FLYMPH FORUM

I've been reading Nemes' "Soft-Hackled Fly Imitations" and a number of his recipes call for a tail of "clear, sparkle poly". I don't think I've seen anyone tie his flies with that sort of tail, and what is he actually using for this tail material...I know some of you out there have the answer, please.

I have some of his flies (actually tyed by Sly Nemes) at home. I will check, to see if any of the flies have this sort of tail. It sounds like clear Zelon or possibly Antron yarn. Do you know if this was intended to imitate a trailing schuck, or a tail?

I was just looking at this book over the weekend, while researching March Brown patterns. I got distracted by his Mother's Day Caddis pattern, along the way. This is my favorite Neme's books.

He is talking about Polypropylene yarn. It predates Zelon and Antron in fly tying materials but is not much different. Finer fibers than Antron and straighter than Zelon. Although either of those would be a fine substitute. It was popular as trailing shuck material and many people make strike indicators out of it.

yes... I imagined the poly yarn being the material...I'm guessing it must be a shuck but he calls it a tail in his recipes for the PMD, trico#1&2, callibaetis,and mahogany dun....

off all the fly designs I've looked at on the forum... I can't find a Nemes pattern with this tail...

Ray.. a friend here has loaned me some of his collection. I too find this Nemes book to be very interesting and I wish I had read it before I was out in Yellowstone country this past summer...

Alas... I had passed over a bit of Nemes book. He states that early on he had not believed in tails on his flies. But, after seeing the success of sparkle duns, with their trialing shuck, he decided to add "tails" of sparkle yarn representing the trailing shuck.... so I guess I answered my own question... it was in the book all along.

ronr

Aw Shucks! Nice to know that Syl saw the use of synthetics as something worthwhile. I only have The Soft Hackled Fly and Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies, i'll have to take a look at that book when I am over your way. My first use of poly yarn was for wings.