My theme is Distinctive Fabrics to honor a great source of fur. I use the fabric in the flies and as a background. The idea is to try the new material on new and traditional patterns and to showcase the fur too. The Quarter is for scale only; it does not come with the fly. Not all flies have scientific names yet. 1. A Bend Back (tergum curvum) in a Pine Tree Sparkle fur used throughout. Purple Sparkle fur in the background. 2 Double Bunny (cuniculus duplex) A Bull Bluegill on a #1 EC 413. Strips cut from brown Husky. Phesant cheek. I used one of Craig's Ringers to hang the eye. White Sparkle Fur in background. 3. A Blonde (osmerus flavus) I had to try out the new material on a classic pattern by Joe Brooks. White, Grey, and Cookie Blue make a smelt. Black monkey fur in the background. 4. The Dino Frog (wiggle legs)(rana rex) Wiggle legs made with green and chartreuse sparkle fur tied bullet head style. Hook point is cut off after legs are complete. Legs are slipped onto hitchhikers screwed into the rear of the EVA body. The Dino Head is an economical alternative to the Blockhead. Soon coming to a pond near you. Background burnt orange Extra Long Hair Fur. To be continued... The Fifth fly of Christmas Dec 28 5. Float'n Fly Crappie Black and white Husky fur had to be used tied on a 1/16 oz jig powder painted. Guinea Fowl cheeks and eyes finish it off. Background is Schoolbus Yellow Sparkle Fur. 6th Day 21st Century Mickey Finn (potus nocens) 7th Day Crappie 8th Day Spinner'd Minner Where would we be without Fox Statler's classic
9 Sluggoes Slugging
10 Dragons Flying (draco volans)
11 Dying Panfish (panpiscis moriturus)
This was going to be a Half and Half till I saw something in the other double bunnies I put tied. With the wings in a verticle position the fly resembles a flat panfish like the Storm Thinfin plug does. When I turned the wings 90 degrees I got a a fly lying on its side like a crippled fish. Saltwater guys might use the same approach to construct a stone crab fly which has a similar round body like this fly tied using other materials.
12 Royal Coachman (raedarius regius)
The colors of this old patern make it a natural for Christmas. The story is that John Haily, a New York City tyer, created the pattern in 1878 when he added a red silk band to a Coachman so that the herl body would hold up better. It has been tied dry, wet, streamer, Wolff, and whatever ever since. You can say,"135 years old and still in use." The saddle hackle in the picture with my hair streamer goes back about half way, 70 years. It is one of three streamers that have been "in the family" for as long as I can remember. Uncle Bob tied it for Clear Lake Muskies and it passed from my father to me.
There's a good place to end.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!