FLYMPH FORUM

Hook - WR-069, size 14
Thread - Griffiths Sheer 14/0 Olive
Abdomen - Olive Squirrel in a pre-spun loop on Pearsall's Olive Silk
Thorax - Dark Olive Squirrel
Hackle - Grouse

Nice!
For a pre-spun body, that is a nice slender look. The colour and addition of guard hairs from the squirrel give a pretty honest representation of natural insect life. I like this one a lot.
Is the hackle a body feather or wing covert?

Thanks, Jeff. Wing covert. Don't like working with grouse that much, but had a whole skin given to me, and need to use it once in a while, just because.

Yes, very buggy and nicely done.

I love the technique and taper in this fly. That sparse effect isn't easy, and you've nailed it.

Red Grouse or Ruffled? You can't tell you don't like the feathers based on this fly, but is it because of the barbule to stem proportion? Your work with game birds is great, so I'm curious what it is about grouse.

w

That's Ruffed Grouse. Got it from my brother, the hunter in the family. I don't care for Grouse (never used Red Grouse) because, in my experience, the barbules seem to stick together more than other birds when winding around the hook shaft. They don't seem to splay out as nicely as Partridge, for instance.
Of course, maybe that's just me. (or maybe just the Michigan Grouse)

This fly looks great. Has some very good proportions and just looks like an awesome fish catcher.