Doug's Golden Boy

[tie2fish]

Here's a fly tied recently by our friend Dougsden that I'm sure you will enjoy ...

Hook: Gamakatsu R10-BL Retainer Bend, #10 (courtesy of Mark R.)
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, brown
Hackle: Prairie chicken hen neck feather
Body: Davy Wotton SLF dubbing, squirrel bleached ginger, in a loop and roughed with Velcro stick (courtesy of Ruard)

[hankaye]

Dougsden, Howdy;

Danng, ol' Bud, you make some pretty flys...

hank

Bill, Howdy;

You takin' some excellent pix...

hank

[letumgo]

Love it! Love it! Love it! Gorgeous fly, Dougy. I doubt I will be the only one copying this pattern.

Thanks Bill, for sharing this with us. Do you ever have the heart to fish with any of the flies Doug sends you? I don't think I could work up the nerve to fish one, and risking loosing it. That's why I just copy his pattern. If I loose them, no biggie. Just another excuse to tye some more...

[tie2fish]

Fortunately, Doug sent me two of this particular fly, and I definitely will be fishing one of them. I have fished his version of the Red Fox Squirrel Nymph with some success in the past, but you're right, Ray, it's hard to risk losing the beauties he sends me. And despite my best efforts, I cannot duplicate his ties.

[Kelly L.]

Beautiful fly!

[JohnP]

Another stunning fly and photograph. Thanks for sharing.

[willowhead]

Boy, that's On The Money. Just a perfectly balanced tye, using such nice complimentary materials. PRIMO! Doug.....great pic too Bill. Tkx. to both of you for sharing.

[DOUGSDEN]

Boys and Girls.....
Thank you for the high compliments on my latest creation. Really, I have never created anything pattern-wise that is. It is all shear immitation of what I see and like. If you look at the fly again, there is really nothing special about it's design. This creation came about from a generous gift from Willowhead who sent me some really cool looking Gamakatsu brand hooks and from a local friend who gave me a prairie chicken pelt that he shot out west this past fall. I started looking at this bird and it's plumage and found out that it has some really great looking and workable feathers esp. around the head and neck. The wings look tremendous with many good looking feathers along the leading edges. I haven't tried tying anything with them just yet. From the precious few I have loosened and looked at kinda close like, they are rounder and shorter in fiber than the neck feathers. Anyhow, out came the squirrel dubbing and one thing lead to another and voila! Golden Boy.
Bills photography is just stunning! Thanks friend! Mark, your gift of hooks has not been pushed back into the limbo land of various hooks in my hook box. They are kept near the surface and glanced at daily and appreciated to the hilt. Again, thanks! Ruard, your velcro stick that you sent me some time ago is a wonderful tool and is just right for doing what it was intended to do. It is right up front and within arms reach most of the time and very useful. Thanks to you too!
To those who want to give my patterns a soak....please do so immediately! Just let me know how they do on your favorite waters! If you loose them, let me know! I will gladly ship you some more to experiment with! Part of the fun of tying is knowing how your patterns appeal to the fishes! Let's get to soakin' them right away!!
The Golden Boy is a colaboritive effort. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a community of special friends on this forum to raise up a pattern like this! Thanks again to all! Come on Roscoe!!
Doug in the den

[fly_fischa]

What a stunning looking tie Doug, simply beautiful in all regards.
By the way that's a fantastic photo Bill, the lighting and choice of backdrop really make this fly pop.

[willowhead]

i'm very glad your using the hooks Doug.....that's what it's all about. Bill, i'm curious bout the lighting you used to take this pic..............? Can you elaborate? Domo.....