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SBPatt

December Flies From the Vise

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It is actually a very simple fly to tie. I use 180lb stainless wire as an arbor in the vise to tie the tails onto the end of the mop chenille that I taper down with a lighter. Then just tie it in as an extended body. I also add lead wire as an underbody to the thorax depending on how heavy I want it. My goal was to have a very heavy stonefly as an anchor fly, but not with a large size. The short shank 9174 allows for the short profile.  

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12 hours ago, niveker said:

👍

You do some nice poppers.  Are they mostly for your own consumption? 

For the most part, yes. Well, me and my fly mooching friends. I have sold a few here and there over the years but not many.

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52 minutes ago, flymanaj said:

me and my fly mooching friends

Thanks.  Yeah, I know that situation.  You do a nice job on them.  

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5 hours ago, Sandan said:

I think they're really cool

Thank you, me too. I think they look better in real life. 

I remember Norm posting his flies, but did not pay much attention to the pattern until I received a Patriot dry in the 4th of July swap from @redietz.  Looking into the pattern a bit, it further caught my interest. I hit up the fly shop this week-end and the closest they had to smolt blue crystal flash was what I bought, and as I started tying the dry, of course I couldn't help thinking of the variations on the Royal Coachman, so decided to take that path.  What the hell else am I gonna do with a hank of ice blue flashabou?

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Pheasant tail nymph

Hook - 16 2XL long

Thread - Red UTC 70

Tail - Red Pheasant tail fibers

Ribbing - Sm Uni wire, green

Body - Red Pheasant tail fibers

Wing case - Green Pheasant tail fibers, UV coated

Thorax -  UV Peacock herl

Legs - Green Pheasant tail fibers

926C2D37-715B-4BB2-8400-FBE3F1900713.jpeg

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31 minutes ago, niveker said:

Thanks.  Yeah, I know that situation.  You do a nice job on them.  

Thanks! Glad you like them!

 

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Lackey-s-Grant-Lake-1080.jpg

Lackey's Grant Lake

Winged Wet Fly

Hook - Standard wet fly

Thread - Black

Tip - Gold tinsel

Tail - Light brown hackle

Body - Olive floss

Hackle - Light brown

Wing - Light brown turkey

Trout - Ray Bergman

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Stevenson-Special-1080.jpg

Stevenson Special

Steelhead

C. N. Stevenson originated this pattern in the early 1940s. The original wing consisted of mottled brown turkey quill sections.

Hook - Single Salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Speckled guinea fowl barbs

Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel over floss portion of body only

Body - Rear two-thirds, yellow floss; the front third, black ostrich herl

Hackle - Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back and down; then one full turn of speckled guinea fowl

Wing - Fox squirrel tail tied over the body

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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Muskrat-Spider-1080.jpg


Muskrat Spider

Soft Hackle

Philip Armstrong of Dalton, Pennsylvania, popularized these flies in the mid-1920s.

Hook - Standard wet fly
Thread - Black
Body - Dubbed muskrat fur
Hackle - Mottled gray Hungarian partridge tied as a collar.

Other variations include a bleach cream, dyed olive, and dyed-black muskrat fur bodies. Still another has a dyed-brown muskrat fur body with a mottled brown Hungarian partridge hackle.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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13 hours ago, niveker said:

Thank you, me too. I think they look better in real life. 

I remember Norm posting his flies, but did not pay much attention to the pattern until I received a Patriot dry in the 4th of July swap from @redietz.  Looking into the pattern a bit, it further caught my interest. I hit up the fly shop this week-end and the closest they had to smolt blue crystal flash was what I bought, and as I started tying the dry, of course I couldn't help thinking of the variations on the Royal Coachman, so decided to take that path.  What the hell else am I gonna do with a hank of ice blue flashabou?

When I get back from my Christmas vacation I think I'll spin up a few of those too. I really like 'em.  "What the hell..." I seem to remember a midge that uses the flashabou for a rib. I'll see if I can find it when I get home from work. If it's any help I'm pretty sure it's in Pat Dorsey's Colorado Guide Flys book.

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Copper Spider 1080.JPG

Copper Spider

Hooks - Standard wet fly

Thread - Black or brown

Body - Copper wire

Hackle - Hungarian partridge

It is a variation of the Brassie

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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1 hour ago, flytire said:
Muskrat-Spider-1080.jpg


Muskrat Spider

Soft Hackle

Philip Armstrong of Dalton, Pennsylvania, popularized these flies in the mid-1920s.

Hook - Standard wet fly
Thread - Black
Body - Dubbed muskrat fur
Hackle - Mottled gray Hungarian partridge tied as a collar.

Other variations include a bleach cream, dyed olive, and dyed-black muskrat fur bodies. Still another has a dyed-brown muskrat fur body with a mottled brown Hungarian partridge hackle.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

This style of fly has been in use in Northern Scotland & England since the 1800's. They are also virtually identical to the nymphs developed by G.E.M. Skues on the river Itchen around the turn of the century in southwestern England. The great Jim Leisenring was also responsible for a series of flies based on this style which he apparently learned about from his correspondence with Skues. I have used these things for most of the last 50 years and they are incredibly effective.

Thanks for the post Norm.

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American-River-Special-Dark-1080.jpg


American River Special, Dark

Steelhead & Trout

Hook - Standard wet/nymph hook, size 8-10

Thread - Black.

Ribbing - Heavy black thread

Body - Dubbed with dark brown rabbit fur or yarn

Hackle - Furnace hen hackle tied on as a collar, two turns only, and tied back

Head - Black ostrich herl
 

American-River-Special-Light-1080.jpg

American River Special, Light

Steelhead & Trout

Hook - Standard wet/nymph hook, size 8-10

Thread - Black

Ribbing - Heavy black thread

Body - Dubbed with light olive rabbit fur or yarn

Hackle - Natural black hen hackle tied on as a collar, two turns only, and tied back

Head - Black ostrich herl

Joe Shirshac of Sacramento, California, developed both of the above patterns.

In addition to the steelhead population they were intended for, they are effective for resident trout in the American River system and other streams as well.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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