First attempt at a winged wet fly

Post by **drlandersdc** » Thu May 02, 2019 8:36 am

I have recently started tying and fishing soft hackles. I had never fished one before a recent trip to GSMNP. If I had known swinging wet flies was this much fun I would have started doing this years ago.
I tried my hand at tying a Hares Ear winged wet fly. I would love some critiques on hackle length, wing length, proportions etc.

Post by **letumgo** » Thu May 02, 2019 11:55 am

First off, welcome aboard and thank you for sharing these photos with us. I really like the way you've set the wings on this fly (flared horizontally). It reminds me of the way delta wings are set on the Pacific Northwest steelhead patterns. Very nice! Extra points for style.

I'm not sure I can provide meaningful feedback, in terms of adjustments to the fly pattern. Honestly, I'd gladly fish your fly exactly the way it is.

Thanks again for sharing. I look forward to seeing more of your tying in the future.

Post by **hankaye** » Thu May 02, 2019 6:43 pm

drlandersdc, Howdy;

Oh yea, hell-of-a intro there... Welcome aboard!
Appears you'll fit right in with the rest of this bunch well.

hank

Post by **Ron Eagle Elk** » Fri May 03, 2019 8:13 am

I like the wings. To be truthful, I suck at setting wings on flies, so I use folded or rolled wings. Much easier for me and my arthritic hands any more. Hackle length looks fine to me. If you find your getting some short strikes, try using your finger nails to trim up the tail fibers a little shorter.

I agree with Ray (Letumgo), I'd throw that in the water in a heart beat. Looks plenty fishy.

Welcome to the Forum.

Post by **Mike62** » Fri May 03, 2019 12:24 pm

Far be it from me to criticize another's tying; I'd fish your fly anytime. I'm another one who doesn't seem to be able to set wings consistently so I use different methods.

Post by **Theroe** » Tue May 07, 2019 12:25 pm

Welcome to the forum !

That fly is terrible.......send me a dozen please!!

All kidding aside, that’s just the way I like them: long wing, long hackle, long tail........

BTW - you can still send some ..

Post by **Old Hat** » Wed May 08, 2019 2:24 pm

Welcome!

Looks great to me. Honestly, and I don't shy away from constructive criticism. I can tie decent wings but I don't like to do it. I like the versatility that a wingless pattern gives. I tie some smaller wets with the same profile you have and use turkey biots as the wing as Ray said reminiscent of the delta wing style (like on a prince nymph). I find them easier than the feather slips.

Post by **Bazzer69** » Wed May 08, 2019 4:15 pm

It may be a illusion, but your wings slips do not look like a matched pair. The problem is if they are not the fly will spin like crazy when casting resulting in a twisted leader. Rolled wings are one answer and a lot of practice is another. But other than that it’s a fly I would put on the end of my leader.
Keep up the good work!
Barry

First attempt at a winged wet fly

First attempt at a winged wet fly

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Re: First attempt at a winged wet fly

Re: First attempt at a winged wet fly