Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
Moderators: William Anderson, letumgo
Re: Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
That would do it.
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
Re: Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
Great pattern. I have used it often over the years.
How I usually tie it is to tie in the hackle first. Then tie in the herl behind the hackle. Wrap the silk back towards the bend of the hook smoothly covering the herl along the way. Once at the bend, I split the thread, insert the herl into the split thread and then re-twist and wrap forward in open wraps. Finish of the hackle.
I like the looks of the ribbing. I think twisting in split thread is more durable than a counter wrap, but the counter rib also adds a nice feature.
How I usually tie it is to tie in the hackle first. Then tie in the herl behind the hackle. Wrap the silk back towards the bend of the hook smoothly covering the herl along the way. Once at the bend, I split the thread, insert the herl into the split thread and then re-twist and wrap forward in open wraps. Finish of the hackle.
I like the looks of the ribbing. I think twisting in split thread is more durable than a counter wrap, but the counter rib also adds a nice feature.
I hate it when I think I'm buying organic vegetables, and when I get home I discover they are just regular donuts.
http://www.oldhatflytying.com
http://www.oldhatflytying.com
Re: Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
It's hard to make peacock herl do what you want it to do. You sir, are a master. 
-
Mataura mayfly
- Posts: 3648
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:28 am
- Location: Southland, South Island, New Zealand.
Re: Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
Tom, I tied up several of your "original" pattern dressing and took them for a swim this past evening.
I did not get a single touch from a trout. Nothing to do with the pattern as such, plain old Purple silk & Starling is one of my go-to flies, more the conditions. Cold and raining.
What did happen with the three flies I did use, they all lost their rib. Admittedly I was swinging them through some fairly strong and at times turbulent current, but it would seem the Peacock sword herls I used were not up to the task.
I will have to try counter ribbed or twisted with thread.
Do you think there might be an advantage is leaving the tag end of the silk extra long, wrapping the body over the sword and silk tag to attach and then using the tag end of the silk as a counter rib or twisting the sword on the tag end to bring forward as a reinforced rib?
I did not get a single touch from a trout. Nothing to do with the pattern as such, plain old Purple silk & Starling is one of my go-to flies, more the conditions. Cold and raining.
What did happen with the three flies I did use, they all lost their rib. Admittedly I was swinging them through some fairly strong and at times turbulent current, but it would seem the Peacock sword herls I used were not up to the task.
I will have to try counter ribbed or twisted with thread.
Do you think there might be an advantage is leaving the tag end of the silk extra long, wrapping the body over the sword and silk tag to attach and then using the tag end of the silk as a counter rib or twisting the sword on the tag end to bring forward as a reinforced rib?
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
Re: Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
oow. Nice.
Reverse wound 7 or 8x clear mono makes an unobtrusive reinforcing rib for the herl on these.
Reverse wound 7 or 8x clear mono makes an unobtrusive reinforcing rib for the herl on these.
Re: Purple Smut (aka Fog Black)
Mataura Mayfly,
It was good to hear your fishing report/test drive with the pattern even if the flies failed miserably, and I am sorry to have been a good example of an irresponsible fly tier!
I admit to being very careless when I was tying these flies. I knew the peacock sword rib was very fragile and needed at least a counter wrap of mono, (nod to Steve!), wire, or as you mentioned, an extended tag end of tying thread. Tying these was largely an experiment to see how the peacock sword wrapped and looked as a rib. I would not hesitate to use it again but only with a counter rib, or using a tag of thread twisted with the sword and then wrapped as one as you suggested, or as Old Hat does by twisting it in the split thread and wrapped.
I have learned my lesson.... 
Tom
It was good to hear your fishing report/test drive with the pattern even if the flies failed miserably, and I am sorry to have been a good example of an irresponsible fly tier!
I admit to being very careless when I was tying these flies. I knew the peacock sword rib was very fragile and needed at least a counter wrap of mono, (nod to Steve!), wire, or as you mentioned, an extended tag end of tying thread. Tying these was largely an experiment to see how the peacock sword wrapped and looked as a rib. I would not hesitate to use it again but only with a counter rib, or using a tag of thread twisted with the sword and then wrapped as one as you suggested, or as Old Hat does by twisting it in the split thread and wrapped. I have learned my lesson....
Tom