FLYMPH FORUM

Okay guys (and gals) pick the eyes out of these.
This is my 'spider' box for the next season. But I am sure a few other patterns will sneak in - Stewart's Black etc. Have to find another box.

Top Left to right:
Orange Partridge; Bailey Kite; Hare Lug & Plover; March Brown & LDO; Light Woodcock; Endrick Spider.
Bottom Left to Right:
Greenwell's (Winged); Dark Snipe; Waterhen Bloa; Red & Waterhen; Light & Dark Sedge; Bailey Needle.
The interesting thing about these that they have all been tied with Pearsall's silk that is at least 50 years old. The Dark Snipe has used an very old Purple thread that is close to what I would describe as Blu/Black Ink.
Hope you enjoy.

I enjoy seeing simplicity in a fly box. Isn't that the way fly fishing is supposed to be? Can you give us a close up of the flies?

I could do that later for you if you want. Need to set up my photo box.

Can you give us a close up of the flies?

I'm sure you'll have a lot of requests--especially for the eponymous "Baily" patterns. (Personally, I've always been intrigued by your "Kite" on Hans' site...the TMC 103 is just a sexy hook, though I'm given to understand that there are, ah, other opinions out there on the benefits of a black finish. )

Okay,

First up 'Bailey Kite'.

This is similar to the way in which I tie the Kites Imperial.
Hook: Kamasan B515 Size 16 (you can tie this in different sizes, I stick to the one).
Thread: Pearsall's Purple (In this box I have used an original purple which is ink black)
Body: Two natural Heron heels, twisted together and then taken up the body in open turns. I want to see silk between the turns - like this:

(This is the Parachute version of the Kite)
Hackle: Genetic Hen - Blue Dun, 2 turns.

Second up 'Bailey Needle'.
We get lots of needle flies on the rivers I fish in Yorkshire. The old Needle patterns do not match the hatch. So I devised this pattern.
Hook: Kamasan B515 Size 16 and 18
Thread: Purple (same as above)
Body: Purple and grey Pearsall's silk twisted and tied to create segmentation.
Wing: Starling (folded) and tied backwards (as flat as you can get it).
Hackle: Starling back feather (2 turns).

Any others?

Fantastic set of flies, Philip! I see a lot of happy days in your furture.

Yep, very cool...interesting that your old Pearsall's "reads" purple in the photo, while every photo I've seen of a fly tied with the new stuff really shifts toward blue. At any rate, it's probably the buggiest "spider" I've seen.

The purple in the photo is not the old Pearsall's, it is the latest colour. My old thread is very much darker and inky looking.
Here is a very old photo of the fly:

Ha, just superior photography skills, then. (Of course, from the way it appears on my monitor I'd call your "blue dun" more of a honey dun, so it might just be me...killer combo with the purple, though.)

Philip,

Hook is B525, is it not?

(I'm the happy owner of a couple of spools of that dark burgundy/purple silk. It was really old when I bought it thirty years ago).

dd