Mayfly Ross

[CreationBear]

the feathers are mostly to big for a fly on hook #12.

Ruard, are you trying to palmer the duck hackle the way you would, say, hen or partridge? If that's the case and you're not finding enough "short" feathers, one thing you can do is snip the feather fibers from the rachis, then tie a bundle of them with the tips sticking out over the eye. It's pretty easy to distribute the fibers evenly around the hookshank; then after you build the rest of the fly, you can pull the fibers back and bind them down near the eye.

[DOUGSDEN]

Dearest Ruard,
I am glad to see Ross in action on such a beautiful pattern! He is normally "Mr. Mellow" around this house. I picked him up and held him to the screen on the monitor and showed him your wonderful pattern. I even tried to explain where he fit in amoungst all the layers and good looking parts. Ross was not interested. So, I put him down and on the way out of the room, I tried to explain who you were and where you lived and how every cat in America has been waiting to get on your "A" list .....but, he just squeeked (that's his way of meowing) and left. However, I was impressed with the great things you can do with simple but elegant materials. Ruard, you are a great one indeed creating beauty and grace out of common, everyday things. I think deep down inside Ross thanks you! I know that I do!
Thank you for sharing of yourself so often and with so many people!
Yours Truly,
Dougsen

[Ruard]

CreationBear, I tried several ways to make a hackle from the duck feathers. If I use only the points of the fibers they look too "sticky"; I loose the curve that is natural in the feather, so i like the normal way ( turns around the hook) for this pattern.

Doug, nice way of telling me that you like my efforts. I like the way Rossdub and yellow rabbit fur and the orange thread blend together.


Greeting