Cardinal and Starling

[Izaak]

DSCN3602 by flympher, on Flickr
Hook: Mustad Signature R70, size 14
Thread: Pearsall's cardinal
Hackle: Starling

[Hans Weilenmann]

Tom,

Minimal stuff - my kinda fly

But what's with that droopy tag end of thread????

Hans W
*running, very fast, and ducking..... *splat* there lands the red sweet pepper*

[Izaak]

I'M SORRY HANS! That red tag sticks out like a sore thumb, I know! So embarrassed! But I was so pleased with the rest of the fly. Which brings me a question I'd like to ask you and others. Do you always "snip" the thread when finishing off, or do you ever form a "V" with the scissor tips and push through the thread? I sometimes do the latter to avoid snipping off any barbs, but sometimes what you end up with is what you see here.....

[Hans Weilenmann]

I'M SORRY HANS! That red tag sticks out like a sore thumb, I know! So embarrassed! But I was so pleased with the rest of the fly. Which brings me a question I'd like to ask you and others. Do you always "snip" the thread when finishing off, or do you ever form a "V" with the scissor tips and push through the thread? I sometimes do the latter to avoid snipping off any barbs, but sometimes what you end up with is what you see here.....

Tom,

The fly, overall, looks excellent - and I know you can handle the tease.

My 40 year old pair of Fiskars never got dull for the very reason that the blades never were sharp to start with

I maintain firm tension, and snip.

Here is a fly close to the one you posted which I tied a year or two back



Dainty Red
Hook: Kamasan B160 #16
Thread: Danville Flymaster 6/0, scarlet
Hackle: Whiting Coq de Leon, dark pardo
Body: Tying thread

Cheers,
Hans W

[Izaak]

Nice...I like the look of the short shank hook. By the way, the color of the thread in my photo looks a bit orange-ish, for some reason it didn't reproduce well...but you get the idea.

[Izaak]

Hans, looks like you may have flattened the thread in your fly???

[Hans Weilenmann]

Hans, looks like you may have flattened the thread in your fly???

Danville Flymaster does flatten more easily than Pearsall's Gossamer three ply twist.

The pattern I posted is an exercise in minimalism around the hackle. Here is what happens when you use Benecchi 12/0:



Dainty Olive
Hook: Kamasan B160 #16
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, olive
Hackle: Hen, grizzly
Body: Tying thread

Cheers,
Hans W

[William Anderson]

Hans...that's amazing.

Tom, this fly is very nicely tied, tag or no tag of course. If you're concerned about the way it looks...then do what I do and pull the thread firmly after completing the whip finish to the "opposite" side of the camera then make your cut. (which would be to your right since your flies are photographed backwards. ) That way when you snip, cut or break the thread it doesn't show in your pic. Or consider it just an accent. It's a lovely tie for sure.

w

[Izaak]

doesn't get much more minimalistic than that!

[Hans Weilenmann]

doesn't get much more minimalistic than that!

*chuckle*

You should make your acquaintance with Clyde and Tummel patterns

Here is a sample Tummel style pattern:



Hook: Kamasan B175, #14
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Wing: Hooded merganser barbs
Hackle: Whiting hen
Body: Rabbit, medium-dark grey - very short

Note: This is in fact a Tummel, not Clyde, style pattern. Tummels are even more radical. I simply liked the Bonnie & Clyde name...

Cheers,
Hans W