Fooling around with some pheasant feathers last week I put together a couple of flies. Basically they are pretty much the same with the exception of their thorax and the feather used for the hackle. I tied "mama" using a hen pheasant feather and "papa" was tied using a rooster feather. Both bodies were Peasall's red silk, "mama" had a thorax of olive squirrel dubbing, and "papa" had a thorax of black squirrel.
A major feature of the rooster feather was the barring, it was more pronounced where as the hen feather more subdued. I fished both flies on a rising small stream last week and found some very interesting facts.
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| "Mama" |
I tried to give each fly equal time and locations of the stream.
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| "Papa" |
This day the edge went to "mama"....both flies took some beautiful brook trout.
The competition between "mama" and "papa" will continue.
Alan, lovely piece as always what a restful looking place that stream is. A technical query, is your rod fibre glass(?), it certainly looks like it and glows like semi-transparent toffee! Regards, John
ReplyDeleteThe Two Terriers
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John the rod is indeed fiberglass. It is a little rod, 5ft long. It is made by Mike Kattner, from Pennsylvania.
I'm waiting to see what your overall opinion is about how the two flies fared.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard on day one the edge went to "mama"...but a little more time is needed.
I don't know, in my experience, seems like Mama is always right. At least if Papa wants to keep her happy... :)
ReplyDeleteMichael Agneta
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Mike you are 100% right. I believe the trout agree with that at least so far...stay tuned.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteWonderfully coloured brookies once again....
When we think of pheasant feathers for fly tying, I would say majority of us think of tail feathersand not much else! However (as you have demonstrated) they offer much more. There is an old pattern over here that represents the Bracken Clock Beatle which uses the neck feathers of the cock bird (the bronze coloured ones with the black edging) along with a body of Peacock herl and red silk. The Beatle is seen in great numbers on our upland streams and stillwaters this time of year (especially if there is a good wind blowing). I always have a few of them in my boxes just in case they make an appearance.
I have also used the dark blue head feathers as a substitute for black hackles on the Black Magic with some success.
Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair now you've went and done it. The Bracken Clock Beatle, I will attempt to tie some and give them a workout. The ringneck pheasant both hen and cock is underutilized in my opinion. So many different feathers that offer a multitude of applications.
Lovely looking brook trout, Alan. I hand tied some similar flies a little while ago using just orange sewing thread and a guinea fowl hackle. Ended looking very buggy like your creations. Must try them out when the streams reopen in September here in Victoria, Australia. Thanks again for taking us out on the stream.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Steve.
Steve Hynes
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Steve flies like you speak of are very good at making a fish think it's something they should try to eat. While not matching any one insect they do represent many that may look like it. Anticipation for your opening must be building...good luck.
Alan, the latest on Roaring Brook, CT Pls pass it along.
ReplyDeleteWillington CT Conservation Commission meeting of 07/18/2018 published minutes:
Love’s Travel Stop:
KD gave an update on DEEP’s post hearing filing date
for the evidentiary hearing concerning the Wastewater Treatment System at Love’s Travel Stop.
The filing date has been further extended to 7/27/18.
The Hearing Officer will then make a recommendation to DEEP and Love’s Travel Stop on their Wastewater Treatment System.
John Dornik
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John you have just passed it along. Thank you for the information.
I was out in eastern CT yesterday, poking about. Found two old mills that were part of CT's history.
Alan ,doesn't mama usually win. Lol. Beautiful brook trout. Love how the light shines through that cane and silk rod. I have really enjoyed mine , I have same color blank. The picket pin fly is very interesting, like the red and yellow sighter on top, nice touch. It's amazing what we come up with when our eyes aren't what they used to be. Lol. Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad mama does in fact usually win butt....
I love the cane and silk rods, so responsive and nicely appointed.
That version of the PP was tied for Maine brookies, they love that red and yellow mix.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI can see the hackles of both of these flies fluttering in a stream current, and better yet a wild trout nailing it. Great work at the vice---by the way I've tried the Nemesis out with success!
Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill a few more outings and I should have a handle on which is best.
Bill that's fantastic, your success with salars nemesis. I know it will do well for you. I had a nice fish on it Friday fishing the Farmington.
lovely post again alan, top tying and great fishing.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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George I love it, and that's when good things happen.
wonderful mom and dad, I see that this Tenkara fly has evolved a lot ...!
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armand that it has. I love the simplicity of those flies.
Beautiful brook trout, Alan. They look like they are already getting their spawning colors on with the bright bellies on them. The ones I have caught on the Swift aren't near as colorful yet.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Sam
Parachute Adams
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Sam quite a few of the brookies I've taken from the small streams have been showing color. I fished the Farmington on Friday and a brookie that I brought to hand also had some great color.