You are right about the Pearsall dye lots.

I use Classic Chestnut to wrap guides on the bamboo rods I make and I have a good stash of that color. The difference in dye lots becomes readily apparent when the spools are exposed to sunlight. Even so, the trout don't seem to care.

Try Kimono's #320 as a sub for crimson. It's pretty darn close!!

John, You could also use two different sizes of hen hackle. The rear hackle could be one size smaller than the hook size, the front hackle could be the designated hook size. Tie in the rear hackle, then dub the body halfway up the hook. Wind the hackle forward to where the dubbing stops. Then tie in...

The bagged feathers are junk.

Use the ones off the skin.

Bob,

Looking back at some previous posts on this, it appears the YLI 222 is a close match for the Highland Green. In Kimono Silk, try # 351.

Paul

+1 on David James Duncan's book.

If you don't fish your bamboo rod, you've wasted the maker's time & talent and your own money.

I fish the bamboo rods I've made. Most of them are based on Paul Young's tapers & they are wonderful fishing tools for Wisconsin's Driftless Spring Creeks. I still use the first rod I made, a 7.5' 4-5 wt. Perfectionist, with some regularity.

Paul Julius

I agree with Ron. Nice job. Can't beat hare's ear for the body and partridge for the hackle! Try it in a #16, too!!

Thank you for posting a link to the pattern. Can't wait to get a few of these on the stream!!!

Awesome looking fly.

Well done, sir.

The bodies on those flies are particularly nicely done. Love 'em!!

Paul