FLYMPH FORUM

Willow Grouse Snowshoe
Hook: Grip 14723BL #14
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Hackle: Willow grouse breast feather barbs
Abdomen: Snowshoe hare foot underfur, inserted into split thread

Same fly, 'soaked'.



Cheers,
Hans W

Hans Weilenmann wrote: Abdomen: Snowshoe hare foot underfur, inserted into split thread

That looks a very useful body, not seen it used like that before. I can imagine it without the hackle but with an elk hair wing, fished in the surface as a simple sedge pattern. I usually use a bit of cream seal's fur for dubbing on that fly, but I'll be trying the hare's foot as an alternative.

Andrew

Hans, the wet shots are usually my favorite. They don't illustrate the life and movement, but the characteristics of the material are always more dramatic than I picture in my mind. Pulling the snowshoe hair dubbing beyond the hook bend is a nice touch. Looks like a very lively pattern.

Where did you find Willow Grouse? I haven't heard of that one. It looks very similar to Woodcock, but a bit more tan.

w

William,

The barring is a bit more distinct here, but you are correct, not dissimilar to Woodcock.

Where? I ordered some feathers (capercaillie, black grouse, etc) from a source in Norway, and the package I received had some willow grouse feathers included. I was rummaging though my materials yesterday, and came across the packet. One of the feathers cried out to me to be used, so I did

Cheers,
Hans W

Andrew,

You mean something like this?



Medusa
Hook: Tiemco 102Y #15
Thread: Uni-thread 6/0, brown
Abdomen: Snowshoe hare foot underfur, cream, inserted into split thread
Wing/head: Deer hair

Cheers,
Hans W

That is absolutely beautiful Hans

A very successful pattern for me, last year, that. Tied with brown thread and a light dubbing of cream seal's fur, with a couple of strands of yellow blended in, to make me feel like I was doing something.

I was surprised recently to read that this pattern was devised by Malcolm Greenhalgh in the late 1980s. But I don't see how he could have done, because as far as I am concerned, I devised it in the summer of 2009...

It works a treat though, brings up the little wild brownies from nowhere. I'll definitely be trying it this year with the Snowshoe hare's foot.

cheers,
Andrew.

-Hi,It looks beautiful.
-Whether to swim or be slightly below the surface.

GlassJet wrote:That is absolutely beautiful Hans



I was surprised recently to read that this pattern was devised by Malcolm Greenhalgh in the late 1980s. But I don't see how he could have done, because as far as I am concerned, I devised it in the summer of 2009...


cheers,
Andrew.

Malcolm Greenhalgh gives all the honour to Al Troth who invented this fly but with a body hackle in his book:fishing flies see page: 140 and 195. See also:

http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/patte ... ir-caddis/

Greeting

Ruard wrote:
Malcolm Greenhalgh gives all the honour to Al Troth who invented this fly but with a body hackle in his book:fishing flies see page: 140 and 195. See also:

http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/patte ... ir-caddis/

Greeting

Hi Ruard,
Yes, I used to tie the elk hair caddis like that - with the body hackle. But I left that off last summer in a surge of minimalism and it was deadly! It fishes in the surface I guess... apparently Mr Greenhalgh found the same... And it is much easier to tie, which is always a plus!

Andrew.

*chuckle*

Andrew, may I suggest you give the CDC&Elk a try...

Cheers,
Hans W