The Dark Needle

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upstatetrout
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Location: New York

The Dark Needle

Post by upstatetrout » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:05 pm

Hook. Daiichi 1480 size 16.
Silk. Pearsalls Gossamer sherry spinner #6b.
Head. Magpie Herl.
P_20200319_123851.jpg
P_20200319_123851.jpg (125.36 KiB) Viewed 3981 times
Hackle. Brownish Starling wing joint feather.
Body. Sherry spinner
"We argue to see who is right but we discuss to see what is right"
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Ron Eagle Elk
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Location: Carmel, Maine

Re: The Dark Needle

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:05 pm

Stunning! Beautiful wee head of magpie herl.
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
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redietz
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Location: Central Maryland

Re: The Dark Needle

Post by redietz » Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:38 am

Looks great!
Bob
daringduffer
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Re: The Dark Needle

Post by daringduffer » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:43 am

Did you tie in the herl first?

dd
upstatetrout
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Location: New York

Re: The Dark Needle

Post by upstatetrout » Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:47 am

Yes the Herl is tied in first then the Hackle is tied in and wrapped back towards the bend then the body and finally whip finished behind the Hackle. Not the easiest method but there should not be any head on the fly other than the Herl.

Tom
"We argue to see who is right but we discuss to see what is right"
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Theroe
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Re: The Dark Needle

Post by Theroe » Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:38 am

upstatetrout wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:05 pm Hook. Daiichi 1480 size 16.
Silk. Pearsalls Gossamer sherry spinner #6b.
Head. Magpie Herl.P_20200319_123851.jpg
Hackle. Brownish Starling wing joint feather.
Body. Sherry spinner
Nice Tom - One of my favorites. I use that fly quite a bit on the Beaverkill.

Dana
Soft and wet - the only way....
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PhilA
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Location: Madison, WI

Re: The Dark Needle

Post by PhilA » Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:02 pm

Those herl-headed wingless wets are a bear to tie neatly. Well done. --Phil
daringduffer
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Re: The Dark Needle

Post by daringduffer » Fri Mar 20, 2020 2:04 pm

upstatetrout wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:47 am Yes the Herl is tied in first then the Hackle is tied in and wrapped back towards the bend then the body and finally whip finished behind the Hackle. Not the easiest method but there should not be any head on the fly other than the Herl.

Tom
That's the way other clever tiers tie them too. Nice hackle!

dd
DOUGSDEN
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Re: The Dark Needle

Post by DOUGSDEN » Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:06 pm

Tom,
Your pattern above is quite stunning! I like the magpie hurl at the head! Very buggy looking pattern overall! For some strange reason (and this is assuming my little speckled darlings are basically pigs at heart) this pattern has not been well received! I have fished it all season long. It just doesn't seem to garner much interest! I cannot explain this! Any thoughts on why?
Dougsden
Fish when you can, not when you should! Anything short of this is just a disaster.
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