FLYMPH FORUM

From William's PMD thread:

I would agree with an entomologically logical pattern which uses short hackle, or no hackle at all, to suggest nymphs and believe that's probably the best representation. I also hold these truths to be self-evident, that neither long-hackle or short-hackle patterns should be put aside, one for the other.

You wouldn't know if from the flies that follow , but I've been obsessing lately over just what hackle is supposed to be. My current flight-of-fancy is that hackle isn't sculptural or anatomical (e.g. one feather fiber per appendage) but rather

Sorry, got timed-out on the edit...

Nothing terribly profound, but I've been kicking around the idea that the importance of hackle might lie in what it hides rather than what it reveals; i.e. it might function like a bullfighter's capote or a bit of camoflage that breaks up the outline of what would otherwise be an unlifelike section of thread-covered hookshank.

CB, I hear what you are saying and indeed I bow to the theory a lot.
Many of my "soft hackle" flies have long full almost cloaking hackles, some might say too full, but a full hackled fly can be adjusted on the waters edge- just you try adding more hackle in the same situation.

Some of my patterns (similar to what you show above) with a Spey influence, I am sure are taken as small baitfish and not aquatic insects. The full cloaking hackle makes for a nice baitfish profile when stripping back. The hackle lays back along the hook shank, the gaps between each fibre and pulse of strip pause/current reveal a hint of what lays below- just as the near transparent sides of some juvinile fish and baitfish do.

Really nice ties, what is your target species?

I am sure are taken as small baitfish and not aquatic insects.

Ha, thanks--it wouldn't be the first time I've tried to imitate some sort of Ephemera and ended up with a bloody crawfish... That's actually what I'm kind of "tying toward," though--on my infertile freestoners here in Southern Appalachia there's seldom a consistent hatch to match even in Spring so our fish tend to be small (with only a few wiley old brown trout approaching an average fish there in Middle Earth ) and opportunistic. Specifically, I've been looking for fly designs like the Gartside Sparrow that I can dead-drift, swing, and actively "pulse" with my Tenkara rod--hence my interest in "composite hackle"--in the case of these flies, "burned" ruffed grouse tail feathers and Coq de Leon rooster taken off the rachis and put in a loop and wrapped "Intruder style."

These flies really resonate with me. Steelhead manna, for sure. I am also intrigued by the hook that you used. Very nicely done.

I am also intrigued by the hook that you used.

Ha, thanks...I like those 1870's better than I thought I would, though of course Jean Paul Dessaigne puts them to good use for his emergers:

http://www.jpdessaigne.com/Galerie_phot ... s%201.html

Ideally I'd like these flies to float like M. Dessaigne's but doubt they will without the long tail to cantilever the proceedings. One thing I am curious about is what "attitude" the flies will assume in current--they're easy to "flip" if you use a bit of weight, but I don't know that swoopy York bend will cause a bit of twist in an unweighted fly.

I've always been a fan of your "longish" hackle, Jon. I suspect this has been basically an aesthetic thing for me, but it is quite interesting to see you speculate about how it may function as a practical feature. I think the idea that it creates the appearance of a small baitfish in fast water is a very good possibility.

Beautiful work. Love the colors, and the flow. It ought to be a goody on the water too~!!

Thanks guys...as I've said, where I fish there's no real reason not to use a P&O or Stewart's Spider 300 days a year, but it's nice to see what else you can lash onto a hookshank on occasion.

Jon - I have been a fan of Jean Paul for many years, and have exchanged messages with him a few times. Nice guy. His flies have such an stylish look.