I've been spending some time on the bench tying flies. Most of these will be for the season coming up soon,"hopefully", as well as some for other anglers who have expressed a desire to fish these "bombers". As I started to wrap the hackle the second or third turn suddenly caused it to break. At the point in the fly where I was at, this becomes quite a pain. It seems that the brown hackle had become brittle to the point of breaking. This happened on two flies and then the neck was put to rest. After changing hackle the tying proceeded without a problem.
There were two other patterns I tied this day. One a simple dry requiring only two materials, and another one of Jack Gartside's classics.
Some Bombers waiting for future action. A pattern from Fran Betters.
This is a simple dry fly using just two materials. It's based on an old English pattern created by Charles Cotton. He used basic black for both dubbing and hackle. I have fished this black fly with good success. Here I have tied the pattern with different colored dubbing as well as hackle. These flies will represent many different naturals on the streams.
This is Jack Gartside's "Sparrow" It's a great fly, representing a nymph, emerger, or a streamer. It can be tied in various sizes from 8 to 14. It requires only two materials, feathers from a ringneck pheasant and some dubbing. This fly has lots of movement in the water.
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE
Alan - I have never tied or fished the "sparrow". I will have to give it a try. I am really looking forwadrd to getting the bombers out again!
ReplyDeleteMark,
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It's a pretty good fly. I'm with you on the bombers.
Soon gents, soon enough!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1,
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That's going to great.
I Ditto Mark's comment, that sparrow fly looks like an absolute monster - a monster for fish at least!
ReplyDeleteHibernation,
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It has been around for awhile and has done just that.
Alan
ReplyDeleteAbsolute stunning work at the bench, I am using the Fran Betters version of the Bomber and have had great much success with it. What impress me about this pattern aside from the fact that it catches fish is the high float properties gets while fishing it. By the way I have done a post I think you and Mark might be interested in involving small stream fishing, I just posted it this morning. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell,
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Highly visible, and good eating to the fish. I checked out those videos and they're great. "Small stream magic"
The Sparrow is what I would expect in a Gartside creation. I will tie a few up and fish them.
ReplyDeleteSavage,
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He was a creator of some great flies.
I love your photography!
ReplyDeleteBill Thomas,
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I appreciate it Bill.
I can't wait for the streams to open up out here. All the patterns are great.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz,
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The anticipation seems greater now then when we were kids.
If I were too focus on fishing Colorado's small streams more than I do, I could certainly entertain the thought of getting Bombers in the box. Gartside's Sparrow stirred me to look for my pheasant tying material. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMel Moore,
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The Sparrow when tied on larger hooks is deadly on small mouth.
Sparrow, what could be better?
ReplyDeletessj,
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It's right up there. Truly worth a try.
Those are some nice ties.
ReplyDeleteBill,
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A few of them will find a trout or two soon.