SteeseRanley

This is a lovely looking bug, great tie

Thank you! I'll give it a shot sometime soon, I'll have to pick some up. I've actually had that on my list to try for a while!

Mayfly Nymph #14 Tail: Pheasant Tail Body: Olive 8/0, Silver Wire Collar: Peacock Flash Dubbing Legs: Crystal Flash (they're hard to see in the photo) Head: 2.8mm Silver Tungsten Bead This is a really fun tie and I like the way it turned out. Using the PT for the tail was the correct call on this, and I could even use it for the legs/wings. Since this isn't a super realistic fly, I thought it would be more fun to add a bit of flash to it and let the buggy-ness of the dubbing do some of the "leg work" for me. Also, I've really been liking throwing a wrap or two under the tail of my flies, I think it makes the tails look a lot perkier. October Caddis Nymph #18 Body: Orange UTC 120 Denier, Silver Wire Collar: Orange Flash Dubbing Head: 2.8mm Black Tungsten Bead Easy tie, hopefully will be effective. I made a version with a PT tail, as well. Not sure what I like more, I am kind of leaning towards the no-tail as this is an "october caddis" pattern. Realistically, it's just an attractor nymph so I'm sure either will get the job done.

Parachute BWO #18 - This is one of my better ties, I am finally happy with the proportions, and how close the parachute is to the body. I'm still working on tying hackles in (after wrapping), securing them and whip finishing my flies without trapping too many hackles, or without the hackle coming undone. I'm improving.... slowly. Generic Midge #20 - Loosely based on the memory of a fly I fished a few weeks ago. I tied a few versions: With and without the crystal flash, and with CDC instead of this polypropylene yarn. Not sure what I like more, this has a polypropylene wing. Kebari #18 - One of my first attempts at a tenkara style of fly, I think this one turned out well? I've never fished one before. I'm still learning how to use Partridge correctly, it's very finnicky for me as it feels like it snaps with very little force being applied to it (tying it in from a tuft on the tip). I think the hackle could be a bit smaller/shorter but otherwise, I quite like the way it turned out. Generic Mayfly Nymph #18 - Once again, didn't really follow a pattern here but, I'm sure there's a name for it. The more time I spend at the vice, the more I just experiment and cobble something together. I've also been experimenting with different ways to tie the dubbing into the collar. Lately I've been liking using a dubbing loop and loosely packing in a bit of dubbing (seen here), I think it just makes the fly more buggy and gives it some extra movement. Does it help me catch more fish? Who knows. You could achieve a similar effect by dubbing normally and brushing it out... which might be easier. I'm just having fun with it at the end of the day. Edit: Looking back on it, I should have used PT for the tail of the Mayfly. I'll have to do that next time.

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!

It was definitely a bit tricky to get everything in there. I watched a video from tightlinevideo on it, which helped. If you watch the way he wraps the strip, he pulls the hair backwards down the shank with one hand, and then makes tight spirals that are borderline overlapping. This prevents the strip from bunching up, keeps the fibers all in-line with one another and it makes the collar flows backwards, instead of outwards. Which I think makes it looks more fishy. Though, ultimately that seems to be down to preference! Hope this helps, and thanks for the kind words. I really enjoyed the pattern, it was new to me!

@niveker Thanks, I it’s supposed to ride hook point down to the best of my knowledge. Though, I’ve never fished one either! @cphubert Much appreciated, glad my material choice was in-line with what was expected! I think it’ll have some nice motion to it.

Alright, here's my shot at it! I saw both rabbit and squirrel being used, I used rabbit personally. Fun tie, I cut down the collar on the underside a bit just to expose the ribbed body a bit more. Hopefully I did it justice. Next fly: Sculpzilla (trailing hook variety)

@Squeezy Nice ties, that's a really cool pattern. They'll catch some fish for sure. I'm very tempted to tie one but put googly eyes on it... I'll take you up on the Slumpbuster!

Golden Stonefly Hook - Size 8-12 Nymph Bead - 3.5mm-4.5mm Gold Slotted Tungsten Thread - Hopper Yellow 120 Denier Tail - Yellow/Tan Goose Biots Body - Orange Rib Material Thorax - Tan/Olive Dubbing, Black Thin Skin, Salt Water Flashabou, 2x Yellow/Tan Goose Biots Legs - Grey/White Rubber Legs

I'll give that a try, thanks!

Thanks! That's an interesting idea - what material would you consider for a fluffy tail here?

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

Black Mercer's Micro May Hook - Nymph Hook, Size 12 Bead - 3.2mm Gold Slotted Tungsten Thread - Black UTC 70 Denier Tail - 3-4 Pheasant Tail Fibers Body - Thread wraps to cover shank, stripped peacock quill (loose forward spiral), small silver wire, thin coat of black UV resin Throax - Salt water flashabou, pheasant tail (wingcase), black dubbing, black goose biots, thin coat of clear UV resin on wingcase/whip finish I might change out the tail for goose biots next time