FLYMPH FORUM

I like tying with the horsetail. It has some possiblities, typically as quill bodies, but I liked the twists the best.

A light and an Amber colored horsetail hair twisted, mole thorax and hen saddle hackle:







Same two horsetail hairs twisted with #4 yellow silk, mole thorax and CdL saddle hackle:







This is three horsetail hairs twisted, bison underfur thorax and grouse hackle:





w

Dub-ya, Howdy;

Looks to be a tough material to work with. Sorta like that Llama you and Ray were wrestling with a bit ago.
I really like the top one the best. To me looks more symetrical (sp?), thru the wrappings and gives,
to me, a better rendition of the segmented body then the others. Strikes me as a case of less is better.

hank

This is three horsetail hairs twisted, bison underfur thorax and grouse hackle

Kit Carson tied soft hackles; who knew? Throw in some grizzly bear guard hairs as tailing material and you've got yourself the set-up for a great story...

Carson was a decent tier, but his flies were all gawdy and colorful (product of his time). He was fixated on Cutts. I tied a few with the bison guardhairs in the llama method and then twisted a few with horsetail. They are fishable, but not intended for public viewing.

There are several things about these horsetail flies that I like. I can imagine the light play in those fibers could be interesting, expecially with the contrasting underbody and the addition of silk into the twist. I just really like the irregularity of it all.

Anyone want to way in on the bouyancy of the hairs. I know they were used for the first fly lines, but they were greased. Are these going to float as tied? I would'nt mind if they did. I could test them, but conversation is more interesting.

w

These are bison guard hairs twisted with the underfur and a horsetail fiber, that is very well blended with the bison underfur thorax. I was just curious.

Very cool effects...the amber horsehair especially is giving off that "just looks buggy" vibe. If it holds up at all I could see it really obsoleting stripped peacock for me.

There's lots to like about these, William, not the least of which is the naturalistic look of your "organized chaos" -- the irregularity of wraps that are not parallel. I know we've seen a little of this recently what with all the twisting of dissimilar materials going on, but I think your combination of the twisted horsehair with bison fur is inspired. Adding the rough grouse hackle (I'm speaking of the textured barbs, not hackle from a ruffed grouse ) is a fitting touch.

My initial impression was stunned silence, mouth agape.

Remarkable flies, William. I can't wait to try this, myself.

Thanks for such kind remarks. These twisted bodies really seem to hold some potential for me and I'll try again with using other silk and some herls. Actually I just like the two and three strands twisted and brought forward the way they are, but some other colors would be cool.

Thanks again.

From a tying perspective, invesitigations into the properies and possibilities of new materials is good fun, particularly where the material is of natural origin - thanks for sharing.

From a fishing perspective they are worth nought until they prove successful so don't be shy in coming back with the results I know you would be very distressed if we all suspected that you had a gem of a fly on your hands and forgot to tell us.