Cowdung question

[letumgo]

Bill - Thanks for posting the images. I find them to be very interesting! I am surprised how different our landrail wings look. In your wings, you can clearly see the "pinkish tinge" in the feathers mentioned by Leisenring. I did not see that in the ones I own. It makes me wonder how much variation there is in landrail wings. Does anyone know how different the male and female landrail look?

[wsbailey]

Comparison picture:

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1514

Landrail (Corncrake).JPG (114.91 KiB) Viewed 6037 times

[letumgo]

Thanks Bill. I am beginning to think my "genuine landrail" wings are something different. (bummer)

[wsbailey]

On the plus side chukar feathers are easy to get and I doubt the difference would be apparent on a finished fly.

[zen leecher]

I think I have a complete chukar skin out in the freezer. Now all I need to do is find it.

[Mataura mayfly]

And if one cannot find Chukar wings, one might be able to find Red Legged Partridge wings.

Bill, that comparison photo is a revelation. Never having had a Landrail wing I did not realise just how close the Chukar wing is as a sub. I doubt many tiers could pick the difference on a tied fly- let alone a trout.
The Cowdung used to be a popular fly here in NZ, but has fallen by the wayside (as many of the older patterns have), popular both sides of the Atlantic as well, but very little is written about the pattern and not a lot of interweb thingy interest either.

[wsbailey]

Jeff, without Leisenring and Ray Bergman the Cow Dung would probably be little known in the US as well. Here is an interesting reference to the history of the fly: http://softhacklepatternbook.blogspot.c ... y-and.html. A modern interpretation: https://youtu.be/c_DIayRmQQY.

[William Anderson]

Bill, thanks for the images and the links. This thread is interesting. I have always thought the cowdung fly to be a minor interest because of the specific conditions in which the natural is present for trout, but it's a great looking pattern. Something I might give a go.

[wsbailey]

There is actually a cow dung dubbing. Scroll down the page on this site:
https://www.frankiemcphillips.com/categ ... bbing.html

[letumgo]

Oh man, I did not need to see those Irish dubbing blends. Bill, I think you just cost me a fortune.

inner voice "Must resist temptation!"