see that through all the bushiness. Anyways, here it is!