Grouse and Mole

[GlassJet]

Been playing again.

Grouse and Mole by GlassJet, on Flickr

One of my own. Hook: Kamasan B410 #14 Silk: Pearsall's yellow, well waxed. Rib: Fine gold wire. abdoman: Mole, sparsely dubbed in split thread. Thorax: hare's ear, mixed with Argentinian hare, dyed rust, twisted into split thread. Hackle: Grouse.

Been trying out a new hook here, think I got it as a result of reading a post on here, but can't remember exactly which, now. First of all, I would like to thank this forum for giving me an interest in hooks as well as a wealth of fly tying materials I never knew existed, thus enabling me to save even more money by tying my own flies rather than buying ready made ones....

Second, I thought this hook was bronzed, and would be a more gold colour - i thought this would enhance the waxed yellow silks. But, it doesn't seem to be coloured at all. Anyway, at least it is straight eyed...

Andrew.

[narcodog]

Very nice, talking about hooks I really like the Grip barbless hook's

[DOUGSDEN]

Andrew,
Nice job on a beauty of a pattern. If you stare long enough at the photo (and I did), the hackles start to move and it starts looking alive! Have you had a chance to soak this one in your home waters? I know that my tribe would be falling all over it. Can't wait to see the next posting. I am on my way now!
Keep'm coming,
Dougsden

[letumgo]

Another dandy fly, Andrew. I really enjoy seeing your creations. Thanks for sharing.

"save money by tying your own flies..." now that's funny

[GlassJet]

Thanks folks.
The only Grip barbless I've tried is the grub hook,which I use for tying Czech Nymphs. I do like them though, very sharp and the wide gape makes them ideal for the release bit of catch and release.

Have you had a chance to soak this one in your home waters? I know that my tribe would be falling all over it.

Hi Doug, no, not fished this one yet. Hopefully it will have the right triggers though...
Had a lot of rain since I got back, and river been too high and coloured for good fishing, though it looks better today. Late in the season here for me now, getting cooler so should really be tying up some weighted flies and starting to fish deeper, where the grayling obligingly begin to turn on just as the trout are turning off.
Andrew

[daringduffer]

Another dandy fly, Andrew. I really enjoy seeing your creations. Thanks for sharing.

"save money by tying your own flies..." now that's funny

I really agree with Ray here - I just have to have a grouse skin! Where was that saving you were talking about?

Kamasan 410 - is that just a stouter wire than Kamasan B525?

dd

[GlassJet]

Kamasan 410 - is that just a stouter wire than Kamasan B525?

dd

I don't know, is the simple answer, dd. The 410 is quite a fine wire though....

I have not much experience with different hooks - I am just really starting to get into the different shapes, etc. Was the day when I was happy just with wet, dry and grub - but no longer, now that I am wiser in terms of the options and correspondingly poorer...

Andrew.

[letumgo]

That should be my new motto..."Richer in knowledge, but poorer in person" (joke)

[William Anderson]

I have to say I'm not crazy about the gold hooks for my own flies...looks good here though. The think I really like about these hooks is the wide gap. This saved my hide last night on the Gunpowder in MD. The browns were feeding on the surface but just sipping little BWO's. I was fishing a soft hackled emerger on a light dry fly hook (Daiichi 1110 from older tying sessions) and saw some soft rejections, until I went with my favorite Diiachi wet 1530. The difference I believe was that subtle rejection wasn't as easy for them with the wider gap. These browns had large mouths, but they just didnt seem to spit it out as easily. I fished those pools until dusk...couldn't find my trail out up the mountain and about killed myself trying to traverse that canyon twice until I found a trail on the stream that led down to a bridge so I could hike back to my truck. Thank god I had a forgotten little flashlight with me. It was pittiful, but without it I would have had to just find a soft bed of moss and sit there until morning. Am I off topic? Just a reminder...take a light, check your batteries, and pay attention to your trails if you hike in and out of remote locations like i do. I was so happy to see that bridge.

Anyway....wide gaps. I like em.

w

[GlassJet]

Am I off topic? Just a reminder...take a light, check your batteries, and pay attention to your trails if you hike in and out of remote locations like i do. I was so happy to see that bridge.

A
w

Blimey William... steady on.... 20 metres from the car park and I'm wading in the river....

Andrew.