March Brown Soft Hackle (variation)

[letumgo]

March Brown Soft Hackle (variation)
Hook - Mustad R50U-94842 / Size 12
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Chestnut Brown)
Hackle - Ruffed Grouse Body Hackle (Natural Brown Phase)
Body (Rear) - Hares Ear on well waxed thread (Light Colored Cheek Fur/Natural)
Tail/Dorsal Line/Wing Case - Six or Seven Pheasant Tail Fibers (Natural)
Rib - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Chestnut Brown) - Wrapped forward in open spirals to segment body and hold dorsal line in place.
Thorax - Awesome Possum Dubbing (Brown)

The hackle on these flies was given to me by Tim DIdas yesterday. Thanks Tim. This stuff was perfect. Just what the doctor ordered. Brilliant suggestion.

These are kind of "fussy" little flies (many tying steps), but I really like the look of the dark back and wing case on the finished fly. The R50U hook (turned-up eye) is such a nice hook to work with. These are tyed on the new Signature Series versions, so the barb is much smaller than the original Model 94842 version (a little easier on the fish). Man, these things are "sticky" sharp.

I tyed these flies for Ron's March Brown swap. Here is the complete set, ready for toe-tags.

[CreationBear]

That's a great looking fly--March Browns and ruffed grouse just go together. (FWIW, I picked up a lovely skin from Alvin Theriault--whom Vern-O interviewed in Hatches a while back--great prices on a lot on interesting materials.)

[letumgo]

Jon - Do you have his contact information? If so, can you post it? Do you know where his grouse come from? I've been looking for a full skin from the north east, ideally in the brown coloration phase. I saw some nice dyed ones at yesterdays tying event in Syracuse, but all the brown ones had been snatched up. Tim gave me all the grouse feathers he had, so I could finish my swap flies.

[DUBBN]

Very cool patterns. I like the Pheasant run down and segmented on the spine of the pattern.

[CreationBear]

Ray, here you go:
http://www.theriaultflies.com/grousefeathers.html
I think he prefers you just make a credit card order over the phone, but he also has a "bulletin" type catalog that he will send. FWIW, I got a red phase skin--ironic, since those are precisely the sort that are most common down here in the Southern Highlands and rather rare Downeast. At any rate (taking into account the notorious "N=1" sample size of course ) the skin was a bargain in my estimation.

[tjd]

Ray,

They are great looking flies! You are very welcome for the grouse feathers...I'll round up some more for you!

I'm glad you had enough to finidh the swap flies.

Thanks again for the company yesterday...great time!

Best,

Tim

[letumgo]

Tim - Agreed! I had so much fun, the day just flew by. Thanks for driving.

The feathers worked out perfect. I only had two left when I was done. You wanted to make sure I was going to finish my swap flies, so you could go fishing, didn't you? (humor)

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Those look absolutely beautiful and deadly, Ray. Can't wait to see them in hand.

[letumgo]

Thanks Ron.

[cassady]

Wow.

That tail / dorsal line is visually striking! Beautiful tie.