video - Sparrow

[Hans Weilenmann]

Sparrow
Hook: Partridge BIN (Barbless Ideal Nymph) #10
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Tail: Turkey rump marabou
Body: Squirrel, dyed olive; rabbit, natural grey 2:1 - in split thread
Hackle: Ringneck pheasant body feather - sparse, long
Head: Ringneck pheasant aftershaft feather

Video here, best viewed in 720p, and a larger window:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUTRyT8EtNM

Cheers,
Hans W

[hankaye]

Hans, Howdy;

Thing of Beauty..... appericate the 'wet view as well.

hank

[Kelly L.]

The Gartside Sparrow is one of my favorite flies to use. This one is very close to it. I will have to watch the video.

[paparex]

Hans,
When you mix dubbing such as the rabbit and squirrel, do you mix up just enough for the flies you are going to tie immediately, or do you make up a bag and stock it for yourself?

[Hans Weilenmann]

Hans,
When you mix dubbing such as the rabbit and squirrel, do you mix up just enough for the flies you are going to tie immediately, or do you make up a bag and stock it for yourself?

There is no one answer to that question.

In this case it is the former - I have a bag of the squirrel and a bag of the rabbit. I make the mix on the spot.

Cheers,
Hans W

[Kelly L.]

Hans, I finally watched the video. Your fly is a little different than the ones I made in the past. It is a great fly here where I live. I need to tie up some more. I am getting low in this pattern. Your video was excellent. I enjoyed seeing the fly wet too. Excellent work!

[gingerdun]

Hans,
Thanks for giving credit to the originator of the Sparrow, Jack Gartside. I have heard his name so often but knew nothing about him, including that he was a Boston native. Thanks to you, I finally Googled his name. I read the long string of memorial tributes and anecdotes that his many friends posted after his death. A great character and important fly innovator. Superb video too.
Lance

[Hans Weilenmann]

A great character

Yep - and that is no mistake

The very first time I encountered Jack was at the 1993 Flytying Symposium in Somerset, NJ.

Jack was in tier's row, with a big banner behind him on the wall which read: Homeless Flytyer - Will Tie Flies For Food!

On a visit to the UK he enlisted the help of Alan Bramley, the owner of Partridge, to stand guard while Jack skipped the rope at a zoological museum to, eh, manicure a stuffed polar bear.

Etc etc

Yep, a character.

Hans W