FLYMPH FORUM

After looking at the posts of others with their perfectly tented bronze mallard wings, impeccable floss and tinsel work, I started feeling a bit inadequate. I started to think rebellion. I thought, I can tart up a fly to look like a lady of the evening. I also wanted to see just how much stuff I could lash on a one inch steelhead shank. Here it is, the Rainbow Tart. Of course, when I put it back in the vise, I put it in crooked. Shank is a Firehole SS 100, Trailing hook is a Firehole 714 in size 8, Intruder wire is 50 pound Power Pro braided line, Thread is UTC 70 in black, Tail is about 20 strands of bright blue Flashabou doubled over, topped with about 20 strands of Rainbow Flashabou doubled over. Body is mostly Fun Fur in black, sort of an eyelash yarn with really long lashes, to help hole up the hackle. Hackle is three to four turns of purple marabou, followed by the same of black marabou. The collar is black schlappen.

Gorgeous fly, I love the name! It immediately conjures up images of the Monty Python troupe at the vice.

That is looking dangerously close to a tube fly. Don’t tempt me so…

letumgo wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:16 pm That is looking dangerously close to a tube fly. Don’t tempt me so…

I really like tying on shanks with a trailing hook. Knowing I can change out the hook should it get damaged or if I need a larger or smaller hook is a plus.

I've been tying on Firehole Steelhead shanks and they are pretty beefy. If I can find some suitable wire that's a bit smaller, I'll be making my own shanks.

I'm using 12 gauge stainless wire for making articulated shanks for trout and bass flies. For true "Trout Spey" flies that should work I guess. I'll make a few and see.

Alan

Very nice, Alan. They look so lively when fished. What hook and size is that?

Ron Eagle Elk wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:35 am Very nice, Alan. They look so lively when fished. What hook and size is that?

REE,

I tried to take some video of the spey fly in action. It was tough but I managed to get. I'll post it as soon as I upload it to youtube.

The hook is a #8, fly shack saber.

Alan

BrkTrt wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:19 am

Ron Eagle Elk wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:35 am Very nice, Alan. They look so lively when fished. What hook and size is that?

REE,

I tried to take some video of the spey fly in action. It was tough but I managed to get. I'll post it as soon as I upload it to youtube.

The hook is a #8, fly shack saber.

Alan

Thank you, Good Sir.

Haven't run into any steelhead, even the Lake Erie type, or Coho or Silver Salmon, so trout spey flies are just the ticket. I've been playing with miniature (as in micro) version of the Dolly Lama and Intruder. Both flies are normally 4 to 6 inches long. Here's my micro versions. The penny is for scale. Dolly Lama on top, Intruder on Bottom. Both hooks are TMC 206BL snelled with 8 pound tippet. Had to bend the eye up a bit more to accommodate the tippet and let the hook ride properly. Both are on home made shanks.

Alan and all our other contributors to this thread,
I don't know how I missed this! All of the flies here are simply stunning! They are indeed art in and of themselves as well as effective fishing flies! I like the concept of turning salmon speys into trout speys! Solar's Nemesis tied as a spey is particularly interesting to me given it's unique background!
What else do you guys have us your sleeves? This is fascinating!
Dougsden