video - Iron Blue Dun

[Hans Weilenmann]

Iron Blue Dun
Hook: Umpqua U203 #14
Thread: Danville Flymaster 6/0, scarlet
Hackle: Partridge, grey
Body hackle: Hen, grey
Tail: Hen hackle barbs, grey
Body: Muskrat
Butt: Tying thread

Video here - please view in HD, if able:

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

Cheers,
Hans W

[Donald Nicolson]

I like that a lot Hans. I think this fly 'Iron Blue' has been long overdue for modernisation of its materials and layout. A very, very good recipe and pattern.

[Stendalen]

Agree with Donald. Lovely pattern.

A couple of questions if I may:

Is it only the female dun that have this scarlet colour?

I would guess you use this pattern for other may flies. What would be the colour in a baetis variant Hans?

/Martin

[Hans Weilenmann]

Is it only the female dun that have this scarlet colour?

I would guess you use this pattern for other may flies. What would be the colour in a baetis variant Hans?

Martin,

The IBD really is a bit of an oddball pattern. I have never managed to find even a glimmer of red in any of the naturals I have seen, male and female. The traditional colors for our imitations are the grey and red I used. I consider it more an attractor than a true imitation. That said - it is a color combination which has endured, and it only endures because it works

The pattern/video demonstrates a generic design, as well as a specific IBD pattern.

As you may note the design lends itself to many color combinations - with either grey or brown partridge in front, and a variety of colors in body hackle, body dubbing and thread.

Yellow thread, brown partridge for hackle, hare's ear body,a dark ginger or cree body hackle and you will have a sterling March Brown.

In tan thread, brown partridge, cree hackle over warm brown dubbing a Baetis Rhodani, our Large Dark Olive.

Cheers,
Hans W

[Stendalen]

Yes that is an oddball Hans. Thanks for the info.

I find fishing soft hackles in the film very likeable, as I guess all of you. It is very much like dry fly fishing but something that my dry fly purists friends never seem to understand

Thanks
again Hans
M

[William Anderson]

Hans, this is a wonderful tie, as usual. The Iron Blue Duns most often described in the states (at least of the recipes I'm most familiar, are of a dark claret or burgandy silk and are show more mole or muskrat dubbing over the body (ala Leisenring). I understand the naming predates fly-fishing in the states, and the adaptations vary widely, but I haven't seen such a brightly composed version. And I understand your version is a more stylized tie, but I'm curious about the origins of the nearly cardinal red body. It's a beautiful fly, as I said.

w

[Otter]

Lovely tie as usual Hans. Have you fished this pattern sucessfully during IB hatch ?

[Hans Weilenmann]

Lovely tie as usual Hans. Have you fished this pattern sucessfully during IB hatch ?

Not yet this specific version, Otter, with the grey partridge in front. To date I have been using the more conventional grey hackle in front of mole and red butt - with success, yes.

This new&improved(?) version will get its proper testing as soon as the season opens again

Cheers,
Hans W