Sunday, August 20, 2017

"Bachelor Button"

I can recall a special little flower that folks called a Bachelor Button. It was a pretty little blossom that caught my eye and the name stated with me for all these years. I had the thought of creating featherwing streamer using the colors of this beautiful blue flower. Below is that streamer.


"Bachelor Button"

The fly is tied in the Rangeley Style, using a Martinek hook. The body is a purple silk, the tail red hackle, it has a silver tinsel tag, and a peacock twist for the butt. The belly is peacock herl, followed by fine white bucktail, the throat is a splash of bright red hackle. The wing is blue saddle hackle, shoulders are guinea fowl and topped with jungle cock for the eyes.







20 comments:

  1. Hi Alan, Your "batch button" looks like wild chicory which my mother-in-law always called "ragged sailors". That blue streamer might be a good choice for trolling LL's in the Spring but we always used shiners, sewed on in a special way by an old timer (my friends father) at New Found Lake.

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    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John blue is a great color to use for a smelt imitation. There are many patterns referred to as "blue smelt"...Frost's Blue Smelt comes to mind.
      Sewed bait is a common and effective method on LL's and trout.

      Delete
  2. Alan
    Another awesome work of art. Outstanding streamer and like the vibrant blue color!

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    Replies
    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete they are great as trolling flies in the lakes.

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  3. Unbelievably nice work Alan! Very well done Sir.

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    Replies
    1. Ralph Long
      Thanks
      Ralph I really appreciate that comment.

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    2. Ralph, I got your package and I believe that will work fine. I'll tie up a few and give them a test.
      Thank you.

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  4. Beautiful streamer, Alan. No one ties them better than you.

    I didn't fish, but checked out some areas of the river you suggested, and they are more to my liking as far as wading goes. The river was busy on a Saturday, but a vacation day to fish during the week will be in my near future.

    Best Regards, Sam

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    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam I was at the Farmy this morning. I fished for an hour or so and left because of the wind. Moved on to a small stream and was very comfortable.
      The weekday should prove to be better, and it looks like Thursday will be a great day.

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  5. Very beautiful Alan, you don't see very many blue flies or streamers!

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    Replies
    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      Mark there are a few, Frost's Blue Smelt is one that comes to mind along with the Supervisor. Flies that are trolled in the deep lakes feature blue in some form to make reference to the smelt that are the forage of salmon and trout.

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  6. I'll tell you Alan, you're not a fly tyer, you're an artist and a damn good one.

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    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark tying and art go together, I try to put some of my touches to these beautiful long flies.

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  7. Replies
    1. penbayman
      Thanks
      I love that "down east" accent.
      Mike I've got to get up there for some "chowdah"

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  8. You certainly did justice to the original bachelor button Alan. I love those colors.

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    Replies
    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard as much as I tried I could not duplicate mother natures beauty.

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  9. Alan
    Another beautiful streamer in a rare blue color which really sets it apart from your average colored streamer. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill a blue cape is not one that I often pick up, but I should. It adds a nice variation to a streamer.

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  10. Simply wonderful, what a good idea you have, I congratulate Alan

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