Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Claret And Starling

Claret and Purple Starling Ray Tucker Tied and Photographed
Claret and Starling this is a spider pattern that has been bugging me for some time. I spent a week looking through many books trying to locate this pattern. I'll tell you this that there are many many similar patterns out there but they are not like the flies I remember seeing somewhere. So I took it upon myself to tie the fly as I remembered it. It consisted of Claret silk thread for a body and Starling for the hackle.

It was over this past weekend that I was on the "flymph forum" when I happened to see a thread about a fly named "Claret and Purple Starling" Clicking on it I found what I was looking for. The post was started 2010 and that's where I first saw it. The flies pictured above are the "Claret and Purple Starling"..they were beautifully tied by Ray Tucker...


This is the Claret and Starling tied by me before I saw the actual photos of Ray's. Claret silk, and Black Starling.


This one has Claret silk and a bleached Starling hackle. I love bleached Starling...hard to get.


Mole skin, Ray's flies called for this as a dubbing and on the next pattern I used it in the construction.


This is the Claret and Starling with a Mole dubbed thorax.








12 comments:

  1. Those flies look great! We have a local purple soft hackle pattern that we use in Nashville, it has become one of my favorite flies!

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    1. Harrison Ryder
      Thanks
      Harrison I'd love the name of that fly and the recipe for it if possible.

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  2. Alan - Beautifully tied! Claret can be a quite striking color. I am curious how your spiders fish. Stay safe and healthy!

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  3. Aaah, Mole skin. One less critter digging up the yard. Nice flies. I like purple, OK Claret.

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    1. Mark Kautz
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      Mark I'm always willing to do my part. Many names for the same color, I'm confused.

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  4. Alan
    Like the purple with the gold hook. It seems this fly has a shorter hackle, than the average hackle fly? Thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
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      Bill the hackle is shorter. Starling is a short fine feather but very lively in the water and has a wonderful iridescence. Starling matches up well on the shorter shank of the spider hook.

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  5. Alan,
    Really great looking flies. Being a fan of simple, uncomplicated things, I found that simple things will look either great or just so-so.
    The simple flies I tied ended up looking just so-so. My only hope is the fish still like them.
    JJ

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    1. Beaverdam
      Thanks
      Joe so-so to us looks like a perfect insect to the fish. Now I can't say I know this for sure but I have read that there is nothing perfect in the natural world. Keep on fishing those so-so flies buddy.

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  6. A pretty and "simple looking" pattern but only simple looking in the hands of a skilled tier like yourself Alan. that is one fantastic looking fly. Not to change the subject but will you be heading to Red Brook this spring? I love those salter stories..

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    1. penbayman
      Thanks
      Mike it's good to hear from you.
      We had planned to go this weekend before this virus took over the world. Instead of staying over I guess a single day might be in the works. Stay tuned...

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