FLYMPH FORUM

New Zealand's Bounty - Created and tyed by Jeff (Mataura mayfly) Smith
Hook: #14 BGC 71470
Thread: #12 Light Purple
Tail: Mallard Drake Flank
Rib: Fine Copper Wire
Abdomen: Fibers from Pukeko Secondary Feather - 4 of twisted
Thorax: Grey Possum Guard Hair
Hackle: Blackbird - Cock Shoulder

Jeff (Mataura mayfly) sent me this beautiful little fly, and I wanted to share it with everyone on the forum. Jeff had not named the pattern, so I have taken the liberty to give it a name. Maybe Jeff can tell us more about this lovely fly.

Thanks Jeff.

Jeff, this one looks wonderful. NZ does have some amazing materials to work with. You are quite blessed, and very talented too.

Ray and Jeff,
Very nice, indeed.
I tried googling the BGC hook, and found the brand, "Bad Girls Club."
Do I have this right? Where can I buy them?

Happy New Year!
Signing off until next year.

L

Lance - I think you accidentally googled "BGC hooker". (humor)

Gosh, where to start.
Wasn't exactly my idea to make a thread on this fly, it was just included inside a Christmas card to Ray & family. There were/are a few others floating around out there in similar cards to others. Ray seemed to like what he saw in the pattern and asked if he could post it up and I said sure.
It was a "development" pattern. Tied to imitate a small mayfly that is quite dark almost black and only really occurs on the Pomahaka river about 40km away from home. I hoped this particular pattern might act as an emerger style and sit just under the film on a leader that was greased to within an inch or two of the fly.
I have not had the real chance to test the fly on the water yet, but I think the design is generic and buggy enough to do the business and might even work on waters where the particular mayfly is not present.

The hooks Lance, you will not find them anywhere else but NZ. They are imported here and marketed by a fellow called Bruce Coker, I guess his middle initial is "G". I have a pretty good notion they are "seconds" from a major manufacturer as they are dead ringers and suffer from the odd incomplete eye or slight overbend/incorect bend. Maybe they are supposed to be destined to melt down and back through the factory, but maybe it is not worth the hassle and they sell them unlabled. Not sure, but that is the story of them.

The body is just a wee bent I was on with trying different materials to try to get a buggy effect, but slimmer and smaller than some dubbing style bodies. Fibres from quill feathers seemed to give a nice fuzzy/buggy look. I have also been experimenting lately with biot bodies from primary and secondary feathers from many different bird wings, for different looking quill style bodies. Undyed and natural biots from birds other than geese can give some neat results.

The whole fly was also a mixture of some different materials and used differently, sent to someone who I knew would appreciate the fact.

That is a wonderful little fly, Jeff, with all of the attributes that would cause a fish to eat it. The pukeko herl body is really well done, and the blackbird hackle has been managed to great effect. Thanks also to Ray for sharing it with us.

Thanks for the back story, Jeff. Glad I asked. This adds a lot to my appreciation of the fly.

I gotta warn you, though. Lance's post makes me want to change the name of the fly to "Jeff's Hooker".

Ray, I would like to tell you to call it "Jeff's Happy Hooker", but sadly it is still untried.
I drove over the Pomahaka yesterday, the New Year here was rung in with thunder storms and much rain. The river was high and dirty, plus we were on our way to a family BBQ to celebrate the New Year- not fishing........ there were two rods and my vest in the truck though!

Jeff, this is another great pattern from one of the most productive vises in recent history. Beautifully done, as usual. If you don't mind, I have a sweet Mataura Mayfly pattern to share myself, when I get back in the cycle of photographing and posting. I'll get it I promise, with your permission.

Ray, thanks for sharing this.

w

William, no problem posting another Christmas card special.
I know how you feel, I am out of the posting swing at the moment, a large PC meltdown and fried hard drive...... I think, will require a visit to the repair shop to confirm.
Relegated to the small notebook we use for travel and the screen & buttons are too damn small!!