A random, scattered day of tying. A distraction. A diversion. Fly tying can be that. Not tying with intense purpose for an outing. Just going through the motions with a hint of creativity…an automatic embellishment here and there. Today, I tied a couple of patterns to use some chenille that Jean Paul at roughfisher sent my way. Also, I wanted to use the aftershaft or filoplume at the bottom of a patch of ringneck pheasant feathers for a tail; short tufts of webby fibers. I tied enough to get some shots and enough to know I like the material Jean Paul sent my way….thank you. Triple click on this top pic to see how beautiful those feathers really are.
In the above pattern, I wanted a hint of hot green feather fibers on either side of the head. The hook is a size 12 streamer hook (Mustad 79580), the body is Roughfisher’s chenille.
The below pattern is a fluff job, typical of stillwater creations. As I tied it, I thought…nothing too unique there…the bead chain eyes are actually very light plastic from a long chain. So, they are light enough that I doubt they would flip the fly over.
Boy howdy! That is a nice little fly isn’t it?
Ringneck Pheasant Tail SwittersB
SwittersB & Lots of Possibility for Life
I look at the Boy Howdy fly daily and try to figure out the materials and techniques. Will you share with me? Have you fished it?
Hello…To Rex & Cast & Mend:
The flies components are in part from a company that slightly circumvents the do-it-yourself part of fly tying from Fly Tying Specialties http://www.flytyingspecialties.com/ The legs are Oliver Edwards Caddis Legs, an amazing look. I have several times used deer hair in a dubbing loop and come pretty close to replicating the look. Last time I tried it, it came out pretty darn good. But, FTS’s product is also quite good. The abdomen/thorax could be any synthetic dubbed and trimmed in green then orange. Again, I used a FTS product, a dubbing brush, that comes in many, many colors. In this instance it was an olive brush that is orange on either end. These brushes are used to create Czech Nymphs. Much of FTS’s product line was originally offered for Czech Nymph’s. The spot in front of the Caddis Legs was a turn of Ice Dub, a synthetic tri-lobal blend that is nice to work with. The tail was a pinch of orange and a pinch of olive aftershaft/filoplume/chickaboo…call it what you like…but the fluff at the base of a hackle stem that is often discarded but makes a nice tail for smaller numphs, woolly buggers, Timberline Emergers etc.
The FTS site is a bit underdeveloped. The dubbing brushes that I so love, are no where to be found. I have always found this company at a fly tying expo in Albany, Oregon each March. I load up then. I am sure if you call the company in California and ask for Steve he can answer your questions or write him: Email:steve@flytyingspecialties.com Phone/Fax:(707)763-1465 If you live out of the US, they would ship, I’m sure. Oliver Edwards products or concepts seem to be an important part of the materials offered because of Czech Nymph.
However, you can replicate all of the FTS materials with a little experimentation of the appropriate deer or elk hair, colored to suit your pattern and dub a nice body. I bought the FTS materials and then experimented to match the look. Good luck either way you go…FTS has nice stuff, don’t get me wrong…just the site could be a bit better.
Yes, I have fished it on a lake and on a river. It fished well…surprisingly well on the McKenzie River in Oregon below Leaburg Dam. I tied it in two sizes, a size 8 for stillwaters and a size 12 on a hook with a slight bend in the shank (not a pupa hook). I didn’t weight either, but the ubiquitous bead head would be an option of course.
SB
Switters,
Thanks for the information. My attempts have given me hope but I can’t quite find the right thickness of deer hair I want. The caddis legs might fit the bill. I suppose my eye likes the orange, olive, purple combinations. This one has me fixated.
–rex–
I know Rex…it is a very enticing fly. I agree..when I finished it and photographed it, I thought wow! that is nice. I don’t usually let myself say such things, even to myself
but, it is a nice looking fly and the materials make it so despite me.
Great flies!! Definately a good way to pass time- better than eating Cheeto’s and watching TV don’t you think? At least less fattening
Hello…To Rex & Cast & Mend (sending same message to both in the event you are two different visitors):
The flies components are in part from a company that slightly circumvents the do-it-yourself part of fly tying from Fly Tying Specialties http://www.flytyingspecialties.com/ The legs are Oliver Edwards Caddis Legs, an amazing look. I have several times used deer hair in a dubbing loop and come pretty close to replicating the look. Last time I tried it, it came out pretty darn good. But, FTS’s product is also quite good. The abdomen/thorax could be any synthetic dubbed and trimmed in green then orange. Again, I used a FTS product, a dubbing brush, that comes in many, many colors. In this instance it was an olive brush that is orange on either end. These brushes are used to create Czech Nymphs. Much of FTS’s product line was originally offered for Czech Nymph’s. The spot in front of the Caddis Legs was a turn of Ice Dub, a synthetic tri-lobal blend that is nice to work with. The tail was a pinch of orange and a pinch of olive aftershaft/filoplume/chickaboo…call it what you like…but the fluff at the base of a hackle stem that is often discarded but makes a nice tail for smaller numphs, woolly buggers, Timberline Emergers etc.
The FTS site is a bit underdeveloped. The dubbing brushes that I so love, are no where to be found. I have always found this company at a fly tying expo in Albany, Oregon each March. I load up then. I am sure if you call the company in California and ask for Steve he can answer your questions or write him: Email:steve@flytyingspecialties.com Phone/Fax:(707)763-1465 If you live out of the US, they would ship, I’m sure. Oliver Edwards products or concepts seem to be an important part of the materials offered because of Czech Nymph.
However, you can replicate all of the FTS materials with a little experimentation of the appropriate deer or elk hair, colored to suit your pattern and dub a nice body. I bought the FTS materials and then experimented to match the look. Good luck either way you go…
FTS has nice stuff, don’t get me wrong…just the site could be a bit better.
SB