FLYMPH FORUM

Comparison, as promised. The front two have silk floss wrapped and tied off and then 8/0 uni thread to tie on hackle. The rear one is with Pearsall's silk. All on size 12 GCO heavy wet fly hook.

Floss body top. Silk thread bottom.
The floss likes to fray. Has to be tied in and tied off. Not worth the trouble to me.

I definitely agree tying in a floss body is not worth the effort for soft hackles. Unless you just like the color of floss, or are trying to create depth or translucency by using a different color thread base under the floss. But for simple spider like a P&O just a regular silk or even thread body is just fine. Danville and semperfli have orange thread that I think is really close to pearsalls but really just about any orange will do fine. Even hot or "flo" orange works great.

When I tie at expos I have a small tank (thanks for the idea, Ray.) with three P&O flies in it. One tied with a nylon floss body, one with a modern thread body and one tied with Pearsall's 6A. I ask people which one is the old P&O. Very, very few pick the one tied with Pearsall's as the 6A, when wet, becomes a lovely, translucent, mahogany brown. It's no longer orange. The question is, what do the flies look like wet?

Ron Eagle Elk wrote: ↑Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:41 am The question is, what do the flies look like wet?

I logged in to make the same comment (after seeing the post yesterday.)

Whether that actually matters to the fish is anybody's guess, though. They might even prefer the bright orange. However, going by the theory that the majority of what trout eat is 3/8 of inch long and brown, I'll always go with the real silk thread.

I will wet them and compare. I don't have a tank, but I can soak them. Since the floss is silk, I would think it would turn a similar shade. However, the floss is French. It may be a different dye.

One of my friends who was Swiss was married to a French lady. He would say, "The French, they have a peculiar logic."

A few points to contemplate.....
1.) Would it be safe to assume similar silks in a similar color also turn a similar brown?

2.) Since it's pretty much agreed on by all of the notable old school fly tyers that color is actually least important behind presentation, size, and form....dies it really even matter? Not trying to argue or be a douche....just things I think about. But we'll never really know.

I prefer thread to silk. With synthetic thread, the color on the hook when dry is the color seen underwater when wet.

I have been told that silk has a natural sheen to it when wet, that trout find appealing. I am sure that sheen is negated once wax is applied. Which brings me back to thread. I know what I have when I buy it. Even waxed, it stays the same color.

Too many fish have been caught with silk and wax for me to berate it. It is just not a combination I find logical.

In one high mountain lake I fish in a float tube the planted trout had a preference for a P&O tied with Depth Ray Fluorescent Orange nylon floss over the silk bodied fly.

Sounds like a science fiction movie.. Gotta love the names.

Many people say color is not that important. I disagree to some extent. Maybe it is a property of material that evades our senses, but Peacock, pheasant, muskrat fur, duck feathers and partridge all seem to have something about them that is "magic." I think silk thread may have something else special about it, as well.

Also, it is commonly accepted that the color red has a big effect on Bluegills and Shell Crackers.