The North Country Fly is the epitome of simplicity. Most can be constructed with as few as three materials and be trout takers to the top level. The patterns tied here will show the simplicity of those three materials plus one. The patterns naturally have a hook, be it one of the materials but also a body material usually thread which can be silk or a blend of various fiber be it natural or synthetic, and hackle. In addition I have included a dubbing material. The dubbing is very sparse, and sometimes even less than sparse as you will see.
In his book "The North Country Fly" Robert L Smith mentions the word "buzz" when talking of the subtle movement of the hackle in the various currents of streams and rivers. This movement represents a natural insects struggle to free itself of the current which is trying to hamper it. With this thought I also add a scant amount of dubbing to the thread and a life like body is obtained. The fibers allow the thread to show through giving a translucent effect to the fly as would be the case of the natural insect. Those fiber also allow for more subtle movement which make the fly effective.
This fly has a body of gray thread, and a few touches of gray dubbing and light hackle.
On this fly a primrose silk body, with yellow dubbing and partridge hackle.
This very seductive looking fly has a yellow silk thread body, a bit of natural hares dubbing, and a bleached starling hackle.
This last fly uses a green thread body, a peacock herl thorax, the peacock will act as the "buzz" and the hackle is grizzly hen.
Those are beauties. Were you using any of those on Tuesday? I bet they are deadly.
ReplyDeleteTROUTI
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Pete I did not, but I did on Sunday and they worked well.
Simple, elegant, and impressionistic!
ReplyDeleteMark
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Mark you pretty much summed it up.
Definitely simple. Even a fat fingered guy like me could tie those.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz-Shoreman
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Mark I know you could tie a few of these.
Nicely Done!
ReplyDeleteChris "Kiwi" Kuhlow
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Chris you are one that enjoys simplistic beauty.
Looks like I'm going to need another box.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan
thedeadfisher
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John, they're small flies, don't take up much room.
By the way panfish like them also.
Beautiful work, as always, Alan!
ReplyDeleteJustin Carf
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Justin I appreciate that.
What sizes do you find most effective in normal use?
ReplyDeleteOh, and very nicely done, by the way. The book you reference is one of my favorites.
DeleteAvid Indoorsman
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I like them best in a size 14, but I also fish a few in 16
Avid,
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i like the 'pizazz' the partridge hackle gives. :D
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl
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Theresa it's very "leggy".
Alan
ReplyDeleteAwesome patterns---what is the most common size you fish in these patterns? By the way I am saving this post for future use. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill size 14
Killer! All of them!
ReplyDeleteBen B.
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Ben I hope so. About April-May should be a good test.
All the flies look wonderful, but the green threaded one has me thinking I need to add that pattern to my box.the olives are starting to show up and that fly in a smaller hook I think will work,thanks for the show.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad it would make a pretty good replica, especially in a smaller size.
Thanks Alan, that's brilliant! Seriously would not have thought about adding a little dubbing. Nice flies.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard that little bit of flash-movement could make the fish take.
These are perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteMillers River Flyfisher
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Ken they should work...hopefully.
I quite like the primrose silk body fly.
ReplyDeleteBen Mckinley
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Ben it does have a sparkle to it.