Couple of Steelhead SH's.

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Mataura mayfly
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Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by Mataura mayfly » Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:12 pm

A box arrived here in NZ yesterday, contents: 1 empty beer bottle
3 Hanks of yarn
1 Pair of Ruffed Grouse wings
1 wonderful Steelhead fly fishing book, signed by both author and photographer!

Many thanks Ray. :D

The beer bottle now resides on top of the "fly fishing" bookshelf beside my desk.

Image

Almost like having been there.

Wonderful book, but not enough Steelhead soft hackles in there....... very nice one from VERN-O, the GRHESH Spey, but the rest are a bit more "vigorous" in tying style.
Thus inspired, I tied up these today. No idea if they would work for Steelhead- we do not have true Steelhead here..... but they are just my take on what perhaps a big Steelhead soft hackle might look like.

Image

#1

Image

Hook: Mustad 36890 Dublin point, Limerick bend, Forged, Turned up looped oval eye, Black. #1/0 :o
Thread: UTC Ultra 280 Black.
Tag & Rib: UNI medium mylar tinsel.
Tail: Black Squirrel tail fibres and 4 strands of black/red crystal flash.
Body (lower): Red wool yarn shank wrapped.
Mid Hackle: Red dyed cock hackle.
Body (upper): Red faux Seal fur dubbing (noodle dubbed and brushed back).
Front Hackle: Two Peacock body feathers, wrapped one at a time.
Head: Tying thread & varnish.

#2

Image

Hook: As above.
Thread: As above.
Tag & Rib-1: As above.
Tail: Purple Turkey Marabou, 4 strands purple crystal flash (tied 2 per side).
Rib 2: Silver wire. (counter-wound over body hackle).
Body (Spey) hackle: Pukeko flank. Tied in by tip at base and wound up to follow first rib.
Body: Purple "straggle" yarn. (Thanks again Ray).
Hackle: Single Peacock body feather.
Horns: Single strand of purple crystal flash to each side.
Head: Tying thread & varnish.

From the front.

Image
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
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letumgo
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by letumgo » Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:47 pm

Jeff - Sorry I drank your beer... Well, that's not true. I am glad I drank your beer, and would probably do it again, if left unsupervised. :D

All kidding aside, those are beautiful flies. I need to show these photos to Nick Pionessa. He will get a kick out of steelhead flies tyed with KiWi Pukeko feathers. VERY COOL!!!
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
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Mataura mayfly
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by Mataura mayfly » Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:58 pm

Ray only one with the Puke feathers though.
The barbs of Pukeko feathers do not knit like some other fibres and make good Spey hackles. The down side is they are a dark slate grey/black in colour compared to Heron.
Just don't let Nick judge all Kiwi tiers on these jumbles, there are a few here that can tie real pretty like.

So it was you that drank the beer...... you told me it was William..... honest! :o :lol:
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by letumgo » Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:00 pm

Oops... :oops: :lol: :D
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by letumgo » Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:09 pm

I was looking at you fly reel collection and see a Pfluger in the upper right hand corner, but do not recognize the other reels. What are the other reels? Are they also Pflugers?
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by Mataura mayfly » Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:27 pm

That is only a fraction of the "collection" and ones that are too big, to "valuable" (read uncommon) or just aren't for some reason, paired up with a rod...... currently!

Top from left- Shakespeare Russell 1895, 3" Bi-metal Heaton, 1495 1/2 Medalist (CJ Japanese model).
Middle from left- 4" D6 Dingley, 3 5/8" F. Steans & Coy (Hardy perfect clone made in NZ), Pflueger Gem 2094.
Bottom from left and obscured- Pflueger Seminole 100, Young's 2 1/2" Model 1(?).

To the right is a big ole 4" Farlow BW-P.
And I just noticed to the left...... is the box for my 3 1/2" Sharpes "The Gordon". Wondered where that had gotten to. ;)
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by hankaye » Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:44 pm

Mataura mayfly, Howdy;

Ain't you the lucky one ...!
Ray truly did you a favor ... Yank beer doesn't really travel well.
Every few miles one needs to replace it with a fresh batch ...
after turning the current batch loose behind a responsible bush of course ... ;) , :lol:

Nicely tyed pair of Steelhead flies.

hank
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of consecutive days I've stayed alive." George Carlin
CreationBear
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by CreationBear » Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:10 am

Mustad 36890 Dublin point, Limerick bend, Forged, Turned up looped oval eye, Black. #1/0 :o
Ha, better put a haul on that FF858 and use some thick tippet lest you wear that one in your off-ear. :lol: Here in the States at least I'd fish those for big brown trout--and plan to, once I get back to the vise and on the water this autumn. :)
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by tie2fish » Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:15 am

Wow! Excellent reproductions of the book cover patterns.
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
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Re: Couple of Steelhead SH's.

Post by tjd » Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:54 pm

Ray,

Well done...as always!

Jeff,

Ray bought a six pack the day we fished together in Roscoe earlier this month. I think I kept him out fishing too late that night, or we may have finished all of them!

Good stuff, and very nicely tied flies. Nice reel display, as well!

Best,

Tim
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