Black Gnat Blue Twist

[Johnno]

A variation of an old New Zealand pattern called the Black Gnat Silver twist which is esstentially the same but with silver instead of the blue and has a tail.



Hook: 10 - 14 wet fly of choice
Thread: Black
Body: Black Ostrich Herl with Blue lurex spun into a rope
Hackle: Black hen.

Blowfly imitation

[letumgo]

Marvelous fly, John! Looks like a very effective fly.

Question - I am not familiar with "lurex". Is it similar to krystal flash or flashabou? How many strands do you use to create the body?

[GlassJet]

Yes, I like that too.

Much under-used, ostrich herl, in my opinion. One of my best 'fish catching flies' is simply a hen hackle palmered over an ostrich herl body.

Andrew

[flyfishwithme]

Tell you what I would do with that fly, I would palmer it with a small hackle and fish it on lakes in a ripple. It would slay fish, especially rainbows. Then it would be a 'bumble.
Great tying though.

[GlassJet]

Tell you what I would do with that fly, I would palmer it with a small hackle and fish it on lakes in a ripple. It would slay fish, especially rainbows. Then it would be a 'bumble.
Great tying though.

It worked brilliantly for me on the river, as red soft feather cock palmered over brown ostrich herl, tied real scruffy. Tied it first end of last season when the willow fly were on the water - lethal on grayling. Then this last week fished it again and seems effective on trout when olives are coming off. Fished in the surface, just seems to scream 'fish food'!

[Old Hat]

Yes, I recently saw "lurex" in a couple pattern recipes and was curious as well.

Great fly, I love ostrich and have had luck with a very similar fly just much slimmer.

[Johnno]

Its sorta like a thin twisted deep blue tinsel with a very thin black thread running though it. Comes in 4 ply strands that can be seperated out to make it thinner if desired.

Uni have a fairly similar product called "Axxel" which comes on spools. The Royal Blue is a nice colour although not as deep as the above pattern.

BTW I also have a Black Gnat Green Twist with deep green instead of the blue.. Also works well

[narcodog]

I have seen Lurex but I always thought it was just a flat tinsel, this is good to know.