Olive Bloa

[Hans Weilenmann]

Olive Bloa
Hook: Sprite Perfect #14 (or equivalent)
Thread: Gudebrod 8/0, olive
Hackle: Hen, dyed olive
Body: Heron barbs, dyed olive (or substitute). An alternative body is greenish yellow silk with a light dubbing of olive seal's fur.
Rib: Tying thread

Excerpt from The Art of the Wet Fly - W.S. Roger Fogg (1979):
An excellent all-rounder and much favoured during the last century by John Jackson and T.E. Pritt. It may be dressed to suggest nymph, emerger or floating dun (if a cock hackle is employed).

Cheers,
Hans W

[Mataura mayfly]

That is a nice pattern........ for those of us able to legally have Heron on the bench.
Speaking of bench, I see the Benecchi was "benched" for this one?
So the only difference in the dressing of the nymph, wet or dry is the length/gender and possibly amount of hackle?

[Hans Weilenmann]

That is a nice pattern........ for those of us able to legally have Heron on the bench.

I did mention "or substitute". Canada Goose works very well.

Speaking of bench, I see the Benecchi was "benched" for this one?

Benecchi olive is much darker, or lighter. I prefer the Gudebrod medium olive for this.

So the only difference in the dressing of the nymph, wet or dry is the length/gender and possibly amount of hackle?

There is the tricky bit. I have not seen photographs of originals.

I am pretty sure the "emerger" reference is a modern interpretation by mr. Fogg.

[Izaak]

This is a beautiful pattern. The heron barbs look great. I will have to start picking up any Canada goose feathers I see! Thanks for sharing it Hans!

Tom

[letumgo]

Hans - Have you fished with the Sprite Perfect hooks much? If so, can you comment on how easily they penetrate? I have looked the points of these hooks before, and they have struck me as being a somewhat blunt point. Maybe it is the short taper of the hook point. I have never fished this hook, so I do not have experience good or bad to go on.

Nice fly, by the way. The herl body is very esthetically pleasing.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Ray,

The Sprite hooks have been solid performers for me.

They were also the makers of the hooks sold in the US by Belvoirdale, brand name Gaelic Supreme. Some very nice hooks there indeed.

Too bad the Sprite plant has now closed.

Cheers,
Hans W