Colors are not always what they appear especially when wet. I find this to be especially true when using silk threads in the bodies of flies. Silk has a much richer color and is better suited for bodies then cotton or rayon threads. This spool of YLI orange silk looks very bright when dry, but you will see a much different shade when shown wet. The fly that was tied using silk and a pheasant feather turned out to be quite a fish taker for me over the last several weeks. Oh by the way there is one other material used in the fly and that is "secret stuff"....remember Jack Gartside's famous material?
The "secret stuff"...a coppery rusty spikey blend that is used for the thorax of the fly. I feel this material plays a big part in the flies success.
The fly when dry...sometimes I dub on the heavy loose side and I will also dub it tightly...the loose dub work better.
The fly when wet. You can see the color is more subdued, almost brown. The loose dubbing also moves in the current which adds to the flies effectiveness.
Proof in the pudding. This fine male brook trout was taken yesterday in a stream in eastern Connecticut.
Loves me some orange silk!
ReplyDeleteBill Shuck
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Bill somehow I knew that orange silk would on the top of your list.
WOnderful. Looks like YLI is on the list when my last Pearsall horde slips away. I figure I have 20 flies left on orange. Maybe 100 on purple. Then - "the other stuff" which you've shown well. Thanks, Aln. Oh - nice fish!
ReplyDeletespike
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Spike I have a few spools of Pearsalls, the YLI is a great alternative. The secret stuff is actually SLF Squirrel dubbing.
Very nice to see that fish... What a beautiful brookie for sure!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will those types of brook trout are showing up in a lot of streams I fish. A great sign that I hope continues.
Orange of any shade has always been good out here.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark orange is a great color especially where brookies are found.
Beautiful brookie and the orange silk thoraxed soft hackle is one of my favorites. I usually use hare's ear for the thorax but looking at your fly I may mix in a touch of ice dub on my next batch. Great pictures as usual!
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
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Pat the dubbing is SLF Squirrel...I love the stuff.
My Pearsall's is running low, especially the orange and primrose. You've convinced me on the YLI, I'll try it. Beautiful fly and great pics, as always. Thank you, Alan.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike YLI is as good as Pearsall's as far as I'm concerned. It's available in many colors and the price is great.
Off topic a bit but I have seen you use oranges before and some patterns call for ginger. What sort of color do you consider to be ginger and what dubbing do you use that is ginger?
ReplyDeleteUnknown
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This may be useful to you.
https://smallstreamreflections.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-ginger-caddis.html
Simply beautiful, both the fly and the chunky brook trout that hit it. A bit more rain the last two days should keep your gems flowing nicely for a good while.
ReplyDeleteSam
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Sam we have received an ample amount of rain here also. A stream I fished yesterday was flowing with off colored water from thundershowers...it's all good buddy.
Indeed all good, Alan. I hit a local freestone the last two nights and had good action, both on top and sub surface. Not natives, but still a lot of fun on the business end of a fly rod. The stream warms up in summer, but is a nice 62 degrees right now. Best, Sam
DeleteSam, fishing is the key, what you catch is all good.
DeleteI have been taking stream temps and have found a swing of about 6 or 7 degrees, all on the cool side though. I think we are in great shape going into June.