Flyfishing, flytying and hooks

Hairwing Salmon – Yellow Body

dryfly.me.2013.11.08.hairwing_streamer_yellow_body

Hook: Dai-Riki 899 #1/0
Thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets Orange
Body: UNI-Floss Yellow, UNI Mylar Tinsel SM
Wing: Hair that was in my box, unknown origin, 4 strands of Sparkle Organza
Head: Ostrich
Throat: Golden Pheasant Tippets Orange

When I explore a pattern I normally try out different colors to see how they come together. This one is the same as the Hairwing Salmon that I did yesterday, but with a yellow body.

Hairwing Salmon

dryfly.me.2013.11.07.hairwing_salmon

Hook: Dai-Riki 899 #1/0
Thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets Orange
Body: UNI-Floss Black, UNI Mylar Tinsel SM
Wing: Hair that was in my box, unknown origin, 4 strands of Sparkle Organza
Head: Ostrich
Throat: Golden Pheasant Tippets Orange

A hairwing single-hook salmon fly that should work well once the hairwing gets wet, the tail and throat should also be good visual indicators. I have no idea where the hair in the wing comes from: I have some samples in my box that I just don’t know the origin of, but they work well!

 

Yellow Mayfly

dryfly.me.2013.11.06.mayfly_mallardHook: Allen D103BL #12
Thread: Sheer 14/0 Yellow
Tail: Golden Pheasant
Body: UNI-Floss Br.Yellow, UTC Ultra Wire Silver
Wing: Two Mallard Flank feathers
Hackle: Whiting Bronze

For my first fishingtrip to northern Norway I bought a big, bright, yellow Mayfly that, when I got it in my mailbox, was so big I would never think it would actually fish (this was in my first year as a flyfisher). Yesterday I was going through some boxes and found it again: I did fish it, and I did get fish on it, but I had forgotten about it.

This pattern has the big mallard flank wings that can easily spin when throwing, but for shorter casts and in the right hatch this fly will be great to have available!

Two things with this attempt:

  1. the flosswork in front of the tail – you can see the thread
  2. the wings should have had a better split to see that there are indeed two mallard feathers tied in

dryfly.me.2013.11.06.mayfly_mallard_frontTwo versions with different tails:

dryfly.me.2013.11.06.mayfly_mallard_two

 

 

Caddis variations in #14

dryfly.me.2013.11.05.caddis_black_greenHook: TMC 2457 #14
Thread: UNI 6/0 Black
Body: UNI 6/0 Black thread, UNI-Mylar Peacock
Wing: Hareline Premo Deer Hair, Whiting Bronce Hackle

More variations over this emerger pattern that I have covered a couple of times before. The material in this one will keep it floating forever and should be great for those small trout-sessions with my Sage #1 rod. I think mastering a pattern involves going up and down in hook size and testing different materials and color choices to see how they will fit together, it also helps breaking the monotony in tying just one color variation!

dryfly.me.2013.11.05.caddis_black_gold

dryfly.me.2013.11.05.caddis_white_green

dryfly.me.2013.11.05.caddis_black_gold_2

 

 

 

Caddis variations: yellow, green & red

dryfly.me.2013.10.30.caddis_yellowWhen I find a pattern that I like I normally do two things: first I tie it in different sizes (normally from #12 to #22) to practice and/or find the limitations on the pattern for the different sizes (and when you know how to tie a parachute in #22 it gets quite easy to do one in #12!). Then I do different color variations to see what could work. Yesterday I did a vinyl rib caddis and today I tied up the same pattern on the same hook but with different colors for body and a white deer hair for wing.

Yellow body: Hare – Tron Pale Yellow

dryfly.me.2013.10.30.caddis_redRed body: Hare’s Ice Dub Rusty Orange

dryfly.me.2013.10.30.caddis_greenGreen Body: Hare’s Ear Plus Dark Olive

dryfly.me.2013.10.30.caddis_only_wingAnd finally just one with white deer hair and a body of Hare’s Ice Dub Rusty Orange