A little of this and a little of that...

[letumgo]

Fly 1 = Olive Hares Ear & Partridge (tailless)

Fly 2 = Olive Hares Ear & Partridge (with tail)

Fly 3 = Partridge & Orange w/Hares Ear Thorax (with copper rib)

Fly 4 = Partridge & Green w/Hares Ear Thorax (no rib)

Fly 5 = Partridge & Yellow w/Hares Ear Thorax (no rib)


The last fly was inspired by Donald's recent Glanros style flies. I tyed the feather in with the tip fibers facing out over the back of the fly, then wrapped the hackle. Makes for a nice rough and ready looking fishing fly.


Just playing around at the vice. I got a bit carried away with my heads (Pearsall's Gossamer + Double Whip Finish = BIG heads).

[CreationBear]

I'm loving the silk-work on those flies: are you going the whole nine-yards and burnishing the floss as well? If so, I'd be interested in your technique--not a lot of full-dress tyers to learn from in this nexk of the woods.

[kanutripr]

Double whip finish and no head cement = only way to fly

Nice flies (that last one is especially cool) but you need to get out fishing!



Vicki

[DOUGSDEN]

Ray,
As always, I am in awe of your patterns! Especially in hackle selection. I am a real fan of those well marked, kinda dark partridge hackles of which there seems to be precious few on any partridge skin. And your tying is soo technically tight ......Ray, I am glad you call us your friends! Please keep them coming!
Slobbering over here in Ohio,
Dougsden

[Johnno]

Really nice stuff there!

[tie2fish]

Stunning, Ray. A primer for spider dressings. Pls continue to get carried away.

[William Anderson]

Good lord, that's a lot to take in. I'm with Doug on the hackle selection (and everything else he had to say). This is a remarkable series. I wondered about the heads until I saw your note at the end. Not that they don't look nice, they are just different from your typical finish. Curious about the floss too. It makes for a very rich looking body. And the photography doesn't hurt either. Helps to be able to appreciate the details. Thanks for putting this together.

Oh, how did you achieve such a dark body on the hares ears? is that only from the mask? Maybe I have, but I don't think I been able to get it that dark once blended. Nice.

Oh, and that last fly is cool to see too. I didn't think tying the partridge feather in as a wing, but I stand corrected. Might be something to try with other game hackles.

w

[letumgo]

Olive Hares Ear & Partridge (tailless)
Hook - Mustad Model R50-94840/Size 10
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Dyed Olive Green)
Rib - Ultra Wire (Small/Copper)
Body - Hares Ear Dubbing (Olive) - Touch Dubbing Technique

Olive Hares Ear & Partridge (with tail)
Hook - Mustad Model R50-94840/Size 10
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Dyed Olive Green)
Rib - Ultra Wire (Small/Copper)
Tail - Hungarian Partridge (Dyed Olive Green)
Body - Hares Ear Dubbing (Olive) - Touch Dubbing Technique

Partridge & Yellow w/Hares Ear Thorax
Hook - Mustad Model R50-94840/Size 10
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Dyed Olive Green)
Rib - Ultra Wire (Small/Copper)
Tail - Hungarian Partridge (Dyed Olive Green)
Body - Hares Ear Dubbing (Olive) - Touch Dubbing Technique

Partridge & Orange w/Hares Ear Thorax
Hook - Mustad Model R50-94840/Size 10
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Natural)
Rib - Ultra Wire (Small/Copper)
Body - Pearsall's Marabou Silk (Hot Orange/No. 19)
Thorax - Hares Ear Dubbing (Natural) - Tightly Dubbed onto Tying Thread

Partridge & Yellow w/Hares Ear Thorax
Hook - Mustad Model R50-94840/Size 10
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Natural)
Underbody - Narrow Mylar Tinsel (Silver)
Body - Pearsall's Marabou Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Thorax - Hares Ear Dubbing (Tan) - Tightly Dubbed onto Tying Thread

Glanrhos Style Partridge & Hares Ear
Hook - Mustad Model R50-94840/Size 10
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Yellow/No. 05)
Body - Hares Ear Dubbing (Natural) - Touch Dubbed onto Tying Thread
Wing/Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Natural)

[letumgo]

William - In answer to your question about the dark hares ear dubbing, it is from a mask that had been dyed olive green. The color doesn't show up very well in my photo, but the fly is a deep olive green, with olive colored partridge hackle. I got a coupon from Orvis last week and was able to get a good deal on an olive and brown partridge skins. I was just playing around with the new hackle to see how it looked. I like the look of the dyed partridge hackle.

I was also playing around with different dubbing techniques, in this series of flies. The first fly is tyed with a light layer of dubbing applied with a "touch dub" technique (well waxed thread touched with loose dubbing and then wrapped forward). I had to fight the urge to pinch down the dubbing. I like the way it leaves some of the silk thread showing through (look closely at the back of the fly).

CreationBear - I did not burnish the silk bodies. I just try to wrap them smoothly and then leave them alone. Plenty good enough for simple fishing flies. I could do better if these were intended as display flies.

[CreationBear]

Plenty good enough for simple fishing flies

You have a gift of understatement, as well. Thanks for elaborating: it was the silk-work on the Partridge and Orange that made me wonder...incredibly smooth wraps.