Over the years I have expressed my admiration of Jack Gartside. A true genius in the fly fishing world. Many of his patterns continue to put fish on the hook. In his book "Fly Patterns for the Adventurous Tyer" which features fresh water patterns from little bugs to large streamers. Many of Jack's patterns feature the use of ring neck pheasant. This bird has a multitude of feathers which can be used, I would say that all of the feathers can actually be used.
The flies tied below while not Gartside patterns do incorporate feathers from the pheasant. And as the book title say's "Adventurous Tyer"...so Jack here are some simple flies tied in the soft-hackle tradition.
 |
| The Pheasant Soft-Hackle Streamer 1 |
This streamer fly has a gold thread body. The wing is a fluffy pheasant marabou feather. The hackle collar is two pheasant shoulder feathers.
 |
| The Pheasant Soft-Hackle Streamer 2 |
This streamer features an orange thread body. The wing uses a fluffy pheasant marabou feather. The collar is two pheasant shoulder feathers, one light colored and one dark colored.
This simple caddis pattern uses a tan thread body. A peacock herl thorax. And a grizzly marabou pheasant feather.
Adventurous...I think so.
Alan
ReplyDeleteGood looking flies. We need a serious thaw in order to give them a test run.
TROUT1
DeleteThanks
Pete I was out for a couple of hours today...found a few.
Jack's flies are wonderful and very creative.... very nicely tied.
ReplyDeleteDoug Korn, Fly Tyer
DeleteThanks
Doug he was a master.
Hi Alan, Something different but very nice.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
DeleteThanks
George if you ever get the chance check out some of Gartside's work....
will investigate it now you have mentioned it. Cheers
DeleteThese are awesome Alan. I need to try "Streamer 2" next time I'm at the bench!
ReplyDeleteDelicious Alan! I have got to get my hands on Jack's book a.s.a.p.!! Your streamer patterns above, one and two, are an inspiration and I know that they would take fish in my locale! Great work friend!
ReplyDeleteD.'s Den
Dougsden
DeleteThanks
Doug you would enjoy his book, he has many awesome flies to tinker with. One of the two streamers worked pretty well yesterday on some local jewels.
Well done Alan! I love tying with pheasant and incorporate it whenever I can in many patterns. I love the caddis by the way.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
DeleteThanks
Howard pheasant is a cheap under used material. Many uses for sure.
The streamers are really nice, Alan, but the caddis is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shuck
DeleteThanks
Bill hopefully in times of warmer weather it will work. It's versatile for it can be fished wet or dry.
Here's an analogy for you Alan, which I understand is already the case in England;
ReplyDeletePheasant tail (PT)is nymph as Kleenex is to tissue
Gartside is on my short list of trout literature needs. Love the pheasant streamer. I have a bag of neck feathers here to use on my 18/20 sized soft hackles. They work well.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I'll be browsing books again here soon. Maybe a new bookcase, too. This fellow's texts need to be on it.
John Dornik
ReplyDeleteThanks
John those folks have a very strong bond with the pheasant tail....and to think that it was said they were dry fly purists.
Alan, I love those pheasant streamers. I envision big browns going after those. The caddis looks as much like a real one as I've ever seen. It is fun tying the out of the ordinary flies this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI have just finished re-reading a book called 'The Last Pool, Upstream and Down Big Stony.' One chapter involves a couple of fly tiers who have tired of tying dozens of the traditional flies during the winter and start tying non-traditional ones. The whole book is good if one loves fly fishing.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed with the Pheasant Soft Hackle, I could even see smallmouth or spots nailing this fly. Great job at the vice, thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill this fly would make a fine bass fly especially when tied a bit larger. Various colors are also an option.
The soft hackle streamer was how I like fly tying, simple and good looking. I ll tye up some streamers like that and give them a go in the west coast creeks and mountain lake here.
ReplyDeleteJossilainen
DeleteThanks
When you count the materials in those streamers there are but three, and one of those three is the thread.
Simplicity to the max.
I would love to hear about your success with these flies on your west coast waters.
Three superb examples of worker flies. You know, the kind that put fish on a hook? Nice job Alan
ReplyDeletepenbayman
DeleteThanks
Mike great title "Worker Flies"!
My favorite Striper fly is the Garthside Gurgler that I tie
ReplyDeleteRIP Jack