Sadidaym

Black and white, white with black stripes...

Further experiments with no body/wire ribbing and butts...the wire can be unforgiving at times.

This one has relatively few components; Alec Jackson 3/0 silver hook, black wire, silver wire, black floss, silver badger hackle and feathers from the silver pheasant, argus pheasant and jungle cock.

Kropiwnicki's No. E for the River Branford (aka An Infamous Filthy Water Fly)

"Filthy is the way I likes it"

     
     This is an infamous flithy water fly for all salmon (and striper) rivers, particularly near Paul and Co. Hair Color and Design, and is not unlike the once celebrated "Hurricane Irene Fly". The favourite killer in all rivers of the Reverend St. Raphael's; there is no salmon (or striper) can resist its attractions in rapid pools in rivers near the sea. The preceding fly, No. D, will be found to kill better a few miles higher up from the sea (near Dynamic Racing Transmissions), as all plain flies do. If the No. D is winged with decomposing blue jay or seagull tail feather, it will be found just the thing.

     The wings are made of neck feathers from the krystal pigeon, in black and smolt blue, with broad strips of amherst pheasant on each side, and a strip each of scarlet and blue/yellow macaw tail feather, the former to be a little fuller than the latter, a Chinese red Uni-Yarn head (procured from Gourmet Wok) with a bunch of randomly coloured hackles round the shoulder, topped with two amherst pheasant crests dyed chartreuse.

     The body is made thus: - a tip of gold twist, a yellow Uni-Yarn tag, a topping of both golden and amherst pheasant with two small jay tips, the body is of sequentially alternating bands of the most offensive hues of Uni-Yarn, augmented with bands of gold twist and equally offensive hackle butts. No. 3/0 Alec Jackson hook in a most sterling silver, procured from the shop of the village metallurgist.

No Body 3/0...a test fly

A little experiment

I was just testing out a couple of design things with this one, so it's not as polished as what I'd usually tie/post. Maybe I'll fish this one...

The Hammer

The Hammer - sz. 5/0

As of a couple of weeks ago, the 2011 fishing season ended for me. It was a good season, but I'm ready to switch gears and move back to the tying bench for the winter. A lot of people enjoy fishing throughout the year, but I need time to cleanse the palette. I enjoy tying relatively involved flies and learning new techniques, most of which I'd never take the time to do while the fishing is hot. After a month or so, I'll have cabin fever, but I have a lot of good memories to reflect on this season past, as well as some adventures to look forward to (and tie for) in 2012.

Also, I absolutely detest the cold and snow. I wasn't made for this climate. If not for a career in music, I'd be living in Hawaii now! I guess that's why I'm not a steelheader.

Anyhow, aside from some classics for fishing, the "The Hammer" is kicking off the "fancy fly" tying season for me. Stay tuned for more to come...

The Hammer

-original design-

Hook: Mustad 3899 5/0

Tip: oval silver tinsel

Tag: red floss followed by green embossed tinsel

Tail: topping

Butts: light blue hackle, followed by red hackle, followed by ostrich herl

Body (1): red floss, ribbed with green embossed tinsel

Body (2): jungle cock nails, tied chatterer-style 

Body (3): "red feathers", tied chatterer-style, with one small jungle cock nail on each side

Bottom Wing/Throat: pair of jungle cock nails; kingfisher cheeks; two toppings below all

Wing: jungle cock nails with pair of dark green hackles slightly shorter than the j.c.; broad strips of amherst pheasant above; four toppings above all

Head: ostrich herl

A Pair of True Classics

The Major and the Jock Scott, tied to throw

The Major and the Jock Scott are two of the most iconic flies in the history of fly fishing. Nowadays, they are most often seen tied in very large sizes for framing. I have tied and framed both of these patterns, but now I tie them for the river. As such, plenty of liberties have been taken with material selection. Hopefully, those snooty salmon won't object.

Jock Scott 5/0, tied for the wall 

The Major 4/0

A 2/0 J.S., about to embark on its maiden voyage