For years, all I do is to take a red Pantone felt tip and rub it into some of the fur on a hare’s mask. Let it dry well and then cut from the hare’s mask with sharp scissors.

I can view the file but for some reason, I cannot download the .pdf file.

Bob

It reminds me of Oliver Kite's "Imperial" that uses a heron herl and purple silk body. Quite a few years back, I met a fellow from the UK who was fishing the Driftless Area of Wisconsin. We fished together and have become friends. When he saw my fly boxes contained a bunch of Oliver Kite's...

Ray I'm with you in that I most often use black synthetic threads in tying most flies calling for black threads.. But, I do have a couple spools of black YLI100 silk that are used occasionally. If the fly hook is small or I want to use the black thread to reinforce a herl body, then I definitely use...

Funny, I just tied a couple of these yesterday. Problem is that my supply of Snipe undercovert hackles were pretty much used up in the past few years and my hackles aren't as neat as I'd like them to be. They'll probably still catch fish but aren't worth pics.

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 th...

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 ...

Wanted to get the thoughts of the members here why fine wire was not used more often on the delicate bodies of many of the old traditional patterns. Was tying the “Old Master” for the first time today and was thinking of adding extra fine wire to the herl body as I felt the body would be too fragil...

I throw a few Bounce fabric softener sheets in my Rubbermaid storage boxes. Also put them in a bunch of places in my old VW Beetle when I store it for the winter.

Bob

nice