Does the head of a fly make a difference?

[William Anderson]

Rk, are you suggesting you would try to imitate a head like three one on the nymph shown using what e think of as the flies head...thread behind the eye, etc? Looks longer a job for a number of turns of dubbing, extending the thorax right to the eye. That's a cool looking bug.

[Roadkill]

To me part of the fly is the color of the insect in front of the hackle (wings, legs...)and it can be done with tying thread, dubbing or even a glass bead or a combination. Part of the reason I think Betters' Usual has been improved by the hot orange tying thread head may be the bright turbinate eyes on the males of some flies.

[flyfishwithme]

If you are using a soft hackle to imitate a nymph like a pale evening dun, the head being wider than the body is an identification key.
http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/510/Mayfly-Heptagenia

With a nymph I think it is important to make sure the 'shape' is constant with the natural.
As for the Adults it could be that the eyes of the male are used as an attractor to the female. I am not even capable of entering that debate but it would be interesting to hear from someone who does have a scientific view of this. The question is does it matter to the fish.
Reed may have a view on this from a UVR point. If I recall correctly, some of the UV photographs in his book DO NOT make the head stand out. The wings become the dominate view.

[Roadkill]

flyfishwithme

if I remember correctly the large turbinate eyes on the male were to better spot the female above them in a mating swarm rather than visa versa.
If you can get fish to answer if hot spots work, I think the answer would be like many tying variations-sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. IMO if you understand the when, where, and how to fish your fly little things can make a difference to selective fish.

[William Anderson]

I sometimes give thought to designing a (or proportioning an existing) pattern based on species and stage of development, sometimes not...but this conversation does make me want to embrace some of those entomological traps that make so many tiers warm and fuzzy inside. I like to believe I avoid them to a degree...or at least only offer a nod, but when there are so many other mysteries to unravel, it's nice to find a few nuggets to really hold on to. (that's just a free, random comment, no charge.)

Rk, when you're describing matching nymphs as opposed to other stages (conditions - drowned, cripped, etc) it makes me want to either explore some of Cal Bird's dubbed heads, which makes good sense, or consider a robust thorax (front of the nymph in general) as thorax/head and all included. Hackle through the thorax where possible assumes the front of that portion as being the head, especially and specifically for clinging or crawling mayfly nymphs. It's an interesting dimension to work out and the elements you've described to imitate the wide nymph heads ring true for me. I completely agree with FFWM regarding overall shape and profile in terms of nymphs.

JohnP, the link you provided was very interesting. I hadn't seen that before and have never actually seen so many of Polly Rosenberg's, Schwiebert's, or Bird's flies photographed so well and so many of them. It's a treasure to see these.

w

[Roadkill]

William

I am a fan of flies tied in the round as all the SHs and flymphs are. A Bird's Nest nymph is a great fly for explorinbg the waters. I also like patterns such as you are considering in the stonefly realm and I like Charles Brooks ideas as well as Polly Rosborough. Both tyers nymphs are represented in my boxes and I think the main difference is the waters where they were used by both great nymph fishermen. As an Oregonian who started tying my own fuzzy nymphs back in the 50s I am sorry that I never did get to meet Polly as he always had a sign out about being gone fishing the few times I managed to stop by his shop.