Over the years I have recieved many many fly tying materials from readers of SSR's. Items like threads, antique yarns, hooks as well as some very interesting hackle. Some of the hackle is from birds that I would not purchase myself either because they are to expensive or just super hard to get. Some classic North Country flies which the patterns call for these hard to get materials I will either not choose to tie or modify them and call them variants. I do not wish to "ruffle feathers" here but most times the variants will work as well as the original patterns.
Here are a couple of those lovely feathers I have in possession thanks to the kindness of others. The first group of feathers is the Golden Plover. As you can see they are incredibly marked. Light and dark tips and spaced perfectly. This is the main ingredient in the fly below.
The "Hares Lug and Plover"...a North Country fly that has been catching trout for maybe one hundred and fifty years. The body is silk thread, with a sparse dub of hair from the ear of a hare. It has a fine gold wire rib and a few turns of that beautiful Golden Plover hackle.
This next feather comes from a Prairie Chicken. This is not an exotic bird but is one I would have never used if not for the generosity of someone else. Here to you can see the markings on the feather are gorgeous. I also found that this feather wraps so easy onto the hook.
Two flies that use the Prairie Chicken feather. One has a green silk body with hares ear dubbed thorax and Prairie Chicken hackle. The other has an orange silk with hares ear thorax with Prairie Chicken hackle.
The weather here has changed...wet rainy and cool for the next three days. I expect to dodge the rain and try to find a willing brookie or two. In the mean time I have three large Vidalia onions and some Lea and Perrins that are the base of a kick ass onion soup. It will be a good day for it.
You have a lot of friends. Not only do you get "presents" from those friends, but you also share a lot of the flies you make. All is appreciated. Friendship is important in these chaotic times.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark your right. Friends can make the difference when bad times are about.
The much welcome rain and cool weather should yield some chances for brookies this weekend. With respect to the feathers, although I find them and the flies tied from them to be beautiful, how much do the fish care? I am always intrigued by the flies and want to try them all even though on most days it seems like all that is really needed are some size 16 stimulators and size 12 olive wooly buggers.
ReplyDeleteShawn
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Shawn we were out poking around yesterday and it looks good.
I don't think the fish care one bit has to how your flies are tied. But if you are going to tie flies they may as well be something to be admired not so much as bt others but by yourself. I have said in the past that I could never be a commercial tyer for the fact that I spen to much time on a fly. I dream of how the fish in a certain situation will react to my work.
Your two choices of flies to use are spot on.
I am a long way from tying flies that can be admired but am happy to experiment with tying up new flies and seeing how the fish respond. Fortunately, they are reasonably forgiving. A picket pin and an ausable bomber both got the job done this morning.
DeleteIt is always great to get some inspiration from the experiences that you share.
Shawn your two choices for the day are on the very top of the list for small stream flies. A thinned down Yellow Muddler is also one you should have.
DeleteThanks for the suggestion! I will give it a try.
DeleteWhat Mark said; so important, more than ever.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike like I said to Mark both of you are so correct.
I personally am going through a period where friends and family are helping me cope.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteYears ago when I was learning to fly tye, I had just a few feathers from a Golden Plover. The tied the most wonderful buggy flies and the Trout (and Grayling!) loved them. Someday I may add a plover skin to my collection, but for the moment I have found almost equal success substituting with some scapular feathers from a cree rooster cape which are just soft enough to have a bit of movement in the water.
Take care and stay safe
Alistair
Alistair
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Alistair I am in your camp when it comes to substitutions. I will try to use materials as the recipe call for but if they are not available I'll go to something this is as long as it's close in color.
I’d like to compliment you on the excellent photography! Those plover feathers really show off their qualities and the flies are equally well done. I’d welcome a post on macrophotography sometime.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th all! Kevin
Ned Zeppelin
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Kevin the feathers are awesome. The markings are so precise and that's something I admire. The macro setting on the camera does all the work, I only need keep the camera steady.