Claret Killer

[kanutripr]

When I first started back into fly fishing it was tough (and rather expensive) stocking a fly box especially considering I conned Dave into jumping in too so had to stock two fly boxes. Anyway I would often pick through the reduced bin at the fly shop and pick up leftovers that maybe weren't tied so well. One of those boxes had some little streamer flies that were basically just some red wool and ringneck rump feathers for a wing. This fly is a much improved soft hackle version of that fly (the original actually caught some of the first brownies I had ever caught and will forever stick in my mind for that). I think it could also be tied with black marabou and the red ringneck rump feathers for a stone fly version.



You will notice the conspicuous head. Originally it was meant to be a hotpot but after I tied it I realized compared to the rest of the fly it was just unnecessary....

Oh and please excuse the name. I hate naming flies...



Vicki

[letumgo]

LIKE!!!

Beautiful fly.

[willowhead]

Gotta lotta sex appeal.........to a fish of course .....Very pretty & classy.

[Kelly L.]

I didn't even know they had claret marabou...this fly looks like a fish gettin' machine to me. Nice work!

[fly_fischa]

This fly would have fish all over it, I love it. For some reason I've always had a real soft spot for a fly with claret in it, claret that slinks down and has movement, even better...

When I first saw this pattern I immediately thought about your comment on Emyr's Welsh flies and the ones you liked best. I reckon this pattern would look really cool with the same oversized cloak and dabbler style hackle, shrouding/veiling the body a bit. Some bronze mallard or some natural mallard flank would do the trick. If you know how to tie this style of wing/collar, I'd love to see it. Let me know if you don't, I learnt how to do it from an Irish guy and will try to put up a step by step if you like? Btw please don't take this suggestion as a criticism of your fly, I think the fly is fine just the way it is. I just thought following your comment on my post, that your claret killer would easily convert/translate into a cool dabbler of your own.

Karsten

[tie2fish]

If you bring those to Roscoe, Vicki, you'd better be using something stronger than 5X ...

[letumgo]

Vicki - I keep coming back to study this fly. I love the way this fly is constructed. It has all the elements of a very successful fishing fly (impressionistic profile, lots of movement, durable construction, etc). The more I study this fly, the more it begs me to be copy and fished.

[kanutripr]

Thanks guys for the encouragement! I love fishing soft hackles most of the time and I have found in a really tough day of fishing that something streamerish designed with a soft hackle will often produce and a least save me from getting skunked so I always try to have something new and fun to try.

And Karsten that is an AWESOME idea. When I tied this I was trying to come up with a job for the bigger feathers on my hungarian skin that don't get used too much. They look nice but could be a little more substantial for this length of hook. I've used the mallard before but just tied it in as a regular collar. It there are tricks I would love to see them!


Vicki

[DNicolson]

It will make a great Sea-trout and loch-style fly. Excellent colour combination.
I like the use of marabou, a material I've rather ignored of late.
A super fly.