Wedding Boutonniere Flies

A dapper angler

I was recently commissioned to tie fourteen wedding boutonniere flies for a couple who tyed the knot earlier this month. At first, I submitted a hairwing atlantic salmon fly design in the requested color scheme, pink and blue. The colors were a little off, so the groom sent me a picture of the tie that he and the other groomsmen will be wearing. It was a few different shades of blue with jumping tarpon and little pink tarpon-type flies.

It seemed silly to pair salmon flies with a tarpon tie, so I retied the prototype. The second pattern was a more pleasing design, loosely based on a Florida Keys tarpon fly template. Salmon fly boutonnieres look nice, but they can be a little two dimensional. With its palmered marabou and hackle, a tarpon fly looks more "floral" to me. 

Ready to party!

After a little more tweaking, the third time was the charm. I wish I could have tied them on conventional stainless saltwater hooks, but I could only find brooch pin hooks on modified streamer and salmon irons. Regardless, I like how they turned out.

I bought one extra brooch pin hook. I might tie fly boutonniere for myself one of these days. After wearing it, I figure I can cut it apart and retie one to match another outfit.

Chopham & The Outlaw

The Outlaw (above) & Chopham (below)

It's has been a while since I last posted anything here. Mid-May through the end of June was a very busy period of work for me (a good thing). I played a bunch of fun gigs and was in the studio, recording several ballads for an upcoming Chet Baker tribute album. When I wasn't working, I was at home with the little guy. It left very little time for fishing and even less time for tying. Sadly, my spring fishing season can summed up in two words...bad timing. I just couldn't seem to time anything right. First the water was way too low for my quarry, then it was way too high. Finally, I couldn't take it any longer and fished right through a tropical storm. This summer, my goal is to find a good babysitter so I can time things a little better come autumn!

I did find the time to tie up a couple of freestyle display flies this week, however. It felt good to tie this style of fly again. I think the last freestyle fly I tied was almost a year ago. I have some more ideas I'm going to try to work out while we're in the summer doldrums.

Chopham-tied on a 3/0 Alec Jackson (gold)

The "Chopham" is based on the Popham, one of the most iconic flies of the Victorian era. The indian crow subs in this fly were made by Bryant Freeman of Eskape Anglers. Because of the lack of a formal body, I aimed for an airy look overall. 

The Outlaw-tied on a 3/0 Alec Jackson (silver)

"The Outlaw" uses a color scheme that I am very fond of...black, white, red and peacock green. I can't get enough of white feathers with a black/dark accent. Amherst and silver pheasants, silver badger rooster and, in the case of this fly, speckled bustard neck hackle (throat). I'm also a sucker for embossed tinsels. Along with "The "Moon Maiden,"  and "The Bandit" (one of my first freestyle flies), this fly is the third in a series of flies in this color scheme.

Stay tuned for more in the near future...

Rosy Dawn - An Evolution

I. Classic
Rosy Dawn
4/0

II. Modern
Rosy Dawn - Temple Dog
1.25" plastic tube

III. Postmodern
Rosy's Spawn
Dual Yorkshire Flybody Hooks #10

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