What is a Flymph?

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wayneb
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What is a Flymph?

Post by wayneb » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:37 am

Hi All;

Found this site from all the Postings on FAOL and love what I've seen so far. I'm guessing the only major difference between a standard wet fly and flymph is the absence of a distinct wing.

I'm really getting into tying these delicate wee wet flies but, I'm a little confused as to what constitutes a "Flymph". so far I've seen flies called "flymphs","soft hackles", "wingless wets", "Spiders", "Crickets", "Water Crickets", and last but not least "Bloa". Are thest all "Flymphs" by a different name?

Wayneb
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John Dunn
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by John Dunn » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:37 am

Welcome Wayneb
That's a heck of a question to answer. If I may, I think you should start off here---http://www.flymph.com/------I do know what causes a Flymph-------a person is bitten with a undetermined bug that will infect him or her, for the rest of your life , hopefully :)

Regards

John Dunn
"The trout do not rise in the cemetery, so you better do your fishing while you are still able." - Sparse Grey Hackle
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Soft-hackle
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by Soft-hackle » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:54 am

Hi,
I'll try not to be overly long. A flymph is a wingless wet fly. The term "flymph" was coined by Leisenring's student and friend Vern Hidy to denote a fly that represents a half adult fly and half nymph. Or the fly going through a change from nymph to adult = emerging fly. Hidy was one of the first to recognize the importance of this stage or transitional period.

Hidy's flymphs were generally dubbed body flies with various soft-hackles used to represent both wing and legs.

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty.” Edward R. Hewitt

http://www.libstudio.com/FS&S
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Eric Peper
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by Eric Peper » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:19 am

Good job, Mark. I was trying to figure out how to say what you said in as few words. Perfect explanation.

EP
A mountain is a fact -- a trout is a moment of beauty known only to men who seek them.
Al McClane in his Introduction to The Practical Fly Fisherman . . . often erroneously attributed to Arnold Gingrich
wayneb
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by wayneb » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:44 am

Hi Guys;

So a basic Flymph is a wet fly with a dubbed body and soft hackle collar??

What are all the other flies? Such as a soft hackle that consists of a silk body and soft hackle collar

What's a "water cricket, water spider. Bloa" are these all just names attached to a wet fly pattern?

Wayneb
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kacbo
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by kacbo » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:21 am

wayneb wrote:...So a basic Flymph is a wet fly with a dubbed body and soft hackle collar??
Yes. At least, I'll gues so...
wayneb wrote:What are all the other flies? Such as a soft hackle that consists of a silk body and soft hackle collar?
Spiders, basically...

As mentined before, this is very helpfull: http://www.flymph.com/html/articles.html
Enjoy!
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redietz
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by redietz » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:24 am

wayneb wrote:So a basic Flymph is a wet fly with a dubbed body and soft hackle collar??
That's how Hidy tied his flymphs. For purposes of this forum, "flymph" is probably defined as any wingless wet.
wayneb wrote: What are all the other flies? Such as a soft hackle that consists of a silk body and soft hackle collar
That would probably get called a spider, although it qualifies for this forum.
wayneb wrote:
What's a "water cricket, water spider. Bloa" are these all just names attached to a wet fly pattern?
"Bloa" is actually a color - specifically that of the sky on an overcast day.
Bob
wayneb
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by wayneb » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:29 am

Thanks Guys!

Wayneb
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Soft-hackle
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by Soft-hackle » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:56 am

Here's more reading on the subject if you are interested.

http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/flymphs/

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty.” Edward R. Hewitt

http://www.libstudio.com/FS&S
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RnF
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Re: What is a Flymph?

Post by RnF » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:07 pm

I would consider a flymph an emerger pattern in modern terms. Exactly what Mark stats, it represents the stage where the insect is emerging from it's nymphal shuck to become an adult. Don't forget about them Caddis, these work great for those too, not just mayflies.
Scott D
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