Pritt's No. 61 - Black Gnat

Moderators: William Anderson, letumgo

Post Reply
joaniebo
Posts: 685
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2014 12:24 pm

Pritt's No. 61 - Black Gnat

Post by joaniebo » Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:34 pm

I’ve been on a kick lately to tie more North Country Spiders based on the information stated in either T. E. Pritt’s book “Yorkshire Trout Flies / North Country Flies” or Edmonds’ & Lee’s book “Brook & River Trouting.”

The dressing is quite simple and uses only two materials – black thread and black ostrich herl. I used Daiichi #1550 , size 16 hooks.

Although Pritt’s dressing doesn’t mention it, when I wrapped the thread down the hook shank, I left a 6” – 8” tag of thread to use as a ribbing to make the delicate ostrich herl a little more durable.
Attachments
Pritt's #61 Black Gnat.JPG
Pritt's #61 Black Gnat.JPG (359.96 KiB) Viewed 1039 times
wsbailey
Posts: 990
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:30 pm
Location: Fort Wayne Indiana

Re: Pritt's No. 61 - Black Gnat

Post by wsbailey » Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:05 pm

Bob,

I like your idea for strengthening the herl. For these smaller flies I find the fly shop ostrich herl is generally too large. The easiest way to get small herl is from a feather duster. They come in natural gray or black.

https://www.featherdusterdepot.com/category-s/181.htm
NightWatchman
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri May 22, 2020 10:43 pm

Re: Pritt's No. 61 - Black Gnat

Post by NightWatchman » Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:54 pm

Nice Joaniebo !
joaniebo
Posts: 685
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2014 12:24 pm

Re: Pritt's No. 61 - Black Gnat

Post by joaniebo » Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:41 am

wsbailey wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:05 pm Bob,

I like your idea for strengthening the herl. For these smaller flies I find the fly shop ostrich herl is generally too large. The easiest way to get small herl is from a feather duster. They come in natural gray or black.

https://www.featherdusterdepot.com/category-s/181.htm
Bill

Thanks for the suggestion. Looks like there's enough black ostrich herl in the two plumes I have to last for a very long time. Figure my little Black Gnats should be "over bodied" like my wet flies are "over hackled", staying consistent, eh?

Bob



'
User avatar
Ron Eagle Elk
Posts: 2748
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:33 am
Location: Carmel, Maine

Re: Pritt's No. 61 - Black Gnat

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:42 pm

Vickie uses these for butts and heads on her Atlantic Salmon flies. If I need some short fiber ostrich, I steal a few barbs from her. https://feathersmc.com/product/dyed-bla ... ch-plumes/
"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"
Post Reply