FLYMPH FORUM

Mm
The deer hair is natural and the peacock pattern is indeed called a Coastal Spade but not named after the deer hair but for the waters near the coast where Alec thinks the thinner body is more productive. Moving inland a fancy spade with the rear of the body in Peacock and then a fatter Black Ostrich front body may be the one to fish.

tie2fish
Either pattern may be a winner for the day depending on the light and water conditions. The peacock version is closer to Bob Arnold's original spade tied with black chenille for low clear water that has been catching steelhead for over 40 years. The bright one may be better in some higher off colored water or just as an attractor in very cold waters. In almost all situations if I can tear myself away from Green Butt Skunk variations , I usually start with the peacock or a fatter variation of the drab fly for inland waters before I go brighter. If pressed for time on the water I may fish a 2 fly cast and see if the fish have a decided preference.

tie2fish

I posted another steelie Inland Spade before on the ostrich thread.

IMGP3067 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

Here is a very good read on Jackson's thoughts on flies and steelhead (the real anadromous kind) vision and the need for fatter inland flies like the Woolly Spade above. http://www.lostcreekflies.com/article.php?id=9

I would be picking the orange for Rainbow, but I imagine the local Browns would prefer the Coastal or Wooly Spade, both very nice ties with just enough "wow" factor in the peacock herl for our big Browns down in the tidal waters close to the coast.

Roadkill, those are beautiful flies alright!! I think they are just wonderful, great job!!!

Libby's Black



These next ones while not true flymphs are worthy of posting (I feel) because some of the feathers used in the tying of them were sent by me to California, tied there by a fellow who is a bit of an identity at his local club (I wonder which club?) and were hand delivered back to me by him this morning.



They feature Paradise duck breast feathers and Pukeko breast feather in the hackle.

I love the bold markings on the top one. But my fav has got to be the second one. Those two colors just melt my heart. The fly is supreme! Great job there...love it!!!

Mataura mayfly,

Those are some nice flies!! The second ones look like a Purple Peril variation and the big 'bows should love them.

Roadkill wrote:tie2fish

I posted another steelie Inland Spade before on the ostrich thread.



Here is a very good read on Jackson's thoughts on flies and steelhead (the real anadromous kind) vision and the need for fatter inland flies like the Woolly Spade above. http://www.lostcreekflies.com/article.php?id=9

I MISSED THIS ONE, I don't know how...but I LOVE IT. The buggy body is to die for. LOVE IT!!!

Roadkill wrote:Mataura mayfly,

Those are some nice flies!! The second ones look like a Purple Peril variation and the big 'bows should love them.

That is exactly what they are variations of, he even included a couple of original PP's with them. Well spotted.

Howdy All;

That one Miss. Kelly captured in her reply looks like some of the
plant life out here in the Southwest desert.....
Nice an spikey .... oughta be-a kill-a

hank