Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

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Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

Post by letumgo » Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:29 pm

Partridge Feather Duster *super simple herl & hackle nymph
Hook - Mustad 3906/Size 12
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Rusty Dun)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge Feather (Dyed Dark Blue Dun)
Body/Tail - Three Strands of Ostrich Herl (Natural Gray)

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PHOTO TUTORIAL/TYING STEPS

- Mount hook, then attach the tying thread at the eye with five firm wraps. Trim off the waste tag end.

- Tye in the partridge hackle by the stem, wrapping back to the middle of the hook, then trim off the hackle stem. Wind the tying thread forward to the eye, in preparation for tying in the ostrich herl fibers.

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- Trim off three strands of ostrich herl fibers, making sure to keep the butt ends even.
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- Rotate the herl fibers to align the butt ends towards the bend of the hook, and tips hanging out over the eye of the hook. Tye down with firm wraps to the midpoint of the hook and trim off the waste butt ends.

CONSTRUCTION NOTE: Tying in the hackle and herl to the midpoint of the shank, helps slightly build up the underbody at the front end of the fly. By tying in the herl by the butt end, and wrapping it backwards, you take advantage of the natural taper of the herl fibers, which helps form a nice tapered body.

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- Wrap the tying thread back to the bend of the hook. Use close touching wraps to form a smooth underbody.
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- Grasp the ostrich herl fibers together and wrap the fibers in close touching wraps back to the bend of the hook. The wraps should be in the same direction as your wraps of tying thread (in my case everything is wrapped "up-and-over" the hook shank).
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- When the herl reaches the hook bend, secure with two firm thread wraps then spiral the tying thread forward to the eye of the hook. The tying thread cross wraps the herl, forming a very durable body (no need for additional glue/head cement). I carefully use the edge of my tying scissors to break off the excess ostrich herl to the tail length I want. Just pull the tail section straight, then quickly draw the sharp edge of your scissor blade at right angle to the tail section. The fibers will break off, leaving a more natural looking end (cutting leaves an unnatural square end).

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- Grasp the tip of the partridge hackle in hackle pliers, then carefully fold the fibers back before wrapping forward. Two to three turns of hackle will be plenty.

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- Tye off and then break off the hackle tip. Whip finish the head (two overlapping whip finishes of three to four wraps each). Add a small drop of head cement or clear nail polish for added durability.

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Very simple, yet durable construction for a herl bodied soft hackle fly. Works equally well with strands of peacock herl and other hen hackles.
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
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"The world is perfect. Appreciate the details." - Dean
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Re: Partridge Feather Duster

Post by Variant » Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:52 pm

Great looking fly!
I like the color combinations.

Lou
In sport,method is everything.The more the skill the method calls for,the higher it’s yield of emotional stir and satisfaction,the higher it’s place must be in a sportsman’s scale of values. RODERICK HAIG-BROWN
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Re: Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

Post by letumgo » Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:12 pm

Thanks Lou. The color combinations can be endless with this general pattern. I happen to keep reaching for the natural dun ostrich herl and dyed partridge lately. I am hoping this will be an effective pattern...hope for 2021. :D ;)
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
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"The world is perfect. Appreciate the details." - Dean
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Re: Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

Post by Roadkill » Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:04 pm

Well done!! Simple and effective, it is definitely a Guide's fly! 8-)
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Re: Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

Post by letumgo » Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:05 pm

:D Thanks Bill. ;)
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
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Re: Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

Post by DOUGSDEN » Sun Jan 03, 2021 9:59 pm

Ray,
A truly awesome and simple pattern to tie! The photo sequence and text are spot on and so easy to grasp! Even for a caveman like me!
Excellent work Ray! We really appreciate You!
Dougsden
Fish when you can, not when you should! Anything short of this is just a disaster.
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Re: Partridge Feather Duster (herl & hackle nymph)

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:10 pm

Ray, my friend, I keep telling you, quit your day job and stay home and develop these quick and easy, but very effective flies for the rest of us. You can take time off to fish, but keep those designs coming.

I'm going to have to get another "Ray" box, along with another "Dubbn" box.
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
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