Three simple ingredients to produce a wonderful little fly. The more I continue reading about North Country Flies there is one constant that comes forward, that constant is "simplicity". There are times when to much just gets in the way. This "spider", with it's sparseness has a great deal of life that would be lost if tied with a multitude of materials.
The "Chestnut Blonde".....Materials, chestnut silk thread for the body, very sparse fox squirrel dubbing, and two turns of hen hackle.
"Chestnut Blonde"
 |
| Photo courtesy of Mark Wittman |
Last night was the Connecticut Fly Fisherman's Association annual fly tyers roundtable. I had the pleasure of tying flies with some of the best. There was a great turnout and I enjoyed meeting old friends and making new ones. I also came home with a few "goodies" that I will put into play in the future. Thanks to the C.F.F.A. for hosting this again.
Spaghetti and clam sauce....simplicity again. Clams, olive oil, garlic, parsley, and spaghetti.
OK, so there you go again Alan....baiting me in with a great looking fly, then making me hungry with a picture of Spaghetti and Clams. Not fair at all. :)
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
DeleteThanks
Ralph all's fair in flies and spaghetti. Or was that....
Nice tie! I have had great results with the lighter blonde/rust/dun hackles here in Michigan. Love the NCF book on the table, too. Pride of my collection. The photoplates are just outstanding.
ReplyDeletespike,
DeleteThanks
That's good to hear. I tried that fly today and it was hammered by the local brookie population. That book is also one of my favorites it is very well done.
Ralph has me off track here.............. Nice meal..........
ReplyDeleteOh, and simplicity in fly tying is essential. Fish just need a suggestion not a candid picture.
Mel-Fly Tyin Times
DeleteThanks
Mel that suggestion sure paid off today.
Alan, it's a shame that more people, especially fly fishermen don't understand that simple is usually better. Thanks for all the reminders.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
DeleteThanks
Howard that is so very true. But simplicity won't fill the fly bins.
Alan
ReplyDeleteLove the chestnut pattern; clams and spaghetti a great combination. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the goodies
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill that fly worked very well yesterday. Shellfish and pasta make great combinations. I make a scallop risotto that's to die for.
Hi alan. Those littlenecks look awfully pale, to me. The littlenecks I harvest are almost black. Of course I have secret flats where the bottom is about half sand half muck. The most flavorful clams come from the mucky areas. The stockies here in CT are hitting just about anything I throw at them. Maybe its the fine weather this week.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
DeleteThanks
John the clams are of supermarket harvest, could be why the pale color, tasty though.
Yes stockies will provide action, but a few of them will realize what they should eat is not what's being thrown at them. Holdovers are formidable.
I love the looks of both the fly and the clam sauce which is one of my favorites. Give me some good bread and I will soak up every bit of it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to both you and Jeanette.
Regards, Sam
Parachute Adams
DeleteThanks
Sam good bread is also an important part of that meal.
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Interesting the encounter of fly tyers, but better still the spaghetti and the sauce of clams ... bon appetit.
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
DeleteThanks
Armando I to prefer the spaghetti and clams.