William - what type of silk did you use?

William - Thank you for the detailed description and the links to additional similarly tied flies! I am very impressed with the thin but textured body that results as opposed to wrapping the silk over the previously wrapped fibers or herls. This is next on my list to learn and practice, and thanks a...

That is a great looking fly! Now I have worked with goose quill fibers but have never twisted it with silk before. Could you give a description of this process or point me to another thread where it may have been described before? Thanks.

I have had Leisenring's book for decades and always assumed that by hackle points the reference was to hackle fibers (proves you can insert what you want while you read). I have never seen a picture, drawing, or actual Tup's that used hackle points, and it appears from the first fly that Leisenring ...

Great looking fly and I like the judicious use of the hare's ear and subtle taper. Did you use American or English Woodcock? I have both but am running low on American Woodcock since I haven't hunted in years.

NJpatbee, Using the TMC 206BL was by design. It is also considered to be an Emerger hook and has the up eye configuration that was the closest I have to the up eye that Hidy used in his S&P, although I would also like to have some of what looks to be a heavier hook that he used. Most of my soft...

I am curious about the choice of hook being a scud or caddis type, was it intentional or what you had nearby? Most of my soft-hackles are spiders with a thorax and a bit of a taper leading to the thorax, and the length of the silk body is abbreviated. I have more success with that style than the bul...

letumgo wrote:Welcome back Pat. Nice to have you joining in again. We'd love to see you flies, if you get a chance.

Thanks Ray - I will have to charge up my camera!

A Starling and Purple or Snipe and Purple is just the ticket in the early spring when the little Black Stonefies start hatching. Local waters such as the So Platte, Clear Creek, Bear Creek and So Boulder Creek will have hundreds of these little (#18) stoneflies sitting on the snow lining the banks....

I have to agree that the feathers do not have to be perfect to attract fish. I also realize that the feathers sometimes have to be perfect to catch a customer. Here is a link which I am sure most people have seen. It is one of Charlie Cravens tutorials for using over size feathers. I practiced with...