Thanks for sharing that Hans. Is there any reason you spun the bobbin while, at the same time, holding the dubbed split thread section and not allowing it to spin? Is that a better method than spinning the the entire thread after dubbing?

Another beauty! One of things I like most about your tying is your creativity, and how it gets me thinking outside of the box. I think your Albino Olive Spider, and its cousin, the Albino Olive, are fantastic!

Yes, my experience is that some of the older Mustads were a bit brittle. The Signature series looks like a good improvement.

Mataura mayfly,

Here's a link to one way of hackling using larger partridge feathers with smaller hooks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DCYT7NR-m4

I hope this link works!

How useful are Brahma and Indian hen capes for soft hackles size 12 and smaller? Most of my tying has been with partridge, starling, and genetic hen capes. Am I missing out on something?

Thanks Donald! Mike - I watched the Davie McPhail video. The Goat's Toe reminds me of the "Carey Special" very popular in the northern Rocky Mountains and especially in British Columbia. Tied with pheasant rump feathers, natural or dyed, I have used it successfully to catch high mountain l...

Mark, Thanks for that! I often use standard dry fly hooks for soft hackles or flymphs that I may want to fish upstream in the film as an emerger. With a little floatant that works pretty well. However, it is more difficult to pop them underwater when you want to finish the cast by swinging them belo...

Pretty clever! Especially with the touch dubbing. I'll have to start keeping the whiskers I occasionally find on my wood floor from my 3 cats! Abyssinian...beautiful ruddy underfur......hmm....perfect for March Brown?

My local fly shop doesn't carry a big selection of hooks for trout flies. Indiana is mostly Smallie country. However, I have bought some of their Mustad Signature R50s in the past and have been generally pleased with them. But not having had much chance to make comparisons with many other hook manuf...

Hi All! New to the forum. What a great place! I'll get right to it......What can you tell me about using the dark blueish-green feathers on the pheasant neck for hackle? I have seen Hans use it for a couple of his patterns and would appreciate hearing of your experience or thoughts about using it, e...