Black & Blue Grouse

[letumgo]

Black & Blue Grouse
Hook - Mustad Model R50U/SIze 12
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Blue)
Hackle - Ruffed Grouse (Natural)
Body - Rabbit Dubbing (Black)
Rib - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Blue)

[willowhead]

Good fly for Rainbows.........

[letumgo]

Aren't they all?

*wink/chuckle*

[tie2fish]

A beauty! Damselfly perchance? Love the photo composition.

[CreationBear]

Oh, like this one as well...

A question: is that a "red phase" grouse skin you're tying from? I've been interested lately in what you might call "Feathers from a Lesser Bird;" i.e. more economical skins like ruffed grouse and hen pheasant. I've been tying a few patterns with the latter--nothing magical like plover or waterhen, but if you're just looking for something to flutter in the current it seems adequate.

[letumgo]

I'm not sure if the ruffed grouse was in the "red phase". My father harvested the bird in the fall (October or November time period), so that may tell you which phase it was in. The feathers have a rich redish-brown color with black markings. They make beautiful hackle for soft hackles/wingless wets. The body feathers also have lovely medium dun colored aftershaft feathers. I've saved a bunch of them, but still need to find a use for them.

I have a hen pheasant skin, but have not tyed with the feathers yet. They look like they would work well. The markings are nice and subtle. I am sure the hen pheasant feathers would look nice against a hares ear body.

[CreationBear]

You know, Picasso had his "Blue Period," too.

Otherwise, thanks for the insight: to be honest, I'm not sure if grouse change gray/rust phases during the year or not, or whether it's sexual dimorphism (or even a geographical consideration). Great use of the feathers, though. At any rate, I'll tie up some hare's ears with my hen pheasant and try not to envy y'all your plover: no use tying flies when you can't afford enough gas to get to the river to fish 'em.

[willowhead]

Wrong CC.....tyin' flies is ALWAYS worth doin' no matter WHAT! Fishin' has little or nothin' to do with that FACT.

[DOUGSDEN]

Ray,
This Black and Blue would be grand with the fish in my neighborhood that sport Blue-gills!
Excellent pattern Ray as always!
Dougsden

[William Anderson]

The body feathers also have lovely medium dun colored aftershaft feathers. I've saved a bunch of them, but still need to find a use for them.

I had a buddy that harvested a bunch of Ruffed Grouse a couple years ago and brought me the skins. Which lead to a slew of grouse tail herl flies at the time. And I have a couple bags of the after shaft (dun fluffy part of the feather attached behind the main body feather. If you think of a good use for it, please let me in on it. They are beautiful...and just atypical. I can see mounting the plume between a couple hackle feathers as part of a streamer pattern.

Anyway, This fly is fantastic. Looks like a traditional tie. Nice composition.

w