Crackaig 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2017 As promised t'other day, a set of step by step instructions for the fly I tied in response to Scarface Z's post "Help reconstruct a lucky fly" This fly... First I am only working from the photo supplied. If anyone knows this pattern please post, If I am treading on anyone's toes then I apologise now. First let me say I have never seen a hatch of Green Drakes, we don't have them here. I may be tying this too small, you should tie it on an appropriate size hook, However, I'm tying it on a size 12 light wire long shank. It is a size I would use here in a Mayfly hatch. the nearest thing we have. Thread: Olive UTC 70 Tail: 2 Partridge after shaft (Filoplume) feather (Most game birds have these, partridge was to hand). Rib: Hackle stem (or you could use a dark strand of moose mane) Body: Yellow olive beaver dubbing (use any dull fine dubbing in the right colour). Thorax cover: Grey Flexi-body. Thorax: 2 Wound after shaft feathers. Wings: Grizzle hackle points, tied to either side. Hackle: Dry fly quality cock hackle, Cream. Wing: Yellow dyed deer hair. (Dyed over natural, not over white belly hair). You will need to get some after shaft or "filoplume" feathers. You will find them behind the feathers on game birds. The colder the climate the bird comes from the better the feathers will be. These are not feathers for flying but for keeping the bird warm. Here is a partridge feather with the after shaft feather still attached. You will need at least 4 of these feathers. Take two and ftroke the tips forward and the rest of the fibres back so you can get at the stem near the point. Cut through the stems at the exposed point. Then stroke the next few fibres, that are behind the cut you just made, forward. Then place them together so that they curve apart. Start your thread, a good two eye widths back from the eye, run down the shaft in neat touching turns. Opposite the barb tie in the two feathers to make the tail. Just two turns is all you will need for now. Then tie in either a hackle stem or a dark strand of moose mane, under the hook shank at the same point as you tied in the tails, Apply a fine dull dubbing in a tight thin noodle around the thread. Wind up the hook shank to just past half way (Securing the hackle stem and tail as you go). Trim up any excess. Wind the rib in nice even turns over the body, Tie in at the eye end, and trim off the excess. Tie in a strip of Flexi-body or any material you have that you would make a scud back from. On top of this tie in the tips of your other two after shaft feathers. If you are making a larger fly you will need to use more. Attach your hackle pliers and wrap the after shaft feathers over the thorax. Do not go beyond the start point of your thread. Tie off and trim out any excess. As you wind carefully and gently draw the fibres back from the stems of the feathers. This takes a deft touch. Stroke all the fibres down, you will find them quite compliant. Then stretch the thorax cover over and tie in. Trim off the excess. Catch in two grizzle hackle points, one to either side of the thorax. Take a bunch of deer hair dyed yellow over natural and tie in with the butts over the eye. Trim the butts square. The points want to be about 2/3rds of the shank length long. Pull the tips of the deer hair forward over the butts and secure in place. In the space between the thorax and this wing tie in a prepared dry fly quality cock hackle. Wind the hackle forward. Tie off, and trim the excess. Drop a whip finish in behind the wing and you're done. There you have it. If you have any problems following, or any other questions, please ask. Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2017 Great job! You have nailed it dead-on. Rocco Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flat Rock native 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2017 It is a pictorial tour de force.... Thank you... C. Major cheers across to you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted March 5, 2017 You are a great resource on this BB. Kudos to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grape 0 Report post Posted March 6, 2017 All I can say is ... WOW! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hatchet Jack 0 Report post Posted March 8, 2017 This pattern looks killer. The filoplumes are like minature maribou & when soggy, breathe & move at the slightest. I'm going to tie a few of these & try them out. Maybe treat the body with Xink, and the hackle & deer hair with Watershed? Over the top there, Crackaig, nicely done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crackaig 0 Report post Posted March 8, 2017 Thanks gents, this time I had a better than usual example of the fly to back engineer. On one occasion I was given a salmon fly hook with just a little thread on it to go on, on another a very out of focus camera phone photo; that turned into a saga. This one was easy by comparison. Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites