Sulphur Flymph

[chugbug27 0]

Sulphur Flymph, using "My Method of Tying a Fly," from Leisenring and Hidy's Art of Tying the Wet Fly (1941, 1971) (some variations where noted).

Picture of Sulphur Dun from Troutnut.net:

Not yet tested. Note: if during your hatch the trout are highly selective for the floating nymph or the hatching emerger or the spinner, this sulphur dun flymph might not be your best choice, but I think it should be effective in less selective opportunities throughout the hatch.

Hook: Mustad 94842 #16  (Note: Leisenring preferred down eye hooks with a perfect bend as a personal choice; the shape did not matter as long as the hook was of high quality, small barb, light wire, an "exceptionally good temper," and a good, long hollow point.)

Wax: J. Harrington Keen's blend, got mine from gunpowdercustomtackle.com

Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer #4 (light yellow). Select color to match the translucent undercolor of your target fly. (Leisenring liked primrose #3)

Hackle: Starling undercovert (dun list with buff/ yellow tips, per pp. 48 & 55). Choose coloration and softness  to suggest both wings and legs in the water you will fish in (firmer hackle for faster water). Here, the emerging sulphur dun has light gray wings and yellow legs.

Tail: three Mallard flank wisps. Here, the newly emergent sulphur dun has gray and white barred tail.

Rib: x-small bright copper Ultra Wire.

Body: well waxed dubbing loop (instead of pre-making a separate spun body) spun sparsely with Fitch underfur throughout and some yellow dyed seal and a touch of Franz Betters' orange dyed Australian possum at the thorax. Choose furs that will glow in colors to give the impression of the overtones of your target fly.

Head: well waxed four turn whip finish, then hard as hull as varnish

Three touching wraps to lock in thread 1/16" from eye

Prepare hackle by removing the fluff and by removing two or three wisps from what will be the side that wraps first around the hook. Tie in hackle at base with bright side facing shank and dull side facing you, with six wraps of thread down the stem before cutting off waste and continuing touching wraps to the hook point. There, wrap in two or three wisps on top of the hook starting with two wraps toward bend, so wisps extend a little more than one shank length past start of the bend.

Tie in rib at top of hook with two more wraps of tying thread toward the bend, then use thread to make a dubbing loop, wrapping back to the start of the bend while keeping the rib and tail wisps on top of the shank.

Add fur between dubbing loop, more sparse at top of loop, building gradually to thorax, and trailing quickly there. Advance thread to hackle tie-in.

Wrap dubbing loop in touching turns, ending at hackle and tie in with two touching turns toward bend. Cut off waste.

Hard to see in pic, but take one or two turns of the rib under the tail wisps at the bend before wrapping it forward. This will prop the tail wisps up a bit.

Wrap rib forward, tying off with two touching turns back to bend.  Wiggle the waste wire off. You'll now have four flat touching turns as a foundation for your hackle.

Using a little spit on fingers, bring barbs down hackle stem and isolate a few small fibers at the tip for your hackle pliers. Wrap two or three touching turns around hook toward bend. Capture hackle with a turn of tying thread, and make two or three wraps forward through hackle. Cut off waste. Position hackle toward bend and wrap thread up to eye and back to start of hackle. 

Wax thread well, apply one three or four turn whip finish toward eye, and cut thread. You now have a "neat and durable" flymph. Varnish head only if desired.

 

[niveker 0]

Wow.  What an excellent post Chug.  A beautiful fly, on a handsome hook, with great bits of informative narrative.  Thank you.  

[Chris_in_Louisiana 0]

Beautiful tie.  And one that may serve a purpose in my backyard.  While there are no sulphur hatches here in South Louisiana, as you're well aware, my neighborhood pond does have intermittent hatches of some variety of night hatching White Fly (mayflies of the genus Euphoron, I believe?).  I noticed such a hatch last night as the mayflies were drawn to the porch light.  Checking the water, I could see faint rises everywhere.  Not sure if it is sunfish, bass or the resident bullhead, but something was feeding on the hatching mayflies.

Thanks for sharing.

Chris

[chugbug27 0]

Thanks guys.

Chris, is there time left for me to mail you a flymph or two for that hatch? I'm thinking size 12 or 14 white thread with Mallard wisps, silver rib, American possum and natural seal dubbing, badger hen hackle if I've got one... Let me know...

[Sandan 0]

That was great Chug. Clear, concise and excellently illuminating pictures. Thanks. 

[Chris_in_Louisiana 0]

On 4/8/2022 at 2:52 PM, chugbug27 said:

Thanks guys.

Chris, is there time left for me to mail you a flymph or two for that hatch? I'm thinking size 12 or 14 white thread with Mallard wisps, silver rib, American possum and natural seal dubbing, badger hen hackle if I've got one... Let me know...

Absolutely, I'll send you a PM.

Thanks Chug!

Chris

[chugbug27 0]

Thanks @Sandan, and @Chris_in_Louisiana I've got three different concept white mayfly flymphs heading your way tomorrow. Hope they work! I'll post pics separately