The color black is used very successfully in many fly patterns whether in the body material such as silk and rayon floss, threads, and hackle, both cock and soft hackle. These are used in the pattern singly or in multiples to create flies from ants to streamer flies. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the woolly bugger, especially the black version and know of it's prowess to take fish. One of the problems with black is the anglers ability to see the fly on the water. Some patterns have incorporated hot spots of color such as orange, or white. These work but I prefer to just float the fly and see the rise. Here are a few black flies I have tied and tried. They work and should have a place in the anglers box.
A standard upright hackle black fly. Can be a representative of many land based insects.
This little guy could be a beetle, and is tied with cock hackle palmered, and a black soft hackle collar. Deadly at times.
Alan, I rarely fish black flies for that same reason about seeing them...
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited Japan this Spring, the guys there were pretty interested in using black flies more in the summer, while they used tan or lighter colored flies in the early spring. They seemed pretty insistent on that distinction between the seasons and colors.
I'm looking forward to trying more black flies this summer to do my own "experiment."
Klags,
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Adam, most anglers feel the same way, what good are they if I can't see them. Well the fish see them and that's what it's all about.
Experiment away.........
Through the years the color Black has been very good to me. I like to fish Black in the early season on the ponds and lakes just after Ice out................
ReplyDeleteThe pattern you have in the middle picture has been very effective on Spring Creeks and Lakes as a Midge Cluster imitation.
Nice work, Alan, thanks for sharing.
Gramps (Mel)
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I like the black fly on a day when nothing seems to be working. You tie it on and you get that pleasant feeling of a fish taking.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI do have trouble at time seeing a black pattern especially when fishing shaded areas, but have less trouble when fishing in sunlight. I was using a pattern similar to your beetle the other day on the Sipsey and had success with it. The Black Ghost is a perfect color combo, just curious how you fish it. Have you tried it on any fresh water streams? Nice tying job!!
Bill Trussell,
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The Black Ghost is fished best down and across. Then retrieved in short strips. But experiment with the speed of the retrieve.
I love black flies. I can't see them any more than any other fly. All I know is the fish love them.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett,
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Howard I tried using some bright orange thread wraps to aid in visibility and it worked well.