Claret, what color is claret anyway. Just google the word and you'll be surprised what comes up. I for one am not the person that has to get it right. I believe close is good and usually gets it done and that's all I ask. After all we can go crazy and perhaps broke trying to get all things perfect when it comes to fly tying...simple I tell you.
In my silk thread stash I found this one to be as close to the color claret. Burgundy, Deep Red, how about Zinfandel? Oh well here are a couple of flies tied with claret silk. These are simple patterns and most times that's all it takes.
Woodcock and Claret. Claret silk thread, sparse mole dubbing and two turns of woodcock hackle.
Pheasant and Claret. Claret silk thread, sparse mole dubbing and two turns of hen pheasant hackle.
I love those flies, especially with the fine "halo" dubbing. I'm going to try a few!
ReplyDeleteTom Davis
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Tom that sparse "frugal" dubbing adds a nice effect to those flies. In softer currents it brings life to the fly.
That is one color that would need to be tried out here. Yellow, green, red, all good. That is once you can get under the 9' of snow. Yup, it's melting.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark it's always nice to add another color, and another you get my drift. It's a slow process on that melt.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteOne of the first trout I caught on fly was on a claret bodied fly - that old classic the 'Mallard & Claret'!
The new stretch looks promising, 4 reasonable trout but I know the homes of few better fish to go for next time out.
Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair the Mallard and Claret is a classic. Nice outing for yourself with the prospect of bigger fish has to gratifying. Go get them...
I've never been a claret fan but I love zinfandel; drink the stuff by the gallon. I've always thought of claret as a color not a beverage. Now I'm going to want a glass of zinfandel every time I sit down at the bench to imitate one of your creations. That YLI silk looks like it agrees with you.
ReplyDeletemike
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When I was a drinking man years ago zinfandel was a favored wine. Wine and fly tying, sounds like a nice winter gathering.
I love YLI.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteCall it what you will....it is a beautiful color and you have created beautiful patterns with it! What more can we ask!
I am in agreement with the others that the sparse, dusted effect of the mole fur is exquisite! I once saw Sylvester Nemes do this dusting of the standing thread with dubbing as we all stood around the great mans vice utterly slacked jawed at the results. You have done an equally good job in your sparse application!
Your patterns have a certain beauty about them that I simply cannot duplicate!
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug to be mentioned in the same paragraph as Sylvester Nemes is truly incredible. I do appreciate it.
The next few flies are a little bit easier to recognize the color...yellow and violet.
I'm not usually a fan of bright hooks, but I have a hunch that your Pheasant and Claret pattern will please the wild brookies no end. Is the pheasant hackle a wing covert feather?
ReplyDeleteBill Shuck
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Bill I really would prefer a darker hook. I did get them from Allen but they to have changed to a bright hook. I just ordered some black hooks in the style I like which are in the flies above. When I get them I'll post it.
The feather is from the shoulder of a hen pheasant.
Looks like claret to me on my screen and those patterns are a few that I have never tried and they look great! As for silk, which I use mostly for soft-hackles I went on an internet buying spree when I heard Pearsalls Gossamer would be discontinued and at my age have a lifetime supply of the colors I use.
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
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Pat I wish I had a heads up on Pearsall's closing up shop, I would have taken advantage of it. I have some Pearsall's but the YLI has done very well in picking up the slack.
"Life After Pearsall's"
Really into that color... looks like you are using the YLI 100? I would like to buy a spool to try it out... do you get yours at a shop or online?
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