FLYMPH FORUM

I wasn't real happy with the quality of the picture I provided in the Henry's Fork Flymphs thread, so I decided to repost a better picture to show what the fly "really" looks like. This shows the pattern tied on a #16 TMC 900BL hook with Benecchi 12/0 olive thread, Spirit River Fine & Dry PMD dubbing and a dun Metz hen hackle. Once again, this wasn't intended as a photo model. The fly is right from the fishing flybox.



Enjoy.

Eric

Eric,
Very nice. You are approaching Jim Slattery's legendary killer pattern here, the Madison Mauler. Has Jim shown that to you?
Lance

Much more noticeable detail in this shot. Looks good Eric and on a #16 to boot.

Great-looking pattern, sir. I would love to see a close-up of the fly in your avatar.

JohnP wrote:Great-looking pattern, sir. I would love to see a close-up of the fly in your avatar.

Here ya go; on #16 (I think) 3906B with the wire rib. I also tie this on dryfly hooks and skip the rib.



Eric

gingerdun wrote:Eric,
Very nice. You are approaching Jim Slattery's legendary killer pattern here, the Madison Mauler. Has Jim shown that to you?
Lance

Yeah! That stinker tied one for me after dinner one evening, and then tells me I'm not "allowed" to fish it in the Madison between the lakes. But yes, I have some of Jim's dubbing mix and some of his wax stashed for tying them. I haven't really given it a fair shot in the Henry's Fork yet.

My body color stays a bit truer to the natural I think, and I simply have a passion for woodduck flank tails; part of my Catskill background, I suppose. The fly shown above in my response to JohnP is also quite effective as a "transitional" emerger during the PMDs, and I'm told it does quite nicely for the sulphur hatch in the northeast and midwest.

Eric

Eric,

I really like both patterns.

I fish a PMD on the Lochsa, Selway and North Fork of the Clearwater that has been pretty productive for me. A lot more heavily hackled than yours.



I'll have to see about tying the Madison Mauler when I help Jim out this summer.

REE

Your fly is pretty close to Jim's Madison Mauler, Ron. I think you could get away with fishing that in his backyard there on the Madison without having him take potshots at you. I suspect the stretch Jim is on is the best big fish water on the Madison, and the amazing thing is that those big fish seem to be bug eaters. You'll enjoy yourself.

The sparse hackling on my fly is a reflection of where I fish and the way I have gotten accustomed to tying for that water. Everything I tie is sparse to the extent I refer to my flyboxes as collections of carpet sweepings. A bit of fur in the body and a couple turns of hackle to represent food is all that's needed to deal with that very flat, very slow, crystal clear water.

Eric

Three very nice looking flies.
I may have to re-visit my own photographic efforts after seeing everyone take a step "up" the ladder.

Eric, the dry you tie of the avatar fly, if you drop the rib, do you also thorax wrap the hackle or stick with shoulder wraps of the same colour- but stiffer hackle?

Eric - It is great to see you posting flies again. Beautifully done.