Pink Butt

[Hans Weilenmann]

Pink Butt
Hook: Wet fly #16
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Hackle: Paradise drake breast feather barbs (or any other duck species with barred breast feathers)
Butt: Nylon, hot pink
Body: Peacock herl

Cheers,
Hans W

[Johnno]

In case anyone is wondering, the Paradise Shelduck or "Parrie" is one of ours; An NZ native. Maori name is Putangitangi.



During the early season they can try the patience to the utmost extreme by squwaking and flapping their way upstream of you for several pools. They pretend to have a broken wing to try and lure you away from their young. Nice birds but after a few repeats on a days fishing and they wear you down to the point where one wishes that a 12 guage was slung over one shoulder. I have been known to utter curses in their general direction that can be heard for several miles:

I had a nice brown of around 7-8 pounds lined up about 30 feet in front of me feeding away happily back in November. An absolute sitter. As I unhooked the fly from the keeper, a Parrie came in and landed right on top of it making a hell of a commotion. Exit one reasonable trout.....

But they do have nice feathers as can be seen in Hans' fly. Not only the breast but back and wings and neck. The CDC is (IMHO) the best there is to be found anywhere. And the younger ones are fine for eating, breasts roasted and washed down with a local Pinot Noir.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Thanks johnno for the 'setting'. During my recent trip I have eh... enjoyed (not!) the antics of these ducks as I worked my way upstream on a number of streams, most notably on the Pomahaka and the upper Taieri.

I was also astounded by the number of these birds flying overhead in formation. They are hardly scare and rare, based on the number I saw during my visit.

Cheers,
Hans W

[William Anderson]

Johnno, anyone who has fished the spooky browns on the Letort in central PA knows all too well the cursing and disappointment that can come from sharing gorgeous water with a duck. Fx#%!#g ducks!
I wish they tasted better.

w

[redietz]

Johnno, anyone who has fished the spooky browns on the Letort in central PA knows all too well the cursing and disappointment that can come from sharing gorgeous water with a duck. Fx#%!#g ducks!
I wish they tasted better.

w

I thoroughly concur about ducks, but I'm not sure I would call the Letort "gorgeous". "Classic" perhaps, and I certainly get a sense of accomplishment whenever I manage a fish or two from it, but to me, many of the sections provide a counter-example to old saw about trout living only in beautiful places. Around the quarry, I'd go so far as to call it downright ugly.

Oh, and ducks will take a dry fly.

Hans -
I'm sure it's the color registry on my computer, but that duck looks to be the color of red grouse to me.

[William Anderson]

Yeah, don't go up to the quarry. That is ugly. It's not majestic like a freestone stream, but I find those glides and vegetation gorgeous. It's like every inch of that water is perfect holding water. We'll just have to disagree.

This thread is as hijacked as any I've seen. Sorry about that.

w